Upon arriving in Manchester, Tenn., for my first Bonnaroo experience, I must admit I wasn't sure what to expect.
Bonnaroo is the leading music and arts festival held every year, early in June.
As I set up my tent, I looked around at the camping area and imagined, for a few seconds, that I was at Woodstock.
I was not picturing the Woodstock of my generation — with its mud fights, fires, rape and a lineup including Fred Durst — but I pictured the Woodstock of previous generations.
With hopes of free love, music and peace, I set up camp and was ready to ingest whatever Bonnaroo had to offer.
What I found during my four-day weekend at Bonnaroo was a great lineup of musicians, comedians, interesting craftsmen and an all-around peaceful atmosphere.
Bonnaroo exceeded every expectation I could possibly have had.
The most impressive event, and the main reason most neo-flower children congregate at the festival, is the music scene.
With an exceptionally diverse lineup of musicians — which ranged from classic rock, jam band, hip-hop, blue grass, soul and reggae music — it seems that even those with the most conservative of musical tastes could find some tunes to stimulate their ear drums.
If you were to talk to any of the Bonnaroo veterans, most would advise you not to miss the end of any band's set.
The importance of catching the finales lies in the true spirit of the event: harmony.
Bands will often invite individual musicians to join them on stage and jam side-by-side as they conclude their performances.
Some highlights of these joint performances include: Robert Randolph of Robert Randolph and the Family Band jamming with Dave Matthews, John Mayer laying down some funk with musical icon Herby Hancock and Warren Haynes playing with, well, almost everyone.
Haynes, frontman of Gov't Mule and the other side of the tenacious guitar duo, the Allman Brothers Band, has earned a reputation at Bonnaroo for often sharing the stage. Because of Haynes' tendency to play with so many different acts, Bonnaroo has unofficially been called the Warren Haynes Concert and some fans label Haynes as the hardest-working man at Bonnaroo.
Haynes laughs when this is brought to his attention, and he responds by saying, “I have accidentally inherited that title just because I love to play.”
And love is not just a word at Bonnaroo; it is an experience.
I think that the love might seep out of the tranquil 700-acre farmland that makes up the venue, and musicians simply act as the medium between the emotion and the audience.
The festival is far too peaceful for concertgoers not to believe that some magical force is at play.
Maybe the hippies who were camping on either side of me were right that through music, unity can be achieved.
On the other hand, maybe more truth lies with the 50-year old businessman who was passed out in the mud; maybe everyone was too inebriated or too far into a chemically induced state of nirvana to bicker with each other.
Either way, it works.
I was sad to be leaving that great place on Sunday, but the time I spent there will forever be engraved in my memory.
What will stand out in my mind will be the incredible musical performances, the laid-back lifestyle and the love that flowed through the air as if it hopped onto a musical note fresh from Warren Haynes' guitar and dropped right into my heart.
My conceived image of the Woodstock of my father's generation has now been put to rest by my experience at Bonnaroo.
Bonnaroo will be the music festival that future generations will use to create preconceived notions and fantasies of the four-day celebration of music, peace and art, much in the same ways that past generations have imagined Woodstock.
Memorable Performances:
Widespread Panic: Widespread Panic was the headlining act at Bonnaroo for both Saturday and Sunday, and those who saw the performance know why. With many guest performers on and off the stage, these guys jammed throughout the night. Most people I talked with at Bonnaroo said their performance was the reason to make the trip. After hearing the performance, I would have to agree.
Joss Stone: She sings, she dances, and she has more natural “soul sound” than any other white performer in the world. She is a welcomed alternative to the trends of the current female pop category by being a powerful female vocalist, writing her own music and not relying on an NC-17 rating to be sexy.
Steel Train: I would give Steel Train the “Best New Act Award.” The band rocked out twice at Bonnaroo, and I made sure not to miss either performance. Band members blended Latin rock with jam band fluidity. They are certainly a force to be reckoned with.
The Mars Volta: These guys will be the ones that will explode into rock folklore. With heavy, intelligent music, they will make your eardrums will thump with satisfaction. Lead man Cedric Bixler Zavala and guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez battled each other throughout the entire show for my full attention. Simply put, they are amazing.
The Allman Brothers Band: One concert spent with them and you'll soon understand why they continue to draw their crowds. Accompanied by guitarists Derek Trucks and the Bonnaroo-popularity-contest-winner Warren Haynes, the Allman Brothers Band sizzled. The set included some face-melting guitar solos, as well as great covers of classics like, “ The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” and “Good Morning Little School Girl.” It is because of bands like the Allman Brothers that legends never die.
The Black Crowes: The band's performance was mesmerizing. So mesmerizing that I unfortunately missed Jack Johnson's set. The Black Crowes have reunited and have re-entered the rock world with a vengeance. It was an incredible set; don't miss them live if you can help it.
Herbie Hancock Headhunters 2005: Herbie Hancock's set with John Mayer was incredible. Hopefully others will be able to see Mayer jam with Hancock, but I have a feeling that was one of the many Bonnaroo-exclusive performances I caught.
Gov't Mule: These guys rocked out and played some incredible covers. This band's frontman is Warren Haynes, so you should already know that the set included some killer solos. The highlight, in my mind, was a cover of the Beatles' song, “ Maybe I'm Amazed.”
Forgettable Performances:
Dave Matthews Band: After about an hour or so of playing, the monotony of the band's set was revived by pedal steel guitar player Robert Randolph — and also Warren Haynes. It was, however, nice to hear Dave Matthews and not be surrounded by fraternity boys bonging beers.
Trey Anastasio: Anastasio played some cover songs and brought out American Idol runner-up Bo Bice. Over all, the set seemed secondary.
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