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Post by VoiceOfReason on Apr 29, 2009 12:31:22 GMT -5
Curious to know...
Am I the only person who avoids the What Stage unless it's a headliner or set I just HAVE to see?
If I'm conflicted between two bands, one on the What Stage and one in a tent, I'm taking the tent everytime.
Two reasons: Heat and Intimacy (***also my new band name!)
The heat thing speaks for itself. As for intimacy, I have a hard time really getting into a show in that huge open space. I always pay closer attention to the tent sets. Pretty much all of my favorite sets at my 4 Roos come from tents.
This also true to a lesser degree for the Which Stage.
Post by itrainmonkeys on Apr 29, 2009 12:36:36 GMT -5
You're not the only one.
The heat is killer for sure. I remember my first year watching Allison Krauss when waiting for Allman Brothers. It was torture (not the music - the temperature).
Personally I love watching the headliner acts at the what stage. The field is FULL of fans and if you can't see too well.....they got the screens going. The concert usually begins while its light out and ends with darkness. I love it.
But during the day.....it's too much. I barely went to the What stage last year. Just for Headliners and raconteurs/chris rock. The tents are where it's at. Shade + being close to the artists.
Which stage is a little more bearable cuz there's more shaded areas (trees and food stands) but it's still hot as hell. Wolfmother in 07 was tough in the sun but I stuck through it.
Post by rooconteur on Apr 29, 2009 13:04:44 GMT -5
i tihnk the tents are just as hot when theyre packed. and if you cant fit inside the tent you cant see. plust the sound system on thw what stage is fucking ridiculous.
I actually really enjoy the main stage space, as long as the sun isn't beating down on me. The sound is the best of any stage as has been stated, and the majority of the acts they are putting on that stage can fill the space really well. That being said, the year I spent the most time there was probably 2006, where I saw Petty, Costello, Beck, and Radiohead all in their entirety. This year ought to change that for me, depending on the undercard on the stage, but I'm expecting to be there for Phish, Springsteen, and Wilco, which should be a ton of time.
Post by steveternal on Apr 29, 2009 13:13:04 GMT -5
Let me add: if you don't mind some walking, you can always find a better spot at What than your can at Which. I've always hated the layout for Which; it seems designed for congestion and problems.
What is a hassle, though, just because of its sheer size. Honestly I tend to avoid both stages unless it's a must-see, especially the later in the day it gets. I generally just hop between the three tents.
Ya I avoided What stage other then the Raconteurs and WSP the intimacy thing is what matters to me the most the heat isn't that bad. I love being able to see the emotion on someones face when they are singing/playing. Even in the pit on the rail on What stage that is hard to do. I disagree about Which stage as long as your close to thestage which stage can be alot of fun. Granted for Willie Nelson I had to get close befor I could really here but I blame that on the people not the stage. Alomost everyone there likes Willie cause he is the pothead icon not the country music icon so everyone was conversing throughout the show. As I got closer this was not the case.
This is the case for me. I actually somewhat enjoy the What Stage because of its openess, I find it easy to get a good spot because it usually has a lot of gaps until you get really close. That being said, I usually try to avoid it til around preheadliner time. This year, I will be there from probably 3PM til after Bruce on Saturday. With Mule and Wilco playing, I would probably prefer it anyways but, Bruce is by far my favorite artist so I will camp for that for sure.
I think the Which Stage is the worst though by far. I really want to catch Erykah Badu but if she is on the Which Stage, I may skip her hopefully Galactic will be doing a tent show then or I'll be able to get a good spot for Byrne. Not sure on that one.
Post by BrokenLight on Apr 29, 2009 15:44:08 GMT -5
I don't mind the heat at all...
The thing I hate the most about any outdoor concerts - the people who are surrounding you that you can hear better than the music - the people who don't really seem to get into the music, rather, they're just there to party and meet people - these people never shut up
See...I generally go to concerts alone, most of my friends really aren't into music and spending money. I know there's no rules at a concert, we all enjoy concerts in our own way - no way is right nor wrong - but, for example, after 12 years of going to Dave Matthews concerts, I absolutely cannot stand it when the only tickets left are lawn - and after 12 years I just don't want to pay $70 for a pavilion seat, when I started going they were only $25
So...for all those groups of people who don't pay attention to the concert at all, the people who never shut up during the show - PLEASE MOVE TO THE BACK OF THE LAWN WHERE YOU PEOPLE SHOULD BE
Post by Lawn Gnome on Apr 29, 2009 16:45:26 GMT -5
I'm somewhat inclined to agree. I actually can count the number of non-headliner sets I've seen there on one hand in four Roo's. That's why I CAN'T WAIT for the Phish late night set on that stage this year. Nice and cool (in a relative sense) and dark. It's gonna be great.
Post by bojangles22 on Apr 29, 2009 17:20:22 GMT -5
Intimate shmintimate. The what stage sound is so good you can hear it from yer loins.
As for the heat, well, if it's hot it's hot. The most fried (literal) i have ever been was at the BenFolds show or at Pete Yorn.Both at the which stage. I could feel my brain boiling and making a tea kettle whistle out my ears.
I have a theory that the two trees at which stage absorb some of the sound. At Modest Mouse I was laying down 30 feet from the trees and couldn't hear. I got up to get way closer and it was a huge difference. + i got to see the guy with a dress and no undies swinging from one of the trees.
Post by candyflippedaround on Apr 29, 2009 17:27:28 GMT -5
yeah i was pretty intimidated by the what stage last year. i avoided it until Stephen Marley and only ended up seeing him, PJ, Metallca, Chris Rock, YMSB and Plant/Krauss and i was pretty much just a useless blob as far back as you could get hiding from the sun for the last two, and at stephen i was just sitting smoking trying to gather some energy for late night. i guess i saw more acts than i thought i did on the stage but its not the type of show you can go crazy at in the middle of the day or you are just gonna be beat from there on out.
but i agree with people talking @ shows are annoying. if the conversation you are having is more interesting than the show, why are you so damn close!
I do avoid the What stage aside from headliners... Last year I was as close as you could get for Jack Johnson and Pearl Jam and I absolutely LOVED those shows... As for the Which stage, if I can get a decently close spot, I have a great time.. But if you are back by the Tree or a bit further I won't even stick around...
bottom line, tents are where it's at... Intimacy is the one thing that weighs heavier than anything else when it comes to decisions on who to see and where ;D
The heat is killer for sure. I remember my first year watching Allison Krauss when waiting for Allman Brothers. It was torture (not the music - the temperature).
Personally I love watching the headliner acts at the what stage. The field is FULL of fans and if you can't see too well.....they got the screens going. The concert usually begins while its light out and ends with darkness. I love it.
But during the day.....it's too much. I barely went to the What stage last year. Just for Headliners and raconteurs/chris rock. The tents are where it's at. Shade + being close to the artists.
Which stage is a little more bearable cuz there's more shaded areas (trees and food stands) but it's still hot as hell. Wolfmother in 07 was tough in the sun but I stuck through it.
Wolfmother in 07 was definetly the hottest I have been in my life...but I stuck it out. I just look at pics I took during the show and sweat remembering the sun beating down and there was nowhere to go and people just packed in.
Post by henotbusybeingborn on Apr 29, 2009 19:31:52 GMT -5
Yeah, I don't frequent the What Stage too often. I'm trying to recount all the shows I've seen on that stage...let's see...Tom Petty...Elvis Costello...Beck...Radiohead...The Roots...The Raconteurs...Chris Rock...yup, I think that's it. Some great sets, but tent shows are where it's at! Although it looks like I'll be frequenting the What Stage more this year, seeing as how I'm probably gonna try and stake out a spot for The Boss.
I think I tend to see more shows on the stages. I agree, what >> which. I like having a little bit of room to move around, and sometimes that's hard in tents. That said, the Wood Brothers with Martin Medeski played a tent last year and put on one of my favorite shows of the weekend.
Post by tompettyfan420 on Apr 30, 2009 1:11:14 GMT -5
i definitely prefer the what stage over any other stage but if it comes down to seeing a show i want to see ill go whereever it is at. It just seems to be mostly at the what stage for whatever reason
i go where the band i want to see is at. don't really care if it is a stage or a tent. i feel ya on the heat though, it definitely is brutal.
Yep me to. I don't have any stage or tent that I really don't like. The heat at Wolfmother at Which in 2007 got the better of me though and I had to leave and find shade
Post by 2incommand on Apr 30, 2009 12:54:13 GMT -5
Yeah the heat on both stages can be unbearable sometimes. I pretty much dislike the Which stage all the time even at night. I like the late nights to be more intimate in the tents. The headliner spot can be awesome on What because of all the people there and the energy that brings.
last year i decided that it was not worth potentially losing late night by suffering in the heat. so i listen to what stage acts from vip until probably 4 or 5 pm. then i venture out. i might, might, go see a tent show before - but its almost impossible to get in the shade.
Wolfmother 07 was the only concert I left because I just couldn't stand in the sun any longer. That was just about the most unbearable heat I've ever been in. I guess our previous night's bender didn't help though. My extra-short fiancee and I like the What stage, she for obvious reasons and I just like that there is so much room to see the shows that many just sit on blankets. I do agree, however, there's something about the Which stage that irritates me. It could just be the aforementioned foot traffic problems. It could also be the lack of sound. The best time we had there was last year as the sun set over the Death Cab concert. We were just sitting along the left side on a blanket. It was Bonnaroo at its best. Happy 6 weeks to everyone!
Post by rooconteur on Apr 30, 2009 14:39:10 GMT -5
The What stage is the loudest. That sound system is just ridiculous. Last year Friday, Marley>Raconteurs>Chris Rock>Metallica.....if you werent at the what stage, im sorry. There was even a nice sprinkle during the Raconteurs set to cool us down. Good times.
