That perfect moment in time

A$AP just ended and I was on my way to Petty when it started raining. I decided to get some food, and check out Petty from the back. After a while, I decided I'd rather sleep before partying with people one last time. Not being a huge Petty fan, and seeing him live with my mom when I was like 11, I wasn't too bothered with seeing him.

So I went back to my tent in Tent Only and fell asleep for a bit. I woke up, came outside, the rain had stopped and Petty was playing "Learning to Fly" by far my favorite Petty song. I was just looking around, Tent Only being empty, the arch being right in front of me all lit up, seeing Petty on the big screens from my spot right outside my tent, and looking up to see 4 of those candle bag things floating up in the air.

I was just looking around and had the strangest feeling come over me. I was so happy to be at the farm and experience something so beautiful and pure, but sad at the same time for having to leave this wonderful place and how hard it would be to go on with life after this.

As I'm thinking this Petty sings the chorus, "Learning to fly, but I've got no wings, coming down, is the hardest thing."

It fit perfectly with what I was going through and was the best moment of closure I could have experienced for the festival.

It was a surreal experience to see Paul McCartney from the front pit rail (and I could brag to my friends at home that I was technically front row.) I have seen him before, in fixed seats, but this was different. I waited at the Main Venue entrance from 8-12 when they opened it and waited in the pit line from then until showtime. It was so surreal because you don't realize how much time flies and every minute was a minute closer. It was so surreal that I started to become really anxious an hour before showtime, enough to give me chest pain. We finally made it in the pit, I had rail, and there was still a good 20 minutes to go. Those moments waiting just build the excitement. The first time I saw him was a concert, but this time was an experience. I had never experienced that much energy before from a show/crowd. I turn to look behind me and jump up and I couldn't believe my eyes. Somewhere between 80,000-100,00 people were behind me and they were all relating to the music like I was, whether they were 10 feet away, or 1,000 feet away. The odd moment was when the show is over, the night isn't. I stuck around to catch some acts but they were somehow ruined considering nothing in life will top that show (except maybe a Led Zeppelin reunion.) I can never stop wondering though what it must feel like for Paul onstage, to look in the crowd and gaze. What does it feel like to be loved by that many people?

Also, David Byrne & St. Vincent were wonderful. Mesmerizing. I love their album and how they presented it. Plus I had a great view from the VIP area. But when they did Burning Down the House, I was spiritually transported back to a Talking Heads show 30 years earlier. It was magical.

And let's not even get into that whole Golden Slumbers > Carry that Weight > The End thing. How is it that Bonnaroo isn't recognized as a wonder of the world? Millions of people every year make pilgrimages to Mecca, the Vatican, Jerusalem, etc. But only 80,000 go to Bonnaroo. For my own sake, I'm glad it's that way. But it's fvcked up.

Hell yeah, that was us! I was the kid with the white Radiohead t shirt

Luckily my friend and I met this guy named Kane earlier in the day. We hung out with him for awhile and he was kind enough to let us sleep in his spare tent that night. Because of him i'm totally bringing a spare tent for someone next year. Then the rest of the weekend we slept in my Brother's friend's car. Wasn't too bad.

One of my moments this year was when Paul played Maybe I'm Amazed. Right before the song started I decided to lay down in the grass. As I looked up at the stars and listened, the lyrics really struck me for some reason. It made me miss my partner (who was at home), so I texted and told him I loved him.

Saturday night, wandering around in the field north of Other Tent. Dunno, just having a good time with a lot of other people out in the dark with a flashlight...

I try to explain this to some of my local buddies who still think Bonnaroo is a hot, dusty pain in the ass. It absolutely is, but it's also worth it.

I cry like an idiot every time I see McCartney (this was the 3rd). For some reason 'Band on the Run' got me this time... just remember hearing it as a kid, and here he is singing it, and some things seem damn near eternal. So awesome how much art can reach people.

I thought that MMJ set was incredible. I was giddy when they came out on stage to that horn. But when Jim went to get his Flying V guitar, I exclaimed that out loud and two frat dudes turned to look at me like I was stupid or crazy.

Not at Roo but Forecastle last year. Saturday was a packed day with Everest, Preservation Hall, Dr Dog, Andrew Bird and finally MMJ.

Preservation Hall was insanely fun and had sit ins with Andrew and Jim. That was rather magical.

Then the VIP/Roll Call section had a tiff when security had to remove VIP for roll call. And some had to be physically removed when they wouldn't leave. The was pretty wack but it was kind of silly seeing fights break out during Andrew Bird. But while standing there I connected with another MMJ fan who was going to be seeing them for the first time that night. We were standing next to the VIP barricade watching the show. As she walked away to find I spot, a roll call member walked up to me and handed me his wristband. At before I could turn around, a half naked beastly man wearing a captains hat approached me asking for the wristband. I thought to myself " I have to get the quack out of here" and strolled into VIP/Rollcall for an epic MMJ set complete with fish, a George Michael cover with bananas.

David Byrne and St. Vincent playin' my favorite song of all time "Naive Melody (This Must Be The Place)" was a dream come true. I never believed I'd get to hear that song live with Mr. Byrne singin' it, so it was a really big deal to me. The moment the song started I rushed as close as I could get and managed to maybe get some 50 feet from the stage. I was singin' and cryin' with so much joy!

I also posted this in the "who gave the best hug" thread, but it was too perfect not put it here...
I was standing with four friends after David Byrne and St. Vincent, nearly everyone had made their way to that What field, on a musical high and we were discussing how amazing it when it hit us that we were about to follow that up with the legendary Mr. Petty. I was sooooo happy and at that just that moment two girls walked past me and they said they were giving free hugs, I stopped what I was saying and ran over to the girls, who turned out to be rather attractive, and said that I had to get one, I had only hugged a few people all roo because we had bumped into each other during shows and hugged to say sorry, but these girls gave me seriously the best hugs I've ever received. I got one from each of them and then all three of us had a group hug. The fact that it happened right byrne, one of my favorite shows all weekend and I was on my way to Petty and got such great hugs being caught up in the joy of the moment, it made me happier than I thought possible. I then walked to proceeded to walk over to Petty with my friends. The thing is that I used to live in Gainesville faced some serious problems so i had to leave college and come back home, so Roo was a reunion for me and a bunch of my closest friends who i hadnt seen in a LONG time. I then walked through the bottle neck over to What from Which, as I walked it hit me that this amazing weekend was coming to an end, which was worse for me than most people because not only was i leaving roo, but i was  soon going to be leaving my best friends as well. So as we walked and watched the amazing spectacle that was Tom Petty, i made sure that i had personal time with each of my friends, expressing my love for each of them and my desires to be back with as soon as possible. The whole while, dancing and singing our hearts out. Until, at the very end, we all danced together to "American girl." Everything came together just right. So I guess this isn't really a "moment" I had many perfect moments throughout the story, listening to david byrne, hugging those two girls, speaking with each of my friends, then it all coming together as we danced to the final song, down to walking out of centeroo, through the arch, hand-in-hand, side-by-side, knowing that we'd be doing this once again in about and year.

I cried a bit during the early Beatles tunes. It's been a long trip with the boys and we lost two of them way too young. Paul brought me home again to when we were both young and the world was waiting for us. Little did they know . When we got back to camp Susie and I were so amazed and as we sat down I said "Hey it rained here." I didn't even realize it rained I was so happy....cr****

I will forever remember seeing Jack live. The feeling I had there in the pit was what I feel true bliss is. I've never felt happier than I did surrounded by all of those people. You could feel love in the air that night.

Also another moment that meant alot to me was sitting in front of one of the tents waiting for Empire of the Sun to start while Billy Idol was playing and I was exhausted. As I sat on the ground being nearly trampled by people every 10 seconds this extremely sweet woman suggested I scoot back to avoid being run over, and at that moment I felt like that was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for me. When I got up to leave I thanked her and I will always remember her.