Bonnaroo 2008: Through the Texts of a First-Timer

A certain uptown Dallasite friend of BOT became inspired a few weeks ago and decided to make the journey to Manchester, TN for this year's edition of Bonnaroo. It was her first trip to the event; indeed, it was her very first major music festival experience. Eggs and I weren't able to attend this year, but we were treated to a series of text messages that never failed to make Eggs green. I got a kick out of them, though, and I think they accurately capture the first-time festival-goer's experience.

Videos and more after the jump

First, the texts:

Thursday, June 12
4:15pm - Just landed.
8:23pm - We're here-on our way to the festival
9:44pm - Grupo fantasma rocks
11:22pm - Blake's got a new face takes the stage in ten
11:29pm - Coming on the stage now
11:55pm - Better live than on album and playing new stuff so there!
12:02am - Omg- new shit is better than album

Friday, June 13
5:15pm - Missing the Raconteurs! They're awesome
7:15pm - We went to raconteurs and are now on our way to willie nelson
9:38pm - Metallica is on stage-we just saw chris rock
10:19pm - It rained so we missed a little but funny
11:17pm - Metallica still on now
12:22am - MMJ just played off the record and gideon and are now playing some song that appears to be called hot fun in the summertime

Saturday, June 14
3:11pm - Ozomatli takes stage in five-mia played yesterday
10:50pm - We r at pearl jam now- awesome
5:01am - Pearl jam was awesome - kanye west did not take the stage until 4- and our bus leaves at 5 so I was debby downer and made us leave

Sunday, June 15
8:08pm - Where is coachella?
8:17pm - Wish you were here

Monday, June 16
2:06pm - I feel sick.

I love that the messages were much more frequent on Thursday and Friday, then slowed to a trickle on Saturday and Sunday. What festival veteran hasn't had that experience? I know that I always begin by excitedly texting non-attending friends about shows and random happenings, but by the end of the weekend I'm so out of touch with reality that I'm almost unaware that I even have a phone. Or a home that isn't a tent, for that matter.

When I got the full rundown on Monday evening, I learned that:

• Kanye West sucks
• Metallica are actually nice and put on a worthwhile show
• Ozomatli's trombonist was on crutches
• M.I.A. did not, in fact, cancel her Bonnaroo set, as several music sites and blogs had reported. (Unfortunately. It's about time for this novelty to wear off.)
• Staying in a hotel and relying on the shuttle is not the way to go
• Visiting a hand-painted poster vendor while smashed is not necessarily a good idea

She was instantly hooked and is already talking about going back next year. (Green)Eggs is also determined to be present at Bonnaroo '09; since we no longer feel the need to go to a festival the weekend before, it looks like we've got plans for next June.

On a related-in-a-tangential-sort-of-way note, I just found this on Bonnaroo's Wikipedia page under the '2008' heading:

Kanye West was originally supposed to perform at 8:15 PM on Saturday at Which Stage, during Jack Johnson's 8:00 show at What Stage, but he requested to be changed to What Stage at 2:45 AM[citation needed], the announced reason being that he wanted to perform his set from his recent Glow In The Dark tour after nightfall. The show was delayed until 4:25 AM, due in part to Pearl Jam's show running late, difficulties dissembling Pearl Jam's set, and assembling Kanye's. Many fans missed Lupe Fiasco, Talib Kweli, and Chali 2na's respective sets while waiting for Kanye, which would not have happened had the audience been informed of the delay from the outset. Those who had timed their LSD trips to coincide with Kanye's light show saw their drugs wear off before the show began. During the course of the show West made no attempt to apologize for the delays or even acknowledge them, sticking completely to his scripted set from his tour. This, along with the fact that his set lasted only one hour (instead of the hour and a half he had been listed to do on Which Stage), angered many fans, leading Robert Randolph to proclaim at his set later that day that "Kanye sucks!". This was also mentioned by Rogue Wave and Broken Social Scene, who pointed out that they would never disrespect their fans in such a way. The slogan "Kanye sucks!" was quickly picked up by disgruntled fans, and chants of "Fuck Kanye" were common throughout the final day's activities. Even the festival's wall of graffiti near the entrance soon bore a stern "Kanye sucks" banner. Another banner said "Jay-Z wouldn't be late".

Anyone else amused that whomever added this felt that mis-timed acid trips were one of the worst consequences of Kanye's delay? I think the whole damn festival should have been at Ghostland Observatory's set anyway. Them shits is good.

A few choice vids from the event that I found while perusing YouTube:

See you next year!

--Cereal