Bonnaroo Missed Connection Thread

Met another Canadian in the crowd at Radiohead and talked for 10 minutes. Started telling her about how last year someone died next to us at a show (it's a long story, but anyway, my friend is convinced of this and he is the one who said it).

"What?!"

Then the show started and we never saw her again.

This might have been where we met up with her friend. We met at the what stage but moved to whatever tent major lazer was performing in. I think it was major lazer at least.

I was the guy on the platform taking tons of pictures of you and your SBTRKT mask during Big Gigantic.

I know this is absolutely ridiculous, but I can't in good conscience not do everything I can (barring the ultra creepy and borderlined insane) to resolve my saddness (which is being horribly compounded by post-roo depression).

i had one missed connection at roo. ONE. I danced to Major Lazer with a black-haired girl wearing a Red Panda Mask. The Red Panda Mask had a glowstick bullring. We danced next to each other for about fifteen minutes, then my friends pulled me away to go elsewhere. I hugged Panda softly and said "I like you." (wow, amazing dialogue). She told me I was nice and gave me a little tickle. Then I had to leave.

I was so sad that I didn't get her name or anything that I woke up the next day and made a sign that said "Anyone seen the girl with the red panda mask?" I carried the sign around with me for the next two days, but I didn't find any red pandas or red panda leads. The biggest response I received was caused by 'rooers interest in "red panda" and where they could score some (It's not ALL about drugs, just mostly people).

Anyway, kinda sad, kinda weird, but 100 percent sincere story.

Help?

I am so sorry!! Good luck finding your red panda!!

A group who lived behind us kept talking about "Cheddar"... Who the fuck is Cheddar? I need to know. Haha.... but seriously.

Thanks, brittaroo. I sure hope I do...She made me laugh :-). We both "put our hands up" when major lazer told us to, then looked at each other and laughed because we were skinny nerds.

To the redhead from Kansas in Pod 1: I want my hat back.

During RHCP in the far back by the pee wall the guy who walked by to read my sign twice and finally asked me about it. You were charming in a gay way. You had a backpack and was jamming out we talked about 15mins thought you were goodlooking but didn't ask....should have.



I think you were from Michigan

written 6/10 - the morning after

It’s difficult to describe the face of god after witnessing it. The moment chance and circumstance so eloquently align that the universe seems to shine down on you and you can’t quite help but to smile back. Twelve hours ago I had experienced my first Radiohead concert. From all I was told, you can never be prepared for your first. I had no idea what to expect; that was probably for the better because any expectation would’ve been blown out of the water. The fact that it was at Bonnaroo made it that much more surreal – in the midst/sea of thousands upon thousands of other fans and music lovers. Sure you can say something was lost since I wasn’t in the VIP area and didn’t have the best view (if any view) of the band members – though most of the time I could see Clive and Johnny rather well – I wholeheartedly believe I was precisely where I needed to be…about 10’ behind the boom camera. Ten feet behind the camera is where…well I think I need to back up for all of this to make sense.

It had already been a long day. My brother and I had spent most of the day at That Tent. We made the commitment early to try to get close to the stage for the Little Dragon set, so we ended up rocking out with the Tune-Yards and Two Door Cinema House, all the while swimming in one of the many currents that literally pulled you towards the stage with minimal effort on your part. By the time Little Dragon went on, we found ourselves no more than three rows back. By the time the show was done, my feet were something I had wished weren’t attached to me any longer. We barely walked/crawled/shuffled to What Stage just to see how crowded it was getting – to see if seeing St. Vincent was at all a possibility (who go the shaft in the lineup, lets be honest, and would’ve been a much more fitting opener for Radiohead, but I digress). It wasn’t as bad of a crowd as expected but we decided a break was necessary nonetheless. Sitting had never felt so good as it had in that moment. Water had never tasted as good as it had in that moment. It was also in that moment that I had looked left and first noticed you. Still not quite sure what first attracted my attention – maybe you looked like someone I know in another life. Either way, whatever it had been, it felt real. And you felt real…and no, not the tripping kind of is it real, or me asking myself whether the Radiohead concert was actually happening kind of real…you felt true. Being the hopeless romantic that I am, I of course, ignored it and opted for lying on the grass and staring up at the closed instead of engaging. After a week(end) of being as social as I can recall myself being, I still apparently found it necessary to nurture the introvert within.

Sooner than later Rodrigo y Gabriela took to the stage and everyone was on their feet instantly. And just like for every show at Bonneroo before, I couldn’t help but to start movin’ and groovin’. I’ve never understood how people could just stand there when there was amazing music coming at you in a wall of sound. Bonneroo felt like a safe enough environment to just let loose and do your own thing. Well into the set, I found myself with a person or two between us. At this point I was fairly confident you had noticed me…grinning and dancing up a storm. It was one of those moments that you strive for so hard in your life – where you are in the moment and everything is perfect and nothing else matters. Most of the set remains much of a blur to me. In fact, one of the pervasive thoughts seemed to be “damn…I’m getting great vibes from this person and I would love to be able to dance with/next to her when Radiohead goes on." No, I’m not creepy, so when she disappeared into the crowd when Radiohead broke into “Bloom” I didn’t care and very quickly got lost in the music. It was probably for the better anyways – I seem to fall hard for anyone who gives me the slightest bit of attention or approval. Song after song I found myself getting more lost in the words, music, and visuals around me. It was as close to a hallucinogenic experience I’ve had without actual hallucinogens. Nothing prepares you for what happens in actuality. When was the last time they played “Kid A”? Have they every played “Separator” on tour?

Just before the last song of the set, someone in the audience behind me passed out and we had to create a corridor for the medics to get through. When this corridor closed off, there was of course a push towards the front. That’s when I found myself 10’ behind the boom camera, that’s when the opening notes to “Everything in its Right Place” rolled own the piano. That’s when I looked over and found you next to me, and everything was, in fact, in its right place. You noticed it too – I know you did. I caught you glancing as you caught me too. Both dancing like fools and grinning. I don’t believe in coincidence – as there is just the illusion of coincidence. We danced the encore away – bodies radiating heat as we grazed each other from time to time. During “Reckoner” I ever busted out a handful of sparklers and handed you one. Ending on “Paranoid Android,” I couldn’t have been more ecstatic (having to do more with the feeling of ecstasy than that of being overly joyful –misnomer?) Two things could’ve made it the greatest experience ever (while wearing pants)…your name and perhaps your soft lips against mine. But life is defined by our opportunities – both taken and missed. When my brother and I had turned around to leave, you were still engaged with the stage and I didn’t get a chance to be as bold as I’d ever be. Retrospectively I’m fairly certain you passed by afterwards, but it was too difficult to see in the poorly lit area. It was great to have met you and shared in that moment with you…because in that moment you were perfect in my eyes; whether you had baggage, issues, etc. like myself and everyone else was completely irrelevant at the time. All that mattered was the here and the now.

Camped in tent only. We hung out most of saturday. Saw Bad Brains, Flogging Molly, Pucifer, the Roots, and RHCP. We were in the pit up front for the chili peppers. I was supposed to send you some pictures but never got the chance. You made that day the best day I've EVER had at Bonnaroo. I hope I can see you again, if not soon at next Bonnaroo. I will NEVER forget it! I remember you saying that you had never heard of inforoo, here's hoping that stuck with you.

Haha thanks! I'm not sure how hopeful I should be. No name, no location, and I'm pretty sure she was there by herself. Just some light banter and great vibes and that it was her first Radiohead concert too. The moment itself was incredible to be in. Its too bad I don't have anything to go on. She literally would have to see this i think...

Probably a long shot but our neighbors to the right who entertained a very drunk friend (for quite awhile!!). We had all the issues with the two room tent and finally got it together after about two hours and a lot of swearing. We had a Canadian flag hanging from our tent!

I wanted to get your facebook info~ before we left but came back after the fun. set and you were gone!

I'm looking for a volunteer at the cinema tent, I didn't get your name right it seems (I was sure it was Cory), but you're a journalism student at NYU, from Georgia, and you like folk music. I'm from New Orleans and originally from France, and I volunteered there on Friday and Sunday. I'll be in New York in July and I'd be glad to see you there. My email: vgelis@tulane.edu

Best of luck to all of you looking for someone here, and thanks to Janelle for pointing out that website to me. I'm amazed at how many people here are in the situation I'm in, it feels a little like an online AA meeting but hopefully, other than us seekers, someone's listening in.

Another thing: if any of the people I met at the Greyhound station in Manchester on Tuesday or anyone else in that group (Zongs, Sidney, Charlie, John, Lincoln...) has the pictures we took on the main stage, I'm greatly interested. I have one of your numbers but my phone seems to be staying dead. It was a wonderful first night.

The guy who didn't eat his oatmeal.