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!!
Post by the3penguins on Feb 22, 2008 18:20:38 GMT -5
I'm having an internal debate with myself about how to much to prepare myself musically for June. I am familiar with fewer of the bands on the line-up than I was last year, so my immediate instinct is to buy/download as much as humanly possible over the next few months so I know every band there. But on the other hand part of the fun of Roo is discovering new music and groups you'd never heard before and if you already know something by most everyone, that possibility of discovery is gone. So how much of the music should one research and learn before the summer, and how much should be left to discover while there?
Post by sinkfloridasink on Feb 22, 2008 18:22:59 GMT -5
I tried the approach of listening to everything I could, but it didn't really work out cause i was so busy with school/work.
i would try out bands only to know who's sets you want to see, but i think a lot of Roo bands are meant to be experienced live, and you'll probably get way more stoked on gogol bordello if you see them live as opposed to on record.
well, you ask me why i'm drunk all the time it levels my head and eases my mind i just walk along and stroll and sing i see better days and i do better things
I have already started listening to most of the bands. I have a playlist on my iTunes/iPod that just plays at random. If I'm not feeling a song, I skip it. If I dig it, I take note of who it is.
Last year I took the approach of learning at 'roo. While I loved it and had a great time, I spend time wandering from stage to stage. Now for some, this may be the way to go. For others who are a bit more decisive (for lack of a better term) perhaps the should choose to become familiarized with bands ahead of time.
Whatever you choose is the right way. You can do no wrong at 'roo.
Last Edit: Feb 22, 2008 18:42:48 GMT -5 by MrKC - Back to Top
I usually download a couiple songs from most everyone and get a feel for who I might like. Then listen to those bands a little more. I don't like to over prepare and know every song by a band. I like the discovery.
Post by Sköldpadda on Feb 22, 2008 19:09:47 GMT -5
There's this site: www.hypem.com, which has plenty of songs available to stream. It's kinda random sometimes as to what songs they have on there, but there are generally a lot of the bands on Bonnaroo's lineup. It's an easy way for me to listen to bands while I'm on my computer, without taking up the time and space of downloading.
Post by trippindaisy on Feb 22, 2008 19:45:00 GMT -5
mojoworks said:
I like to listen to a few songs by bands that might interest me. I usually check them out on youtube.
Yep that's what I do also and I also ask for suggestions here because people on this forum have phenominal taste in music ;D
Then I will download the ones I really like so I am familiar with more of their music by the time I get to see them.
Last year my new discoveries that have become some of my favorites were John Butler Trio, Damien Rice, Mute Math, Decemberists and White Stripes ( I liked them before but wasn't really familiar with all their music). The year before I discovered My Morning Jacket live - wow ;D
I buy a little bit after the line up is announced but usually wait for the schedule to come out and see if I have any gaps and then I explore artists in that are playing when I don't have other things to check out. It's always a bit annoying buying a bunch of music after the line up and that create scheduling conflicts when the grid comes out!
I'm listening to as many of the bands as possible this year. Last year I didn't and ended up missing some great bands like Dr. Dog. Then again, it's also cool to just walk up to a show and see a band you've never heard before, like I did at the Oysterhead show in '06.
Post by trippindaisy on Feb 22, 2008 20:20:41 GMT -5
sexysadie said:
I'm listening to as many of the bands as possible this year. Last year I didn't and ended up missing some great bands like Dr. Dog. Then again, it's also cool to just walk up to a show and see a band you've never heard before, like I did at the Oysterhead show in '06.
Yep I didn't prepare in 2006 and missed so many great bands because I was clueless.
who's jealous? this guy. i started practicing guitar in a serious manner like 2 months ago and there's still not a complete song that i can play and sing at the same time, and can only play like 2 lol. hats off to you for being accomplished at guitar and able to learn that many songs
who's jealous? this guy. i started practicing guitar in a serious manner like 2 months ago and there's still not a complete song that i can play and sing at the same time, and can only play like 2 lol. hats off to you for being accomplished at guitar and able to learn that many songs
Did I say I would succeed lol. I'm alright I wouldn't define it as accomplished but if I knuckle down and just play and practice consistently I'm sure even you can make it happen.
Good point. I'm finally getting to the point when i can sorta hear the rhythm which helps a lot. With the month and a half that i'm out of school before roo i'm hoping to be able to spend LOTS of time with my guitar and really build up my repertoire. Maybe if i get a decent number of songs down we can get together and jam (did i mention when i'm not near my guitar i'm trying to learn theory? thats tough.. lol) and if nothing else i'm always interested in watching people better than me play.
Post by purplefuzzystuff on Feb 22, 2008 22:18:44 GMT -5
I'm kind of anal retentive and I write down ever band playing, then I listen to at least three songs from each band and rate them based on how much I would like to see them....by the tome Bonnaroo rolls around I will have a huge list with colored in stars and half stars and I will know who I want to see...I always manage to be blown away by a couple bands on the list.....I can't imagine just winging it, then again you're talking to a person who already has a dozen lists made for Bonnaroo
Post by trippindaisy on Feb 22, 2008 22:22:54 GMT -5
purplefuzzystuff said:
I'm kind of anal retentive and I write down ever band playing, then I listen to at least three songs from each band and rate them based on how much I would like to see them....by the tome Bonnaroo rolls around I will have a huge list with colored in stars and half stars and I will know who I want to see...I always manage to be blown away by a couple bands on the list.....I can't imagine just winging it, then again you're talking to a person who already has a dozen lists made for Bonnaroo
That is awesome. I work in a very similar way - in every aspect of my life
Post by plasticpepper on Feb 22, 2008 22:28:06 GMT -5
Last year (my first roo) it sort of never even occurred to me to try to get acquainted with the acts beforehand. The fest introduced me to some great stuff, notably the Decemberists and Damien Rice who have both become favorites now. I regret that I didn't know their stuff beforehand because I feel like I missed out on the experience by seeing them before I really fell in love with them. This year I'm determined not to let that happen, so I'm trying to get acquainted with at least some of the artists beforehand. There's too much for me to really get to know everybody, but I have a list of bands that for one reason or another I think I will like.
I find that Slacker radio (www.slacker.com) is very helpful. You can create a custom station and add whatever artists you like, so I've made one with all of the artists on the lineup so I can just let it play and, as MrKC said, skip the ones I'm not feeling and pay attention to the ones I am. I'm planning to make another station with a shorter list of artists that I'm starting to like once I can get a feel for it.
Edit:
purplefuzzystuff said:
I'm kind of anal retentive and I write down ever band playing, then I listen to at least three songs from each band and rate them based on how much I would like to see them....by the tome Bonnaroo rolls around I will have a huge list with colored in stars and half stars and I will know who I want to see...I always manage to be blown away by a couple bands on the list.....I can't imagine just winging it, then again you're talking to a person who already has a dozen lists made for Bonnaroo
Karma for that! I might have to do that myself. I already made a ridiculous list with a complicated rating system where I ranked the lineup based on my familiarity with the bands and how much I liked those that I was familiar with. And then I used that to compare last year's lineup with this year's lineup (and also compared last year's before and after rankings). Interestingly, last year's and this year's lineup ended up with very similar scores by my weirdo system - 58 and 59! (yep, I'm insane)
Post by trippindaisy on Feb 22, 2008 22:36:06 GMT -5
purplefuzzystuff said:
haha I am so glad there are others!!! It just seems so much easier, I get things done more efficiently....karma trippindaisy for being equally anal!!
Thanks girly My fiance and I are a perfect couple - we have lists of all kinds of things all over the house. I am sure we will have to make one for Roo that incorporates both of our preferences. I am more of a research junky than he is though, so I do the research then let him know my results and he makes his lists accordingly LOL we are such dorks.
Post by the3penguins on Feb 23, 2008 13:31:34 GMT -5
plasticpepper said:
I find that Slacker radio (www.slacker.com) is very helpful. You can create a custom station and add whatever artists you like, so I've made one with all of the artists on the lineup so I can just let it play and, as MrKC said, skip the ones I'm not feeling and pay attention to the ones I am. I'm planning to make another station with a shorter list of artists that I'm starting to like once I can get a feel for it.
That is a very cool idea. I notice under Station Options there's a button for "Share this station." When you click it, at the bottom it gives you a station link. Maybe you could post it here for everyone to use?
Last year (my first roo) it sort of never even occurred to me to try to get acquainted with the acts beforehand. The fest introduced me to some great stuff, notably the Decemberists and Damien Rice who have both become favorites now. I regret that I didn't know their stuff beforehand because I feel like I missed out on the experience by seeing them before I really fell in love with them. This year I'm determined not to let that happen, so I'm trying to get acquainted with at least some of the artists beforehand. There's too much for me to really get to know everybody, but I have a list of bands that for one reason or another I think I will like.
I find that Slacker radio (www.slacker.com) is very helpful. You can create a custom station and add whatever artists you like, so I've made one with all of the artists on the lineup so I can just let it play and, as MrKC said, skip the ones I'm not feeling and pay attention to the ones I am. I'm planning to make another station with a shorter list of artists that I'm starting to like once I can get a feel for it.
Edit:
purplefuzzystuff said:
I'm kind of anal retentive and I write down ever band playing, then I listen to at least three songs from each band and rate them based on how much I would like to see them....by the tome Bonnaroo rolls around I will have a huge list with colored in stars and half stars and I will know who I want to see...I always manage to be blown away by a couple bands on the list.....I can't imagine just winging it, then again you're talking to a person who already has a dozen lists made for Bonnaroo
Karma for that! I might have to do that myself. I already made a ridiculous list with a complicated rating system where I ranked the lineup based on my familiarity with the bands and how much I liked those that I was familiar with. And then I used that to compare last year's lineup with this year's lineup (and also compared last year's before and after rankings). Interestingly, last year's and this year's lineup ended up with very similar scores by my weirdo system - 58 and 59! (yep, I'm insane)
wow, thanks for that post. Same thing happened to me last year with Cold War Kids. I listened to them before I went and I caught their show, but I wished I was into them back then as much as i am now. And I know I missed a few gems because I had never even heard of the band and didnt check them out. I know you can only do so much at roo, but I am kicking myself because I missed some great acts.
This year, Ive already gotten familiar with some bands that I've heard awesome things about including Sigur Ros and Gogol Bordello. I plan on listening to a lot of artists in the upcoming months, and once again I will fill my little ipod nano with bands from this years fest to play on the 15 hour drive. This year though, I will narrow it down to the songs/albums I'm really feeling. Last year I had so much stuff that I couldnt even listen to half of it, and there was a lot of skipping and trying to find out who the artist even was. So yeah.. doing things differently this year.
Thank you for the slacker link! I'm definitely going to check it out.
I have already started listening to most of the bands. I have a playlist on my iTunes/iPod that just plays at random. If I'm not feeling a song, I skip it. If I dig it, I take note of who it is.
This is exactly what I do. The problem is, I seem to like everybody. I usually obtain the most recent album of the artist (just so I know what I am most likely to hear from the artist at 'Roo) and stick it in iTunes. Music is better if a.) You like it and b.) You know it. Knowing the song and lyrics also allows for epic dancing to occur.
This man came up to me just the other day, asked me I'd been born again. I told him, "I didn't think I had." That I had been rejected. But I think, Hell's got all the good bands anyway. And Bonnaroo.
Good point. I'm finally getting to the point when i can sorta hear the rhythm which helps a lot. With the month and a half that i'm out of school before roo i'm hoping to be able to spend LOTS of time with my guitar and really build up my repertoire. Maybe if i get a decent number of songs down we can get together and jam (did i mention when i'm not near my guitar i'm trying to learn theory? thats tough.. lol) and if nothing else i'm always interested in watching people better than me play.
Got any suggestions on music theroy books for me to pick up. I just went out and bought a guitar and could play a few things but I find now I'm relearning and removing a fe mistakes I was making
Post by the3penguins on Feb 23, 2008 19:34:14 GMT -5
mrbrown said:
Got any suggestions on music theroy books for me to pick up. I just went out and bought a guitar and could play a few things but I find now I'm relearning and removing a fe mistakes I was making
Though you weren't asking me, I'll answerr anyway. I recommend Basics of Music: Opus 1 by Zinn and Hogenson. We used it in my intro music theory classic in college and it's very good. You have to go through it slowly, but it's easy to understand with lots of worksheets.
I did the best I could with it...there's a few artists that I couldn't find on Slacker, and a few where I had to use a person's solo stuff rather than the exact configuration of people they'll be playing with at Roo. I also threw in a few previous bands (like the Dead). If anyone listens and has any suggestions for anything else that should be in there or anything that shouldn't be, let me know! Oh, also, when you look at the list of artists on there it seems to stop in the Rs, but it does go further than that, it's just not showing. Enjoy!
I did the best I could with it...there's a few artists that I couldn't find on Slacker, and a few where I had to use a person's solo stuff rather than the exact configuration of people they'll be playing with at Roo. I also threw in a few previous bands (like the Dead). If anyone listens and has any suggestions for anything else that should be in there or anything that shouldn't be, let me know! Oh, also, when you look at the list of artists on there it seems to stop in the Rs, but it does go further than that, it's just not showing. Enjoy!
Let your ear guide you, I skipped out on the first half of The Flaming Lips last year because a group at the Troo Music thing really caught my ear, Tin Cup Prophet.
I did the best I could with it...there's a few artists that I couldn't find on Slacker, and a few where I had to use a person's solo stuff rather than the exact configuration of people they'll be playing with at Roo. I also threw in a few previous bands (like the Dead). If anyone listens and has any suggestions for anything else that should be in there or anything that shouldn't be, let me know! Oh, also, when you look at the list of artists on there it seems to stop in the Rs, but it does go further than that, it's just not showing. Enjoy!