Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
Only instances where I can look back and say that I actually regret missing a set and I was in control of it involves the same band, twice... My Morning Jacket. In 2006, I was completely wiped by the time they were about to start their late night set, and went back to the tent (rookie mistake I never made again after a headliner), and in 2008 I went to the Superjam instead of MMJ... bad choice, but thankfully I got to hear a good portion of MMJ's set from the campsite.
Post by pondo ROCKS on Mar 16, 2013 4:22:39 GMT -5
As far as regrets involving shows...
2008: The worst of conflicts: Zappa plays Zappa, Ben Folds and B.B. King all played at the same time. I saw B.B. and he was good, but, Ben Folds RETIRED his version of "B!thces Ain't Sh!T" at his Bonnaroo show and said he would never perform it live again.
Providing an outlet and a voice for music lovers to unite under the common theme of music for all. Join The Pondo Army to show your allegiance to musical freedom! Fighting for no censorship of the arts & music education in schools, The Pondo Army will triumph! The Pondo Army Movement
Follow me on twitter@Pondoknowsbest
2008: The worst of conflicts: Zappa plays Zappa, Ben Folds and B.B. King all played at the same time. I saw B.B. and he was good, but, Ben Folds RETIRED his version of "B!thces Ain't Sh!T" at his Bonnaroo show and said he would never perform it live again.
Ha! I was there for that singalong of B!tches. We split sets between there and Zappa, and lucked into seeing Dweezil do Broken Hearts are for A-Holes, so it was kind of perfect.
I regret not staying for all of Al Green so we could go to Spoon (I think). Al's band was so tight!
Post by SippinCoffee on Mar 16, 2013 13:52:41 GMT -5
I really don't even want to admit that I missed Radiohead last year. I was pretty much in A Coma and my friends left without me. It was Fail on my part, but also on my friends for not throwing cold water on me or just throwing me over their shoulder and taking me.
We went to Flaming Lips in '10 and missed the Black Keys. We fell asleep at Flaming Lips but would have rocked out to BK's. We sat down at Flaming Lips and just zonked out but we saw Banana Man jumping through the crowd there. It ended up being funny story: Banana man was hopping through the crowd and some guy chucked a real banana at a trash can near us and him so he jumped over to it and pulled it out and smeared it all over his face and then simply jumped away as if it was like what he was there for. It could have been staged but he did smear it all over his face.
Anyway Black Keys are more up our style so this year we are playing it safer.
Post by tommyboy7328 on Mar 18, 2013 10:34:47 GMT -5
Hated that I missed FUN when I was up close for the Young The Giant show. I loved that show and hated that FUN was on at the same time. I hope they come back.
Post by trailerparknoodles on Mar 19, 2013 13:53:00 GMT -5
in 2011 the Sunday afternoon cluster-conflict. In my choices of personal favorites Explosions in the sky or Beirut, combined with great options Robert Plant or the Strokes I chose to hold out for something epic in the newly reformed SUPERJAM of Dan Auerbach/Dr. John. Their show was late and it wasn't anything special to me. I'm very familiar with Dr. John but I've regretted it ever since missing out on any of the four other options.
As a Roo virgin I have been lurking this thread and sure has been helpful to think about some of the various things I can't allow happen!.. Thanks for sharing.. Some of these are truly brutal
I really don't even want to admit that I missed Radiohead last year. I was pretty much in A Coma and my friends left without me. It was Fail on my part, but also on my friends for not throwing cold water on me or just throwing me over their shoulder and taking me.
As a Roo virgin I have been lurking this thread and sure has been helpful to think about some of the various things I can't allow happen!.. Thanks for sharing.. Some of these are truly brutal
Note to self: do not drink too much during the day and pass out during the headliner. At willie's Fourth of July picnic in 03 I drank too much during the day expecting the dead to be play night set. They played at 4 while I was passed out. I missed my very first dead show in this fashion. This is still hard to admit. I am only repeating this so others can learn from m mistake.
Do not let this happen too you. Unfortunately the only way most people learn is by having it happen to them.
Next year this thread will include "I missed so and so last year passed out drunk!" I guarantee it. It makes me so sad.
I would much rather miss a good show by picking the wrong show than being passed out. Picking the wrong show happens to everyone once Ina while at a festival such as bonnaroo. Conflicts make this inevitable.
Post by Arch Stanton on Mar 19, 2013 15:49:00 GMT -5
Last year was my first. My only regret was not getting enough in my system to help keep me awake into the LN sets. Friday night, I was pretty beat after Radiohead and fell asleep listening to The Word. I had hoped to catch at least the start of Umphrey's set, but drifted back to the campsite.
Then as I'm walking back my tent, I heard Art Vs. Science playing. I had no idea they were playing a special show at the Fountain. That alone would have forced me to stay up. Even though I saw them twice the following day, they were one of my most anticipated bands, and would have loved to have seen them a third time.
Saturday I did a little better job, and managed to stay awake for most of the Superjam and Skrillex.
Last year was my first. My only regret was not getting enough in my system to help keep me awake into the LN sets. Friday night, I was pretty beat after Radiohead and fell asleep listening to The Word. I had hoped to catch at least the start of Umphrey's set, but drifted back to the campsite.
Then as I'm walking back my tent, I heard Art Vs. Science playing. I had no idea they were playing a special show at the Fountain. That alone would have forced me to stay up. Even though I saw them twice the following day, they were one of my most anticipated bands, and would have loved to have seen them a third time.
Saturday I did a little better job, and managed to stay awake for most of the Superjam and Skrillex.
Last year was my first. My only regret was not getting enough in my system to help keep me awake into the LN sets. Friday night, I was pretty beat after Radiohead and fell asleep listening to The Word. I had hoped to catch at least the start of Umphrey's set, but drifted back to the campsite.
Then as I'm walking back my tent, I heard Art Vs. Science playing. I had no idea they were playing a special show at the Fountain. That alone would have forced me to stay up. Even though I saw them twice the following day, they were one of my most anticipated bands, and would have loved to have seen them a third time.
Saturday I did a little better job, and managed to stay awake for most of the Superjam and Skrillex.
Who is that in your sig?
I'm pretty sure that's Matt Berninger of The National. The man loves his wine...
Post by well behaved antelope on Mar 21, 2013 14:29:38 GMT -5
I have a bunch of these...unfortunately. Other than my biggest regrets which were definitely the years I didn't go:
Lets see, just off the top of my head:
02 - Missed the Disco Biscuits - hot neighbor girl wanted me to go with her to her favorite band (I was a noob and hadn't heard of them at the time), after Widespread my brain/memory seems a bit jumbled, I remember catching rail for CCBoBB and wondering why Guns 'N Roses eccentric new guitarist was onstage with Les Claypool (again, I was a noob - and its not really a total loss because that show was awesome). My fail in getting too quacked up to a.) enjoy and remember this show properly; or b.) go to my first (and would be to this day, only) tDB show and hooked up with a really hot chick at my first festival.
04 - Let an ex-GF buy my ticket and take me to Bonnaroo (big regret, don't do this EVER). It was her first Bonnaroo and she was trying to get me back. I saw so many soft emotional bands/shows that weekend and missed pretty much all of the late night fun (not Primus though). When the rain hit, she was done and ready to go and started packing up before Trey came on. I missed the Dead for probably the last time I would be able to catch them (Further doesn't quite count for me).
06 - I went to Bonnaroo last minute with about 6 friends that were all 'Roo virgins, my dad was dying of cancer and I was so sick of being in the hospital all of the time. Early on friday I ran across a very generous lady with some of the most amazing corn I've ever sampled. Sometime before Tom Petty I lost my friends and my mind and I wondered around the What field looking for them for the whole set. When it was over, I headed into Centeroo and without a schedule on me I somehow lost track of what day it was and presumed that everything I was wanting to see latenight was happening the next night. I thought maybe my friends went to the campsite and were waiting for me (I had forgotten how far back we were camped). As I'm walking back to camp I hear some familiar sounds. It sounds like someone is playing Lyrics Born from their car stereo. I keep waking and realize that its not a car at all, its quacking Lyrics Born on stage and as I crest the slight rise where our campsite is located I can hear it perfectly from THIS tent. Rather than running back to Centeroo right away I just listened to the rest of the set because I could hear it so well and couldn't in between the campsite and Centeroo. After he ended, I was clear enough to try to find my friends at Umphrey's. I didn't but I enjoyed what I saw of the remainder of the set. Then for some reason I decided AGAIN to go back to the campsite to find my friends. They were not back yet . I ended up missing both Blackalicious and the Disco Biscuits (again) for that one. Kids don't do too much corn. Saturday was somewhat of a blur but we perked back up for Radiohead and were blown away and satisfied. I think we were so spent from the previous night that we didn't make it to much after Radiohead. In fact when we woke up Sunday morning - we were just done (only time I've ever felt this way at Bonnaroo). I missed Brother's Past and my ride missed Moe. (which is who she came for - but we did catch the Sonic Stage set on Saturday. And we drove out Sunday afternoon.
09 - My friend and I brought two 'Roonoobs (you'd think I'd have learned my lesson by now). Saturday we watch Gov't Mule at the Which and we decided to sit around in the heat to wait for the Mars Volta (I really liked them at the time, that would change by halfway through the set). I thought the show was horrible and it kind of dampened our spirits (along with the heat, we should have gone to Of Montreal). After about 45 mins of tMV we went back to camp to rally during Bruce so we'd be ready for NIN. We ALL fell asleep and I woke up about 5 minutes before NIN was supposed to go on. I tried waking everyone but they were not motivated at all. Our site that year wasn't far from Centeroo, so one of my biggest (if not the single biggest) regrets was not hoofing it down there and catching the show by myself. I hear all the time how amazing it was and I missed it cause I was too...tired? Trent and I share a birthday - I should have tried harder to be there for him at least. I regret having to leave Phish during the encore, but we had to pack up and I just barely made it to work on no sleep with 15 mins to spare.
10 - I regret sitting through Kings of Leon, or catching any part of that terrible show. I regret eating something before the Flaming Lips that year (made me feel terrible but only lasted through DSotM so I still got to see/hear most of the rest of the show). I had never ridden the ferris wheel before so my fiance, at the time, and I decided to ride it during Jay-Z as we weren't huge fans. The show sounded great from up there, not a big regret but why the quack didn't we think to do that for stinkin' KoL? I also wanted to wait in line for Conan but I was sure we wouldn't be able to make it inside (we definitely could have made it if we got in line right away) so we ended up watching his show from the Movie tent (wasn't bad because our A/C was working unlike the Comedy tent) but just not the same, you know? I also went and saw GWAR LN instead of tDB, not really a regret but it fits a theme. As for Sunday, I regret having any faith that a DMB show might be fun, meh.
11 - I changed my strategy up this year due to the number of regrets I had had thus far at Bonnaroo. I made it a priority to stay cool and shaded and rested during the hours the sun was out, so that I could enjoy the nights as much as possible. The only regret I remember was seeing Eminem (can't believe I sat through the whole thing). By about half way through Gogol on Sat night, I had to actually sit down and rest but the plan totally worked and I pretty much saw everything I wanted to.
12 - Same plan as year before. Except that I brought my girlfriend who was a 'Roo noob (I know I know). The weekend was pretty flawless aside from the fact that we drank too much on Thursday before Big G and were a bit fuzzy on that show (no more hard liquor for me at Bonnaroo methinks) but still enjoyed ourselves. The toll came the next night during Radiohead. I was having a blast but my GF was a bit tired. She laid on the ground during Radiohead (against my advice) and dozed off for a minute. The combination of the low temperature, dew point and exhaustion combined to cause her to start freezing... at Bonnaroo. She made it through Radiohead but I had to take her back to the campsite and she missed what was one of the best latenights I've ever had with the AvS Magic Fountain secret set and the Umphreys sunrise surprise.
TL:DR My only regrets stem from one of 4 categories: I missed something because I didn't know who they were yet (ignorance - I need to do my homework): I didn't go because I was too exhausted (ignorance - I should plan better): I didn't go because I was too quacked up (foolishness): or I did go but the artist sucked (ignorance - I should know better).
Most of these have been remedied with better planning and experience - don't make the mistakes I have!
Missed Radiohead last year :/ 2012 was my first Roo and I over indulged in substances. I got caught up in the moment and tried to be a hero. Long story short all I could do was sit against the lockers yelling at my friend asking him "WHO AM I?" hah. The night wasn't a total lost though as I was able to sober up and dance my ass off at FlyLo!
You're just too young to grasp how stylin' I really was. All the boys wanted to do me when I was 5. Actually the girls did too. My haircut was confusing.
Well Cheek, hopefully the good times outweighed the bad times, yikes ... cr****
Of course. Like 1000:1.
I just use these as incentive to never miss anything ever again, ever. And to not be so dumb and get so messed up anymore.
I can do most anything, still be cognizant lolz and have a great time... EXCEPT alcohol!!!. Missed way too many good times not only at fests but in general. Hey I'm not preaching, just for me, I quit almost 3 months ago so during the summer fests, my goal is to remember both the good and the bad times eh So if you see an old dude walking around with corn coming out of his ears, DON'T offer a beer .. cr****
Post by well behaved antelope on Mar 21, 2013 15:29:18 GMT -5
Alcohol is pretty much my worst enemy at live music events. It always seems like a great idea and those first few sips can hit all kinds of the right spots. Its the coming down part that seems to get to me. I can't drink beer anymore (Celiac) so that makes it actually quite a bit easier to resist the temptation - especially at Bonnaroo where there are fewer beverage options.
I don't want to get political but I have never had as bad a time on anything as I've had under the influence of alcohol. In a place like 'Roo, it is hard on the body and on the spirit (<- see what I did there?) and is in general just not worth how I feel the next day(s).
I have nothing against people who can drink all day and still have lots of fun and be energetic, except for jealousy. Its just not for me.
P.S. a bigger aide than not drinking has been dancing for me. I've always done it at shows when I was enebriated, but in the last few years I've taken it a bit more serious and I actually performed in front of an audience on stage at a pretty big production at the Tivoli here in Chattanooga. After that point, I didn't need alcohol to feel comfortable doing what I love to do in front the whole world like no one is even watching (actually, I just tell myself that they don't matter), but the result is the same. I now get good excersize on top of remembering everything about the night before and I'm ready to go again in the evening.
Post by xxxxxCFHxxxxx on Mar 21, 2013 16:10:18 GMT -5
my biggest regret was not giving myself totally to roo the first 2 years i went 09-10. At the time I was new to alot of the music n missed a sh!tload of good shows! I also regret ever reading a thread on hear bout the lights they dropped during mmj. i was at primus and told everyone for months it was for us n it was guys crapping stardust......
Post by well behaved antelope on Mar 21, 2013 16:35:40 GMT -5
It WAS for us! As well as for the people on the WHAT field, that is my belief. I was at Primus as well and the lights were a marketing ploy (an effective and awesome one, i'll admit). The winds just happen to carry most of them over to the crowd at MMJ. Les was on an extended jam just at that very moment they began to drop. He knew it was coming because they probably told the artists that were performing at the time (was MMJ on or was it between MMJ and AF? I was fully immersed in Primus at the time so I didn't check to see what time it was when it happened) that they had some stunt planned and to keep an eye out for the skydivers. It just seemed too well choreographed with where they were in the set and in that jam to be coincidental.
2011- Arrived on Wednesday night, but didn't use sunscreen until Friday. Spent the rest of the weekend as lobster man. My super power was hating my life more than you.
2012- Not doing my best to get a good spot for shows. I didn't want to leave my friends, who liked to hang back away from the crowd, but having personal space at the expense of really getting into a show is not a fair trade. I'm getting in the thick of it this year!