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June 13th, 2009
03:48 AM ET
Phish comes 'home' to Bonnaroo
Bonnaroo, a massive four-day music and arts festival held every June in Manchester, Tennessee, was practically built for Phish, so it felt a bit like a homecoming when the Vermont-based jam band took center stage Friday night, taking its first of two headlining sets (the band plays Sunday as well) well into the early morning hours to a standing-room only crowd. Seemingly rejuvenated from its five-year hiatus, Phish pulled out all the stops in its first ‘Roo performance, playing classics like show-opener “Chalkdust Torture,” “Harry Hood,” and an epic 25-minute “You Enjoy Myself” (complete with synchronized trampoline jumping). The four-man group also worked in stellar covers of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” and show-finale “A Day in The Life” by the Beatles. Another standout performance Friday night came from the Beastie Boys, who took the stage by storm by playing punk metal before dropping rap classics “Pass The Mic,” “No Sleep Til Brooklyn” and “Root Down.” Their set included perhaps the highlight of the night as hip-hop icon Nas joined the Beasties on stage for a new track – which included a reference to “The Situation Room” news anchor Wolf Blitzer and CNN’s hologram technology. French outfit Phoenix delighted the hipster crowd who passed on Phish with their irresistible indie-pop – particularly when lead singer Thomas Mars climbed into the crowd during show-closer “1901” off their stellar new album, "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix." Over at the This Tent, Flavor Flav and Chuck D brought the noise as hip-hop pioneers Public Enemy delighted an eager crowd with favorites such as “Don’t Believe The Hype” and “Rebel Without a Pause.” Al Green – backed by a dozen musicians, singers and dancers, schmoozed the audience, throwing stemmed roses to female concert-goers, and coaxing mass sing-a-longs to some of his best-known tunes, like “Let’s Stay Together” and “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart.” TV on the Radio and David Byrne rounded off a series of fantastic performances on the Which Stage Friday evening. I knew there would be some artists I would not be able to see, but still I'm kicking myself for not catching these acts: *Santigold *Toubab Krewe *Grizzly Bear Here’s hoping I have the energy for Girl Talk. Stay tuned to the Marquee Blog for more updates, and you can also follow my exploits on Twitter. |
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This is a stupid debate being talked about on here, but Mike Doyle is correct on the Phish thing. Bonnaroo was inspired by the Phish festivals, even the people at Superfly will tell you that. Trey has always had a good relationship with them, he closed the festival with his solo band the first year. The rest of the festival scene has now evolved from Bonnaroo. Panic is one of my favorite bands, but they have nothing to do with the creation of Bonnaroo, they have just played there a lot. If you don't like Phish that's fine, but they are one of the main sources of inspiration for Bonnaroo being created. Its nice that Bonnaroo has evolved with music of all types, but nothing will ever top the first two years. There were hardly any rules and wasn't very expensive, just pure fun. Hope everyone had a good time this year.
this is all making my synapses burn
Bonnaroo was not built for Phish, and it definitely isn't their "home" (this is their first appearance at the festival). Bonnaroo was probably largely modeled after Big Cypress, Lemonwheel, The Great Went, Clifford Ball, Oswego, etc. And for those that think WSP had some grand role in "building" Bonnaroo, that is equally as laughable. They aren't the only band that has headlined Bonnaroo, and they have no hand in planning the festival. And Joe, its cool if you don't like Phish, but your reasoning makes absolutely no sense and sounds completely ignorant.
It IS Santigold... She changed it from Santogold.
It's pretty obvious that Bonnaroo was not built for any band, hence "music Festival," which assumes the fact that it was built for NUMEROUS bands, good and bad.
One question I do have is, How many bands do you think can get 80,000 people to Limestone, basically the border between Canada and the US? If any of you know anything about music, Trey Anastasio hits notes at certain instances during songs that almost nobody can do. This was confirmed by one of the greatest guitarists of all time, BB KIng, when they played a small venue that was recorded for TV.
Obviously this shows how many people have really been to Bonnaroo because you would not be saying that it was built for Phish. Widespread Panic played two nights of the very first Bonnaroo festival and four more times over the life of the festival. So even though Panic didn't play this year Bonnaroo was built for WSP.
Hey James Parillo. If you are going to demand that CNN conduct some research you might want to think about doing some yourself. The Clifford Ball was in 1996. The Great Went was in 1997.
Do some research James, RESEARCH!
Built for Phish? Hello, WSP was, is and will be what built Bonnaroo.
UH, sorry...Everything at Bonaroo not because of PHISH...they totally Suck.. It's Widespread Panic that has been the headliner for the first Bonaroo and headliner for three years after....Panic is THE band....Phish is weak...any jam band can play better than them...C'mon! Phish are only slightly good if trippin on acid and totally stoned.. They just happened to be the jam band by chance that had financial backing when the Grateful Dead dissolved in 1995.
It's actually "The Phish, from Vermont"
They were forced to change their dame due to a lawsuit.
clifford ball was in 96, not 97. better do YOUR research there jimmy p. but i do agree that the phish festies greatly influenced the creation of bonnaroo as we know it, but bonnaroo has taken on its own identity with a more diverse (and way too commericalized) feel. anoyne know if flavor flav was on stage w/ public enemy??
What did the Beasties have to say about Wolf B?
Bonnaroo owes everything to Phish? Do your research CNN?
You must be on the downside of 13. Ever hear of a thing called Woodstock?
Another American Corporate Music Machine concocted "event".
Prolofeed for the Masses and don't forget to take your Soma.
james parillo, seriously brah? i went to the first two roo's and will see phish a couple of times this summer. i think YOU should do some research and stop baggin on this writer. what about woodstock or all the other festies of the 60s/70s?
James Parillo – Clifford Ball was in 1996 – not 1997 – in NY state. The Great Went was in 1997. Must be a fact-checker for CNN 😉
"punk metal?" It's called old school New York Hardcore....
@ James Parillo: Point taken, but Clifford Ball was 1996; Great Went was 1997. Also, Phish played 6 sets at Clifford Ball (7 if you include the flatbed truck set...)
"Do some research James Parillo, RESEARCH!"
Oh my! My brother and his family live nearby in Manchester and there is NOTHING they can do to get away from the noise!!! What a nightmare! My heart goes out to you!
no, it used to be santogold but she changed her name recently to santigold
Enjoy your $8 cup of lemonade and security pat-downs.
girl talk is garbage. pop mash ups. that's not trendy at all. it's also about as creative as a transcription.
Oh and 1997 was the Great Went not the Clifford Ball... The Clifford Ball was in 1996. Both were HUGE Phish concerts. about 80,000 people PHISH ONLY!!!!!!!!!! Its better that way... : )
I'm from Asheville. Home of Toubab Krewe. Big mistake missing them. Don't let it happen again!
Research would tell you that The Clifford Ball was in '96, other Phish fests were The Great Went in '97, Lemonwheel in '98, and the greatest Phish fest of all NYE 1999, in Big Cypress Indian reservation in the florida everglades. They played from midnight to sunrise no set breaks. Then there was IT in '03, and Coventry (the bands "final show ever") in '04. Hopefully next year will bring a other festival.
I LOVE PHISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hate Phish.
you're gonna waste your time on Girl Talk and skipped Toubab? How did you get this job?
Alisha- It's Santigold. She had to change her name in Feb b/c of a lawsuit.
@Alisha Santogold changed her name to Santigold due to legal reasons. "They" are still a she.
It's actually Santigold, she was forced to change her name because of a lawsuit.
@alisha Careful when you're correcting people. She is Santigold now.
PHISH is back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Would love to be there to see Nine Inch Nails play.
Bonaroo was NOT built for Phish. Bonaroo is BECAUSE of Phish. If you look back to 1997, fans of Phish (some 75,000) came for a two day concert called The Clifford Ball where they camped out and lived peacefully among one another to simply hear 3 sets of music from this band.
Everything Bonaroo is and will be is BECAUSE of Phish. Do some research CNN, RESEARCH!
Save your time and don't see girltalk. See someone that does something other than push buttons and combine other people's art. He is the most over rated dj/musician(?) i've ever seen in my life. Save it for the e-tards.
Hope my daughter and her boyfriend enjoy their stay as I think they paid $200.00 each for their tickets. Sounds fun and enjoyable.
Legalize it!!
its actually santigold now – she changed her name to a different vowel...
It is pretty funny how commercial 'Roo has become.
i thought there was a shortage of hippies in town last night. didn't quite feel right. i knew there was something going on. they're building a temporary nest in tennessee.
how's the weather? My son and daughter are there and I have not heard from them since yesterday. can someone post a comment on weather? thanks. a worried mom.
Santi White ,a.k.a. Santigold, changed her stage name from Santogold to Santigold.
Bonnaroo was built for Phish?? I'm not sure what festival you were at but the Beasties were very diappointing and Phish was rather bland. They did not want to explore too much because of the different fans that were there. The YEM wasnt 25 minutes because they went into Wilson midway. It seemed very rushed so they would meet curfew.
Santogold not santigold.. but they are awesome live.
Thanks Alisha, but I'm pretty sure the artist formerly known as Santogold is now Santigold, despite the 2008 eponymous album.
My wife caught them, and says they were great!
wish I could be there
Too bad you missed Toubab Krewe they are extremely skilled musicians and put on a great live show!!