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Post by twilightsociety on May 17, 2008 3:04:41 GMT -5
Hey all,
From what I can see, the board does not have a clear thread about 2008 acts that posters have seen before and given their opinions about their live performances, and not just whether we like the band or not. I figured a thread could help us out with this.
So, if you want, please state such things as: the acts you've seen before, where and when did you see them, what were the conditions of the show and how that relates to Bonnaroo (i.e. large festival, small club, headliner, opener), do you plan to make an effort to see them at Bonnaroo 2008, and would you recommend them to another poster, etc.
Here's my list of whom I've seen before, in descending order of bands, per the official website:
Pearl Jam: seen twice before. First, I saw them headlining The Fargodome in North Dakota, which is an indoor stadium converted to an arena set-up. This was in June 2001, with Idlewild opening. This was a last-minute decision for me, so I ended up with some of the worst seats. The band was just fine, but it felt sort of slow, and this was during their "we have seats on the main floor" phase. The crowd was relatively sedate, as was the band. Secondly, I saw them headlining Lollapalooza last year in Chicago, on the barricade stage-right. This performance was amazing, Vedder was on fire and running around. The show's up on ITunes if anyone wants it. This show showed me that the band can still bring it, especially to a festival. I do plan again to see them at Bonnaroo, though I expect they'll be the only band playing at the time, so it doesn't really matter. But they're great, even if you're not a huge fan, and I recommend you make efforts to get a great view.
Metallica: I've seen them three times. First two were 2 nights of a 3-night stand at Target Center in Minneapolis, January 2000. Kid Rock and Sevendust were the openers. Both nights I had terrible seats. However, the band was quite good and played some great songs. The third time was at the Forum near Los Angeles, Godsmack opening, in 2003-4 for the St. Anger tour. Seats were lower level. Again, the band was consistent and well-rehearsed. Basically, they put on a nice show and they may gain a few fans, but you kind of know what you're getting into. I'd recommend them to the fans and curious, but if you hate them, seeing them live won't change your opinion. However, since they'll probably have no competition for your attention when they play, you should check them out.
Jack Johnson: I've seen Jack twice, first the KROQ Almost-Acoustic Christmas, a radio show-sponsored show in Los Angeles, 2003 I believe. I enjoy Jack's music, but his live show is sweet, cheerful boringness. I saw him again at Coachella 2003, main stage early evening. I was only there because The White Stripes, The Stooges, and The Red hot Chili Peppers were on after him (if I remember correctly). Again, his music is pleasant, but there's not much there, especially for a live show. I do not plan on seeing him at Bonnaroo, unless the act after him (probably Pearl Jam) warrants it necessary for me to see him. I would not recommend him to any posters, unless you're an ardent fan who has not already seen him.
Widespread Panic. I've seen them once, on the barricade last year for their Sunday-headlining slot at Bonnaroo. You could actually see me in one of the pics on website after the show. I thought they were fine. I wasn't a huge fan before the show, but they converted me a little bit. I'll see them this year, as they're once again closing the show, but I would probably see someone else if the organizers had other acts performing at the same time. I'd recommend the band to fans, jamband fans, and the curious.
Kanye West: caught most of his performance at Coachella 2006, main stage afternoon set, from about the 5th row. It was kind of fun , as he had an orchestra on stage with him and he was quite animated. However, he threw a hissy fit once some static got his mic, and delayed the show for a bit. I've read reviews of his Glow in the Dark tour, and they say that his live band isn't actually on the stage. I wouldn't mind seeing him again, but I'm not going to make any special effort to see him and will bypass him without a second thought if someone better, in my opinion, is performing. I'd recommend to rap fans, the curious, and those who want entertainers, not artists. (That's not a criticism. I'm not ashamed to say that I've been to 134 concerts, and N*Sync is one of my top 5, and I'm a male doctoral student; the others one are probably Sigur Ros, Travis, Tool, The White Stripes).
Phil Lesh & Friends: Saw him once at a co-headlining tour with him and Bob Dylan. Target Center, Minneapolis, on the floor, roughly around 2000. Bob Dylan, who I had primarily wanted to see, opened. I had to leave due to a family emergency of a fellow attendee about 3 songs into Lesh, and I had to go. From what I heard, what you expect, good or bad, is what you get. I'd like to see him if possible, but I woudn't care much if the opportunity didn't arise. I'd recommend the same to others; big fans know to just ignore me if they know the material well enough.
My Morning Jacket. Saw once, from the barricade at Lollapalooza 2007, main stage right before Pearl Jam. A great performance, with some songs assisted by a small children's orchestra. The band was great, though the set was short by their standards. All their live accolades are well-deserved, in my opinion. I also have the bootleg of their lengthy Bonnaroo 2006 performance. It's been stated that they're returning to Bonnaroo late-night, I think, and I plan to be there. I'm willing to skip them if another "must-see" is performing, but I'd prefer not to. I recommend them to everyone, especially if you haven't seen them before.
Death Cab for Cutie. Saw at Coachella from the barricade, 2005, I think. Afternoon set on the second stage. I grabbed their handwritten set list. The show itself was rather listless, which I've heard is sort of their standard live performance. You'll want to go if you're a big fan, but I'd recommend skipping them if you don't know them or have a conflict. Their actual music is great and I have most of their albums, but overall, rather "eh" live.
Les Claypool: okay, I've never seen him solo, but I saw Primus twice in 2001, once at Ozzfest mainstage, and again at Family Values. They performed well, although they didn't really fit (obviously) into the ethos of both festivals. I plan to check him out this year if possible, though he's not a must-see. If you know him by name, I'd recommend him. If you had to Google/Wikipedia him for knowledge, don't bother.
Sigur Ros: seen twice, once at The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles 2001, again The Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis, 2006. Both great seats, both wonderful time. One of my top-5 live acts of all time. Pure ethereal, eerie, joyful, experience. The first live act for which I've cried in sheer happiness. I don't think anyone can top them for me, and I plan to be there if at all possible. Don't even think about skipping them, unless you've seen them perform live at close proximity (and even then, still go if you can).
Ben Folds: saw once at Coachella 2003. Second stage, afternoon, a ways back. He was... nice. Pleasant, power-pop. Also, rather funny with his stage banter. I'm not a huge fan, but he brings it live. I don't plan on seeing him, but you should go if you enjoy his solo stuff.
M.I.A.: seen twice, first time was her American live "debut" at Coachella 2003 (or 2004, I can't remember). Absolute shit; of my 134 concerts, possibly the single worst performance. She couldn't sing or rap, had a hypegal do most of the work, and had no stage presence. Complete letdown. I saw her again due to the persuasion of a friend at Lollapalooza 2007, up close near one of the main stages. She has more people on stage now, but still can't do anything right, for the same reasons as before. I enjoy her music and have both albums, but she's atrocious in a live setting. I've read that she can be entertaining when headlining clubs. But I've seen her ruin 2 festivals now, and I won't see it happen again at a third. I will run away from her Bonnaroo show, and recommend you do the same, unless you're a huge fan or want to watch a train wreck as it happens.
Gogol Bordello: saw twice, at last year's Bonnaroo at This Tent on the barricade, and again at The Fillmore in San Francisco, August 2007. They were phenomenal at Bonnaroo. I had been a fan for some time before then and they fulfilled all my expectations with their animated and sprightly set. Lots of wonderful, catchy craziness. Highly recommended. They were a lot more sedate at their club show, and I expect they "bring it" more at festivals, since they're booked at pretty much all of them now. Highly recommended. I may skip if there's competition, as I've seen them twice in close proximity in the last year, but I urge you to see them if they are new to you.
Rilo Kiley. Saw them opening for Pedro the Lion at a very small club named The Glasshouse near Los Angeles. They were very quiet and calm, almost country-ish. They were enjoyable, if slightly boring. They've gotten more popular and perky since then, so my concert is probably not an accurate statement of them now. I have their recent albums and they don't hugely appeal to me, so I won't make any efforts to see them. But to all their fans, go by all means if you are so inclined.
Mastodon: caught a headlining show by them at First Avenue in Minneapolis, circa 2006. Great show. If you want pure 100% metal with an indie flavor, look no further. If you don't want to mosh, run fast and far. Great if it's up your alley, horrible if you want to relax and just people watch. I wouldn't mind seeing them again, but I'll probably choose something new. See them if you like metal.
Lupe Fiasco. Saw once, at Lollapalooza 2007. Main stage barricade, but only because I was waiting for My Morning Jacket and Pearl Jam. For a live rapper, he's not bad, better than most live rappers. Unfortunately, that's not saying much. At the time, he had the standard DJ and hypeman, so if that doesn't appeal to you, get out of there. I have no plans to see him again, and I'd only recommend if you enjoy watching rap live.
Against Me!: saw once, from a distance at Lollapalooza 2007. I know them well, but only had time to watch them while walking slowly by. They're sort of an indie-punk power-pop group from Florida, and quite good. I hope to devote more attention to them at Bonnaroo this year, and recommend them to all, unless there's strong competition or you want to see someone more sedate.
Tegan & Sara: seen twice, first an acoustic set at The Bridge School Benefit in 2004. Shoreline Amphitheatre, near San Francisco, from the rainy lawn. I enjoyed them, but wasn't impressed, mostly due to the weather conditions. Saw them again doing a standard electric set at Coachella 2005, on the barricade at the second stage during the afternoon, and was much more impressed, especially since I was there mostly because Arcade Fire were up next. Lovable pop. The twins are renowned for their stage banter, and they're awesome for that alone, let alone their singing and writing skills. Highly recommended, though their most recent album is a bit of a step back in my opinion. I'm seeing them again, and I hope to see you there.
Chali 2na: I've seen him perform with Galactic twice (at Bonnaroo last year and again at The Showbox in Seattle), once with Jurassic 5 (Bridges Auditorium, near Los Angeles, 2005). He's great live for a rapper, nice clear flow, although his hypeman (his biological brother) is quite annoying, as is his constant pitch for his albums. He and Talib Kweli are probably the best live rappers performing this year, so go if that's your thing. It's not for me.
Ladytron: seen twice, Coachella 2003 and Coachella 2006. Once they had technical difficulties and got screwed basically, while they were great the second time. Electro-cold pop. It says something that they've opened for both Nine Inch Nails and Gwen Stefani. I'm going to try and see them again, and recommend them to all. However, if there's a tie-breaker for me, they'll probably lose.
The Fiery Furnaces. Saw at Coachella 2003, second stage during the day from a distance. This band's an odd one. Do some digging and check out their subject matter. They're interesting to see and sort of meld all of their songs into 1 never-ending hodge-podge. Literally, no song breaks. They're a little bit out there for me, especially given the competition at Bonnaroo. I plan on avoiding them, although I enjoy their music and have most albums. I recommend skipping them unless you worship their (admittedly) interesting techniques.
Ghostland Observatory. Saw them opening up the main stage at Lollapalooza last year. I enjoyed the tunes, but the performance was pretty bad. It was a case of trying so hard to be different, they just ended up being irritating. The music is good and their increasing notoriety is well-deserved, don't get me wrong. However, they just couldn't bring it live for me. I will not see them again, but by all means give them a try if you enjoy them or what to see what the fuss is about.
Well, those are all the bands I've seen. I'm excited to read your live experiences, and any responses to my thoughts are welcome.
As for bands I haven't seen before, I'm most excited for Robert Plant/Alison Krauss/T-Bone Burnett, B.B. King, Levon Helm, Bluegrass All-Stars, Swell Season, Sharon Jones, Dumpstaphunk, Drive-By Truckers, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Chris Rock, and Battles.
!!! - Seen them twice, once at a small club, and once front row at langerado. Both times were amazing, and they are probably my favorite live band. They are just SOOOO quacking dance-able and they really know how to connect with the crowd. They top my must see list.
Rilo Kiley - Saw em in a small club last semester, I enjoyed it a lot. They played lots from More Adventurous which is my favorite album of theirs, despite the fact that it was a tour for their newer album (which I hate). I was close to front row and it was a really intimate show and again, Jenny Lewis was excellent with audience interaction and such.
Grand Ole Party - They opened for Rilo Kiley when I saw them and it was definitely very interesting. Very dance-able, bluesy, stompy indie-rock, with a female drummer who is also the lead singer. Worth checking out if nothing else big is going on.
Death Cab for Cutie - I saw them on their Plans tour at Cameron Indoor Stadium. I had reserve seats rather than GA pit which was unfortunate, but I definitely enjoyed the show. some of their longer songs just seem epic when played live, like "Transatlanticism."
Against Me! - EXCELLENT live. Seen them twice at warped tour and once at a small club. There was some light moshing, so you might not want to get too close if you aren't into that, but they are very fresh, very good anarchist punk with more than simple cheesy punk power chord progressions. I definitely wouldn't call them "Power-pop"...
Raconteurs - I saw them in a small club on their 'Broken Boy Soldiers' tour and they put on one of my favorite shows to date. Jack White's extended blues guitar solos are to die for, and they did some sweet covers when I saw them including Nancy Sinatra's "Bang Bang" and David Bowie's "It Ain't Easy." "Bang Bang" was one of my favorite live music moments, it was insanely good. They are also on my must see list along with !!! and Gogol Bordello.
State Radio - I knew nothing about them when I saw them at langerado, i was just waiting all day at the main stage to get up front for R.E.M, but this was my "pleasant surprise" of the weekend, I may check them out at bonnaroo if a band I actually know well isn't conflicting, I definitely had a great time at this show at Langerado.
Pearl Jam - Atlanta 2003 ... They were my favorite band at the moment and it was a bad ass show. I was a huge PJ fan and they definitely delivered that night. They played rare songs (Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns) and several "hits". This is the one band I will not miss at Bonnaroo this year.
WSP - Bonnaroo 2005, Bonnaroo 2007, Phillips Arena 2007 - Panic sometimes bores me to tears and sometimes they kick ass. I'll see um because they are closing roo, but would probably skip um if they weren't.
Phil & Friends - Roo 06 & Atlanta 2006 - Both shows were great and Dickey Betts sat in with them in Atlanta and they played 3 sets. I'll go see Phil again, but I'll probably be dividing my time between other late nites too.
MMJ - Roo 06, ATL 2006, and 2 nites in Athens at the 40 Watt in 2007 - The only semi bad time I saw them was at the Tabernacle in Atlanta and it still was a great show. Its just hard to live up to their Roo performance and the 2 "prom" nites in Athens. I will definitely be seeing their show unless it conflicts w/ Levon Helm.
Willie Nelson -- Too many times to remember - He usually puts on a great show, but I've been seeing him since I was in diapers and I've seen a couple of just OK ones. I'll still see him at Bonnaroo and I would advise everyone else to as while ..... he's fuckin' Willie Nelson!
Levon Helm - Ryman 2007 and Wanee 2008 - The Ryman show was unreal, probably one of the best shows I;ve ever seen and his Wanee set was great. I will not miss his set at all.
Umphrey's McGee - City Hall in Nashville 2007 - I was dragged by some friends to see the show and it was a lot better than I thought it was going to be. Their lead guitarist is sick. But the vocals were god awful and the songs were pretty lame. I'll probably skip um at roo though.
Derek and Susan - Atlanta NYE 2006 & 2007, Wanee 2006,2007,2008 and I've seen DTB and Susan by themselves several times too. Derek blows my mind every time I see him and Susan is my favorite female vocalist. They will put on another bad ass show and I won't miss it. If you like slide guitar and a tiny white girl version of Arthea Franklin then you'd love this show.
Robert Randolph -- Seen him several times, but the best was probably with the Word at Bonnaroo 2005. I'll more then likely catch him again unless there is some weird conflict (there always is).
PBS - Caught half of their Wanee show this year and it was great. I will not miss them on Thursday. If you like funk, you'll love PBS.
Dumpstaphunk -- Seen um a couple of times, but the best was at roo 2006. I may go see them again because they put on a great funk show, but I'd rather see something new.
Henry Butler - Xmas jam can't remember what year -- I do remember he was the highlight of the xmas jam though. Great keys player, I'd go see him again.
Drive - by Truckers - Xmas Jam, Bham (Alabama Theater), Opening for the Crowes a couple of times, Rites of Spring at Vandy last year. They can either play a great show or it can just be a loud mess. Definitely hit or miss for me. I'll probably skip um.
Dirty Dozen Brass Band -- Seen um several times (all at festivals) and they are okay, I'll probably skip um though.
Donavon Frankenrieter - Saw him open for Gov't Mule one time and was bored to tears. He couldn't really play guitar all that well or sing and his songs were boring.
Wood Bros - Seen Oliver play in Atlanta several times and I've seen the actual Wood Bros twice - Roo 06 and at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville in 2007. They put on great show and Oliver has a great voice. Both of their albums are great and their shows are usually like the albums (which in this case is a good thing). I'm really looking forward to hearing what they sound like with a bulked up lineup.
Felice Bros - Nashville 2008 at the Mercy Lounge - Great show, it was kinda of like seeing The Band, but with even more drugs. I'll definitely be at their show.
Lee Boys - Wanee 2007 I think. Good Sacred Steel band that put on an energetic show. If you like Robert Randolph, you'll like the Lee Boys. I've seen um once and while it was good I'd rather see something new to me.
Steel Train - Saw um open up for Rose Hill Drive in Athens at the 40 watt a couple of years ago. Very boring and bland to me. I'll skip um
Jypsi - Every damn day for a month straight this year it seems (they play at the club next to where I work) - Great people, great players, good band. They actually put on a great show if you dig bluegrass (a bit too pop though to call it traditional bluegrass). I'll skip um cuz I;ve seen them so much, but if you are the least bit interested in catching them, don't miss um.
Mike Farris - Several times at small clubs in Nashville. The man has a great voice, but I prefer his stuff with Screaming Cheetah Wheelies. His shows now are more soul then rock ... still a good show though. I'll see him if there is no one playing that I'm the least bit interested in.
The Greencards - Opening for Willie and Bob Dylan in Bham at some Minor league ballpark. They put on an okay show, nothing amazing. If you dig bluegrass you may like um.
Hey all, Pearl Jam: seen twice before. First, I saw them headlining The Fargodome in North Dakota, which is an indoor stadium converted to an arena set-up.
wow! i saw korn at the fargobarn once. it was in 2000 and they ended the show early since the drummer couldn't feel his arm. i'd already lived in phoenix for a few years and was just visiting family at the time. i only lived in fargo for 2 years and the only shows we got were danzig and motley crue sans vince neal.....back to the original topic.
metallica: my first concert was metallica and the cult in 89 @ the sioux falls arena. needless to say it left an impression. since then i've seen them 9 other times, the last time being in 98 with jerry cantrell. i've had seats ranging from the upper level of the metrodome to inside the snake pit and no matter where i was at they always put on a great show. when i saw them at lollapalooza, james got smacked in the chest by a gallon of water and he didn't even acknowledge it...he just kept on playing.
les claypool: i've seen him a number of times with primus and once with the holy mackerel. i can't imaging a scenario where he couldn't be entertaining.
mastodon: i've seen them twice. maybe the only good new metal band to come out in the past decade. the drums are the lead instrument. even if this isn't your style of music i recommend checking them out for at least one song.
the sword: i've seen them twice. its fun stoner rock with a slight iron maiden twist.
holy shnikeys i've only seen 4 bands that are playing the roo this year! i'm not counting last years widespread show since i only listened to them from my campsite (DUST!). i've never owned any of their cds but i used to have a video of them playing in georgia (athens maybe?). they jammed some sabbath last year and i've always thought tall boy was a fun song.
Post by jumpinjamesbrown on May 17, 2008 8:13:57 GMT -5
i've seen pearl jam, metallica, widespread panic, kanye west, phil and friends, mmj, the raconteurs, bb king, les claypool, talib kweli, broken social scene, lupe fiasco, chali 2na, the coup, the wood brother and john medeski but not together
Well, this year is the only year I've seen any of the acts previously, and that is Ben Folds. Great performer, will hope to catch him if all is suitable with the schedule.
The prior years (06 and 07) I had seen none of the Roo bands before. That's what I love about Roo... all these bands I'd never get the chance/take the chance to go see on their own.
I'm going to see Broken Social Scene Tuesday, so I can report back then, and Rilo Kiley on the 1st of June. In the meantime:
Superdrag- I've seen them 4 times? I think? That sounds right. One of my favorite live bands, and since they've gone back to the original lineup, they're even more high energy. I imagine they'll be playing a pretty early set, and I definitely recommend checking them out if you can make it. They'll be playing stuff from the new record and probably a lot of old stuff from the first 2 records as well, since those guys were the ones who recorded them.
Ben Folds: Saw him in '06, and while I enjoyed his set it wasn't earth shattering. Unless I have absolutely no conflicts, I probably won't bother this year.
OAR: Saw them in my school gymnasium Spring '06. They were good, fun, pretty much exactly what I expected. A few too many "bros" in the audience for my taste, and like BF, unless I have no conflicts, I won't rush to their set. But enjoyable, danceable tunes.
Cat Power: Saw her in '06, and she was great. Much more energy and good spirits than she used to have, and as far as I know she brings the whole Delta Blues band with her. It's probably a show worth seeing just to check out what covers she'll throw in. There are usually some good ones.
MMJ: Epic. Can't miss.
eta: Actually typing this out made me realize how many acts I love that I'll be seeing for the first time at Roo. Awesome.
Last Edit: May 17, 2008 8:34:36 GMT -5 by me40 - Back to Top
Ive seen O.A.R 6 times. Im from Toledo, OH so I had plenty of chances to see them when they were younger. Seen then 3 times in c-bus, 2 times in Toledo and once in Cleveland. they always put on a fun show and look forward to seeing them.
Ive seen Minus The Bear once about 2 or 3 years ago, when I saw them i wasnt impressed at all. The new cd i absolutely love though so i will most likely give them a second chance.
Pearl Jam, Metallica, Jack Johnson, Widespread Panic, Alison Krauss featuring T Bone Burnett, Phil Lesh & Friends, My Morning Jacket, Willie Nelson, Death Cab for Cutie, B.B. King, Les Claypool, Ben Folds, O.A.R., Umphrey's McGee, Iron & Wine, Stephen Marley, Yonder Mountain String Band, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Soul Stew Revival, Robert Randolph's Revival, The Disco Biscuits, Lupe Fiasco,Donavon Frankenreiter.
pj - saw them in charlotte in 2000. they are one of the best bands of the last 15 years. i would not miss them.
wsp - used to love them... but meh... i'm not going to see them unless i have to.
mmj - one of my favorite bands... they own the festival. they grew up with us and i cant wait to see them.
phil lesh - he is a true gangster. i havent seen them with jackie greene, but if they play like they did in 2006, then we're in for a treat.
bss - they are a great band. i saw them in atlanta a few years ago... they were good, not mind blowing, but the set that i heard from lolla was fantastic!
jack johnson - if you like slow meandering power chord reggae soft rock, then by all means chill to this.
ben folds - entertaining, but a little too chill for me... i'd probably enjoy it more if i was a bigger fan of his lesser known music.
bela fleck, edgar meyer - saw them at the first roo, it was fantastic. they should be great with the rest of the all stars.
Last Edit: May 17, 2008 11:14:27 GMT -5 by phuture5 - Back to Top
-pearl jam -my morning jacket -rogue wave -grand ole party
so yeah, not a lot out of the entire list which is why i am happy to be gettin an opportunity to see so many amazing bands like the raconteurs, death cab, sigur ros, vampire weekend, etc. all in one place.......Bonnaroo will be my fourth time seein PJ and they have yet to disappoint me.......i don't think they have disappointed anyone who likes their music personally -- they always bring it with every show. Saw MMJ open for PJ in Boston in 2006, which is right after I started getting into their music, with the release of Z. Saw Rogue Wave and Grand Ole Party together at a small club in Boston last month, and it was quite far one of the better shows i've seen in a while. On a smaller band note, I HIGHLY SUGGEST Grand Ole Party. They groove to no end, and a woman lead singer / drummer is totally hot to me.
I only got through part of the line up. so far I've seen:
Big Sam - A+ Widespread - B T Bone - C Phil - A+ Willie - A BB - A+, but he's pretty frail now Ben Folds - A++ he's sooo much fun ZPA - first tour was A+ Robert Randolph - A Abigail Washburn - B Bela - B Medeski - C One of the Wood Bros. - C
WSP Phil and Friends (at Echo last year...) Raconteurs (at Jazz Fest) You MUST see this show!!! ;D Tiesto - meh MIA (VooDoo last year) I agree with the first post - good recordings - notsogreat live....actually REALLY bad live..... Umps - another of my MUST sees - unless they are against MMJ Disco Biscuits Chali 2Na (with Galactic) The Coup (or at least Boots) - I am excited to see them too Dirty Dozen Brass Band Dumpstaphunk Big Sam Trombone Shorty And haven't seen but fyi...Harrybu McCage is Matt Cameron's Jazz band.....they play on Sunday.....
Well, I just went through the list - looks like I've seen the following...
Pearl Jam - opened for U2 in Hawaii, Lollapalooza last year. amazing live performance - do not miss this show.
Metallica - seen them a few times over the years. downloaded all thier shit in the interwebs. they do put on a rocking show - it will probably be fantastic. im hoping they do something special like S&M for this show.
Widespread Panic - heard them last year at roo. lots of people were there, lots werent. good music, just sort of backgroundy.
Kanye West - see my full review in another thread.
Phil Lesh & Friends - saw part of them at roo, but it got rainy and we left. its the dead...
My Morning Jacket - DO NOT MISS THEM. that is all.
Willie Nelson - saw him a few times - always consistently good. loves performing and it tranlates into the audience.
Death Cab for Cutie - saw them at roo and just on thier own recently. very good set, heavy on thier newer stuff. when they are "on" - its really good.
Robert Randolph's Revival - RR is fantastic. no idea what this will be, but you know it will be funky.
The Disco Biscuits - just saw them in NYC. good times!
Against Me! - saw them play one song before the foo fighters. not my thing.
Jim Norton - met him at a booksigning and he emails me back. a nice guy....filthy comic though.
Post by Kanye West on May 17, 2008 12:14:56 GMT -5
Pearl Jam - Lollapalooza 2007 (B) Widespread Panic - Lollapalooza 2005 (C) Kanye West - Lollapalooza 2006 (C+) My Morning Jacket - on their own in December 2006 (A+) Death Cab - Lollapalooza 2005 (A) and on their own in October 2005 (B+) Claypool (Primus) - Lollapalooza 2005 (D+) DBT - Lollapalooza 2005 (A+) Jose Gonzalez - solo show in May 2007 (B) Little Feat - street festival in August 2006 (B-) What Made Milwaukee Famous - Lollapalooza 2006 (C) Nomo - Pitchfork 2007 (B)
Post by famousblueraincoat on May 17, 2008 12:18:45 GMT -5
Bands
Pearl Jam - Lollapalooza 2007 - They were ridiculously good. Surprisingly so.
Kanye West - Lollapalooza 2006 - Very high energy show. Wasn't up very close, but I look forward to seeing him again. He had sound problems that were a bit irritating for both he and the audience.
My Morning Jacket - Bonnaroo 2004, Bonnaroo 2006, Taste of Chicago 2006, Lollapalooza 2006, Langerado 2007, Lollapalooza 2007 - Probably one of my top 3 favorite bands. Pretty sure they've never played a bad show. Three of their shows rank in my top 10 shows ever seen.
Willie Nelson - Saw him at Farm Aid when I was too young to appreciate what he had to offer. I remember him being low key.
Death Cab for Cutie - Bonnaroo 2006, Lollapalooza 2006 - The Bonnaroo show was electric. They work really well together. The Lolla show didn't sell me as much, but if they repeat their last Bonnaroo performance, this will be a really wonderful show.
Ben Folds - Seen him too many times to count - Another performer that brings it for his live shows every single time. If you know his music, you'll have a hard time having as much fun at another show all weekend.
O.A.R. - Saw them at a fraternity party back in the day - MEhh.
Cat Power - Langerado 2007 - Frankly, I like Cat Power, but her live show - yawn.
Umphrey's McGee - Bonnaroo 2004 - Umphrey's has never really done it for me. If you like their music, I'm sure they're captivating.
Iron and Wine - The Bluebird (Bloomington, IN), 2005, Lollapalooza 2006, Pitchfork 2007 - Love Sam Beam, but his live shows tend to be a bit sleepy. If you're looking to chill out and hear some fine musicianship, he comes highly recommended.
Gogol Bordello - Bonnaroo 2007 - Saw just the back end of their show last year. If that was any evidence of what they are like live, these guys are insanely good.
Robert Randolph - Bonnaroo 2004, Mars (Bloomington, Indiana), 2004 - He always puts on a fun, high energy show, and he loves Bonnaroo so he'll bring it.
The Disco Biscuits - Just caught a few minutes of their show at Bonnaroo 2006 during a brief MMJ break - They were fine. I'm not that familiar with their stuff, but I like them better than Umphrey's.
Mastodon - Pitchfork 2007 - I don't like metal, but these guys are REALLY exceptionally good. I got into their show at Pitchfork where the sound is notoriously bad. Highly recommended.
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - Langerado 2007 - Do you like dancing? This woman can move. Think James Brown meets Aretha Franklin. Very fun show, despite the crowd being sparse when I saw her.
Drive By Truckers - Bluebird, Bloomington, IN - 2004 - I love these guys, but I wasn't in love with this particular show. With that said, I'll be seeing them again at the Roo. I just think the atmosphere wasn't right when I saw them.
Dark Star Orchestra - Mars (Bloomington, IN) - 2005 - I was pleasantly surprised at how well they nail the Dead. The set I saw left me anxious to see them again.
Cornmeal - Niles Bluegrass Festival (Niles, MI) - 2007 - If you like bluegrass and you like dancing, do not miss these guys. We had SUCH a blast at their show. Just tremendous. They do a number of originals plus some great bluegrass covers (I remember a cover of a Paul Simon song - either "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" or "Late in the Evening").
Nomo - Pitchfork 2007 - Very funky stuff. Great afternoon show. Sunny, funky.
Comedians
David Cross - I love Mr. Show. That said, I was pretty unimpressed by his set at Bonnaroo 2007.
Zach Galifiniakis - Saw him at UNC with Will Ferrell and Dmitri Martin in February. Stole the show. Hilarious.
Post by henotbusybeingborn on May 17, 2008 13:12:04 GMT -5
My Morning Jacket - caught about an hour of their late night '06 set. Really enjoyed it, but wasn't very familiar with them at all, my only previous exposure was Jim James's collaboration with Bright Eyes, so I left to go check out Common. Now that I've had a chance to get into them, I'm really psyched for what is sure to be an epic Which Stage performance.
The Raconteurs - Caught most of their Virgin Festival set in '06, which was great. Broken Boy Soldier really kills live. Can't wait to hear the new material, hopefully they'll throw in some extended jams and an interesting cover or two.
Death Cab for Cutie - One of my favorite shows from Roo '06. Loved the opening segue of Passenger Seat>Different Names for the Same Thing. They really mixed up their set, which was surprising, considering Plans had just came out, I figured they'd stick to mostly new material. I still listen to the bootleg of that show frequently. If you consider yourself a fan in any capacity, definitely check them out. Looks like they're gonna be closing out the Which Stage Sunday night this year, should be a pretty awesome set.
Ben Folds - Great! I've been a fan since I was a wee lad, and my mom played the (at the time) newly released Ben Folds Five debut. Saw him at Roo '06, and then later that same year in my friend's college gymnasium. Got to go up on stage and sing backup vocals with a few other people on "Underground" (think I mighta mentioned that before ), so that gives you an idea of the kind of audience participation to expect.
Gogol Bordello - Caught the last half of their 'Roo '07 set. Basically, get ready for the biggest fuckin' party of the weekend. Eugene is a madman. Seeing him toss a bass drum into the crowd, and then precede to crowd surf on top of the drum is one of the iconic images of last year's Roo. Just such a fun band. I really hope they get a late night set.
Rilo Kiley - Saw them at the Trocadero back in September. I thought they did a very good job. Jenny Lewis is obviously adorable. I blew her a kiss and she smiled at me and I just about died. Hehe...oh right, they play music too. Loved hearing Spectacular Views. Wasn't crazy about the new stuff on record, but I gained a new appreciation for it hearing the stuff live. They also did "Rise Up With Fists" and an Elected song, for fans of their individual side projects.
Against Me! - Best for last! Bonnaroo will be my seventh time seeing them. First time was at the Ottobar in 2005, seen them various times at the Recher since then, once at Sonar, once at the Canal Club in Richmond. Truly an amazing band. Such intelligent, passionate music. I'm slightly concerned about how they're notoriously intimate shows will translate to the festival setting, but I know they'll bring it. Met the band several times, conversed with Tom the lead singer several times, really solid dudes. If you happen to encounter one of them before Roo, go ahead and request a song, they'll usually oblige. Basically, I feel priveleged to have witnessed this band in their prime. Must be how people who saw The Clash circa "London Calling" must feel.
T-Bone Burnett: Bonnaroo 2007- Played alot of material from his last album and really enjoyed.
Levon Helm: Wanee 2008- Unbelievable show. Played a couple of Dylan tunes, which he did a phenomenal job on.
Umphrey's McGee: Atlanta 2007- Their guitarist came on for the Disco Biscuits and jammed well with them. Opened up their show with a fantastic metal jam. Also did Eruption which blew me away.
Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Soul Stew Revival: Wanee 2007,2008- The 2007 show which I was front row for was the first ever SSR show for them and it was phenomenal. Played a good bit of Songlines tunes. 2008 show was fantastic as well.
Robert Randolph: Wanee 2007- Played two shows that year and each one was great. Robert Randolph puts on fantastic shows, and I can't wait to see him again. This "Revival" makes me excited.
Porter-Batiste-Stoltz: Wanee 2008- Was kind of bummed by the lack of crowd for this show because these guys farking brought the funk. Its amazing what these three guys can do on bass-drum-guitar.
The Disco Biscuits: Atlanta 2006, 2007- Good shows. Surprisingly they do not get boring considering they can jam for about 50 minutes or more at a time.
Post by concertjunkie on May 17, 2008 14:52:39 GMT -5
Metallica- have seen them 5 times I believe. Always a great show. I got to see them on New Year's Eve of 2000 in Detroit at the Pontiac Silverdome.. They did a couple of songs with a mini orchestra. Openers were Ted Nugent, Kid Rock, and Sevendust whom all came out for a rendition of detroit Rock City to close out the night. Another memorable and unique show that I got to catch was on the summer Sanatarium tour that had Korn, Kid Rock, and System of a Down opening. Jame Hetfield had gotten hurt jet skiing or something like that. All the singers from the opening bands ended up taking over vocals on different songs during there set as Hetfield was not there. Kid Rock even jumped on the turn tables to some Metallica. They ended up handing out free tickets for a make up show on top of all that as well.
Pearl Jam- Have seen them once. It was an awesome show will definetly not miss them.
Kanye West- I have seen 3 times. At Coachella, Street Scene, and a hip hop radio show. Alright to catch once but I will probably be skipping him this time around unless nothing better is going on.
Willie Nelson- Go to see him one year at Farm Aid. Short set but sweet none the less. Hoping to catch him again this year barring any major conflicts.
BB King- Saw him many moons ago wth the Fabulous Thunderbirds and George Thorogood. nothing really memorable stands out from this show. I may have been a little intoxicated.
Gogol Bordello- Was on the rail for their set last year at the roo. I will not miss this set for anything.
Mastodon- I have seen 3 times. Opening for Rob Zombie, Slayer, and on Ozzfest. While I do enjoy some metal every now and then. I will probably skip them. Not really my thing.
Pearl Jam (once headlining, twice opening for Tom Petty) Metallica Robert Plant (but not with Alison Krauss Willie Nelson 10 minutes of a Tiesto set various members of the Bluegrass Allstars with other groups Stephen Marley Gogol Bordello a little bit of a Lupe Fiasco set (need to see more at 'roo) Solomon Burke I think I saw a little bit of a Tegan and Sara set at a festival once, but I'm not a fan, so meh a bit of MSTRKRFT The Coup K'naan The Duhks Zach Galifianakis and Brian Posehn
Pearl Jam (many times!) Metallica WSP DCFC Sigur Ros Les Claypool MSTRKRFT Tiesto Ozomatli Aimee Mann Little Feat !!! Orchestra Baobob Robert Plant (without Alison, obviously!) Phil Jim James solo Dirty Dozen Brass Band Zach Galifianakis Janeane and possibly a few that I just can't remember!
Pearl Jam- in Tampa with Sonic Youth opening. good long show. A good band and good time but nothing spectacular. An outdoor setting may come off a little better though.
Les Claypool- Langerado this year. Weird set but entertaining. I don't know though if I would see him again unless there is nothing else on at that time I want to go to.
Chali 2na- last year at Bonnaroo with Galactic. He's the best hip hop voice there is in my opinion. I'm afraid he'll conflict with another late night set this year though.
Ghostland- Langerado this year. They brought the lasers and it was awesome. One of the best times I've had at a 1 hour concert. Afraid they will conflict as well, but if they don't I am looking forward to introducing my friends to them
Minus the Bear- Langerado again. One of my favorite bands and just a talented and underrated rock band. Will not miss since they will probably be early afternoon. Their guitar work and originality stand out among the other indie rock bands.
The Sword- saw them open for ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead in Orlando. They were not well known at the time and hadn't released an LP yet. More of a curiosity at that point but nothing bad. After there new album though, I am looking forward to getting out in front for them. They really ROCK even though the vocals aren't anything special.
Metallica- I have see them twice. Once was when James got hurt and others filled in on vocals and then the makeup show at Lakewood. They were both amazing shows in their own ways. This show will be on fire. Jack Johnson- At Bonnaroo (I forget which year, '05 maybe?) not bad, very chill and relaxing WSP- gave them a try at Roo 2005, wasn't a big fan at all MMJ- saw parts of the Roo '04 and '06 sets. From what I saw, it was really good Les Claypool- with Primus and Oysterhead at Roo, very good shows, loud Ben Folds- Roo '05 lots of energy, not too bad O.A.R- I forget which year at Roo it was, but I didn't think they were that great Umphrey's McGee- seen them many, many times at Roo and outside of Roo. They have put on a great show each and every time. Yonder Mountain- Roo '04 or '05, very nice bluegrass Robert Randolph- seen them many times. My favorite was at the Roo '04 late night show. Disco Biscuits- saw part of the late night '06 show. Not really my thing, but worth checking out maybe. Pat Green- saw him open for DMB twice, horrible DSO- at a small club in Birmingham,these guys were really good and spot on the time I saw them Donovan Frankenreiter- saw him open for DMB once or twice, very generic sounding State Radio- saw them open for Robert Randolph New Years Eve in 2005. I suppose they could have improved a lot, but they were really bad then.
Post by stallion pt. 2 on May 17, 2008 17:55:20 GMT -5
Widespread Panic- Saw both their headlining sets at Bonnaroo 02, and parts of their 03 and their 1st night in 05. I must say that after all these shows I only care for a couple of their songs and will probably hear them from the campsite like I did last year.
Phil Lesh & Friends. Sat through about half of their headlining set at Roo 06 (I left soon after it started raining). I'm not a big Dead fan and I really don't like Joan Osborne, so this show did nothing for me. I'll definatly be somewhere else for this late-night set.
My Morning Jacket - Saw their Which Stage performance (not sure the year - 05?). It was good, not great. I hear rave reviews of these guys and Z was an OK album, but I just don't get it. Again, one less conflict for late-night.
Willie Nelson - Saw him earlier this year at a casino in So. arizona. My wife and I were the youngest in the crowd by many orders of magnitude (seriously, we felt outnumbered by people with walkers). The show was great nontheless, though he stuck to all his old standards. I'm hoping he'll play some stuff off his new album at Roo.
B.B. King - Was one of my first concerts, at Centiennial Music Hall on the UA campus, Halloween 96. A great player and fun storyteller, I regretted having to leave early because my ride had to make an unreasonable cerfew. May see him again depending on the conflicts.
Les Claypool - I've see Les solo (Frog brigade, Fancy Band and Fancy Trio), w/ Primus, Oysterhead and Gabby LaLa. He never puts on a bad show in my experience. Saw him recently (April) at the Rialto w/ the Trio backing him up and it was one of the best shows I've seen him play. Always a good time, but conflicts may force me to seek out someone new.
Ben Folds - Saw him right after he went solo at a small club in 2001, and again at Roo 06. I will not miss his set this year, and hope to be closer than I was able to get in 06.
Cat Power - Caught the end of her set w/ the Memphis blues band at the Rialto in 2006. I love her voice, but conflicts may cause me to miss her Roo set (again).
Bluegrass Allstars - Have not seen all these musicians play together, but did catch Bela Fleck w/ the Flecktones at Roo 03 and 06, and saw Jerry Douglass' solo set at Roo 06. I can't wait to see these guys playing together.
Zappa Plays Zappa - Saw them last year at the Fox Theatre in Tucson, and it was easily the best show I saw that year. I can't wait for their set (which I am hoping will be a latenight).
Robert Randolph's Revival - Saw Randolph and the Family band at Roo 03 and The Word at Roo 05. Another must see for me.
Rilo Kiley - Saw their Roo 05 set which was good despite Jenny Lewis' yellow dress (which my wife still insists is the worst outfit she's ever seen a woman wear on stage). I liked their first album, but have drifted away from their recent stuff. May not see them this year.
Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk/Dirty Dozen Brass Band/Avett Bros - Saw them during the Saturday late night madness in 06. All were great (though I only saw a bit of the Avetts' set), and I may have to make it into the Somethin else tent to shake my ass to some Dumpstaphunk again.
Ozomatli - Saw them on the main stage at Roo (04?). a lot of fun, but I'll probably see something new in their time slot.
Drive-By Truckers - Saw them at a local music fest (at a biker Rally) last year, and was really not impressed. Will likely skip their set.
The Fiery Furnaces - Saw them on the "Rehersing My Choir" tour a few years back, in a tiny, sweaty art gallery/venue in Tucson. I really enjoyed their set, particularly how they rearrange their album material for a live setting. I'll probably be seeing them again in a club the week before I leave for Roo, just to cut down on the conflicts.
The Wood Brothers - Missed their Thursday evening set at Roo 06 since I arrived late, but caught their set on the sonic stage the next morning. I look forward to seeing them this year with a full band.
John: We don't even understand our own music Spider: It doesn't, does it matter whether we understand it? At least it'll give us . . . strength John: I know but maybe we could get into it more if we understood it
), so that gives you an idea of the kind of audience participation to expect.
