I'm making it a mission to go to at least one concert a month. This blog is mostly just for memory keeping purposes but feel free to come along on the journey with me.
Where to begin this one? Twitter was all aflutter at the announcement Jessie Baylin would be making her way across the country doing some residencies in an effort to get the new material from her forthcoming album out to the people. Naturally I jumped at the chance to see her in her new hometown of Nashville (which I consider my second home) even if it meant totally rearranging other priorities. I booked a flight at the behest of Carrie Linn, Alicia and Jessie herself! The countdown began and the day came and I had a huge suitcase packed to prove it. I would only be in Nashville four nights but I’d be leaving the south for the west coast and an extended stay with more good friends. I arrived on Wednesday to unrelenting heat and proceeded to my usual post plane meal Zaxby’s NomNomNom! The rest of the day was spent relaxing and browsing the interwebs. I went to bed high off excitement for what was to come!
The day of: I got ready in Murfreesboro and drove down 24E to Nashville. I met up with Carrie and we waited for Alicia, our road warrior to join us at their hotel. We were also waiting for my friend Angie (who wasn’t super familiar with Jessie but trusts my musical taste). Alicia arrived right on schedule and after a quick freshen up we were off for some pre-show grub. Cut to Burger Up interior. Burger up is Nashville’s new burger joint, the casual open seating is offset by the use of actual silverware, glasses and generous cloth napkins. It offers a good mix of upscale and relaxed with out making you feel undressed or like there should be a playscape nearby. I vaguely recall Nathan Followill tweeting something about Burger Up but we didn’t settle on it until Jessie herself suggested it. My friend Angie joined us here and completed our conformist manifesto by ordering the same burger all three of us had chose. I thought the overall experience was pretty good but I would have enjoyed it more if my burger had come cooked to my specification and the beer list was a tiny bit larger. The wine list from what I remember was quite extensive probably part of the draw for the Followill’s. On a full stomach it was time to head over to the venue. Carrie and Alicia went back to the hotel for just a second and Angie and I went to Grimey’s to get a ticket in advance just in case. Grimey’s is my new love! If I didn’t have to fly to LA and then to Detroit I would have definitely picked up some new vinyl. If you’re in town I implore you to check it out. With ticket in hand we went to the hotel to retrieve me car then right back to grab a parking place for the show.
The Show: The Basement is exactly that. It’s a small two-room space under Grimey’s. The first room has a bar in the corner, a small table, and the merch table. Into the second room you find the stage, the main bar tucked in the corner and standing room with a door to the back patio. There are just a few tables that line the stage and some stools along the walls. The ceiling is plastered with past show posters of small acts most of which I’d never heard of. We took a spot along the wall on a set of stools and before the show started Courtney Jaye came right over and gave us a couple of her CD's. The room starts to fill as people spill in from the first room and soon enough the show starts. Bryan Cates takes the stage and while I can’t really see him (illustrated in my pictures) I can hear him quite clearly. He himself jokes that his guitar only setup lends itself to sad and lonely songs and they do sound sad and lonely in a beautiful way that makes you think on Bon Iver. His set was fairly short with just seven songs. Jessie came on with what seemed like little commentary and went right into her set that went like this.
Little Spark Whoo Hoo Oh Ey Hey Hey song Love Is Wasted Never See It Coming I Feel That Too Lonely Star Cracked Apart Close Can We Be Yuma Greatest Thing Honey Call Me (Dancer) Leave Your Mark
Those were my song titles using the obvious parts of the songs and what I remember from reading the set list upside down from Bonnaroo!
Here’s the actual set list.
Little Spark Hurry Hurry Love is Wasted on Lovers The Winds I Feel That Too Star Caravan Sea Sick Yuma The Greatest Thing Dancer Leave Your Mark
What can I say about the new material for those who haven’t heard it…you need to hear it! It’s beautiful, it’s soulful and it is Jessie. I’m so glad I came down for a chance to hear the new songs again!
I feel like this is another album where you love everything but if I had to single some out for special attention it would be Hurry Hurry (which I have on good authority will be released soon as a single) Love is Wasted on Lovers, Sea Sick, YUMA, Greatest Thing and Dancer. Jessie was on stage not holding back (with the hair to prove it). The album seems to have a theme of great love not your ordinary fall in and out but serious world shifting love but I could be just projecting. Mrs. Baylin-Followill ended her set with a familiar tune followed by many thanks.
Of course we hung out as most of the crowd cleared out. Jessie as gracious as ever took time for many and I think actually, for all who stayed behind... even this gentleman
who seemed although very eager very impatient (you had to be there). Jessie had already come up to us before the show started and gave hugs and hellos and made a point to do so after even breaking away from other people. We took pictures and chatted I pestered her again about her withholding this new album which she said because its different just needs more time but will be out in the new year so I promised not to ask again. We had purchased merch before the show and got our lovely free posters then as well. Our last task was getting back our tickets, which had been taken upon entering to be counted, and though we had to ask several people we finally found them. With tickets in hand we made our way out one last goodbye to Jessie who offered up kisses (so now we can all make shirts saying I’ve been kissed by a Followill!) and hugs and we were off. We headed to Loser’s for one last drink before parting ways. We talked and laughed and hoped that Jessie Baylin knew just how much we love her. I'm not sure if she knew but there was another JB in town putting on a little show down the road...that's right JUSTIN BEIBER but we did not succumb to Beiber Fever and we made to Jessie show instead! It was more memories made that I will hold on to for as long as I can. And I think Jessie will too, her parents made it out at the last minute and we later found out it was her first Nashville sell out show! I think I can safely speak for all the ladies in saying we were happy to play a part of that milestone.
I think if you're reading this I probably don't have to say but I will if she come to a city near you GOOOOOO! I think she is beyond talented, effortlessly beautiful and genuinely kind hearted.
So this whole incident came out of no where. I wasn't looking for any shows because I already had an August show lined up with Miss Jessie Baylin and in light of my trip to Nashville and Los Angeles/Las Vegas I was definitely looking to conserve funds. I was doing my usually Twittering about and I noticed Nick and Emotion of Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights (one my favorite up and coming bands) tweeted about being in the Detroit area soon. Of course I extended an invitation to personally deliver some Suga' Tree Bakery cupcakes to them and wouldn't you know it Emotion (aka Mo) took us up on our offer! Through an exchange of tweets I learned she was particularly fond of Red Velvet and Strawberry cupcakes (two cupcakes I consider to standouts on our menu). The plan was set deliver cupcakey goodness to the band the following day.
I woke up early (relative to my normal schedule) I went on errands refilling supplies we were low on while my mom got started on the first batch of cupcakes. We baked classic white, chocolate, strawberry and red velvet. We topped the chocolate with chocolate ganache and half with our signature creamy butter cream and half with a buttery carmel frosting made with homemade carmel (I myself made). We did the same for the white cake. We topped the strawberry with the creamy butter cream as well and red velvet with creamy cream cheese buttercream.
My BFF and delivery assistant Violeta came with, we arrived at the Crofoot Ballroom (an excellent venue) just before the doors opened there was no one outside but we made or way in and wandered around till we found the band upstairs in the Pike Room. With cupcakes in hand I approached and said we have a delivery. Someone standing in front of a window with sunlight spilling all onto their face says "for who?" and I realize its Jonathan so I say "for you actually". I fill him in on the conversation I had with Mo via twitter and he's very very thankful! We make formal introductions and Jonathan invites us to stay since Mo is out getting food with some others. So we talk and I remind him of our first meeting back in LA. We met through a mutual friend who hand been telling me about their band and took me to see them at the Mint quite a while back. We all actually hung out after which all of us were a little fuzzy on the details of. Pretty soon Mo returned and we meet the rest of the band and pretty much just hung and until the show started. The members each gave high praises to the cupcakes to my sheer delight!
Their opening band (who I still don't know the name of) went on to a crowd of about ten people not including staff and members of JTNL. I'm not sure what to say about the opening band...I feel like I didn't really get a sense of them or their style. I felt like the lead singers vocal was overpowered by the band and I really didn't know what they were singing about. When they finished their set the place emptied out besides myself and Violeta. I was desperately hoping people had just gone to smoke (in light of Michigan's new smoking ban). JTNL was getting ready to go on and no one had come back in yet...but just before they went on stage the smokers came back! And a few others trailed in and after one or two song a few more came in. The crowd was about 20 or so people strong in the end. The set started out a little rough with some sound issues that Nick (the bassist) very quickly fixed. Jonathan joked that they would get it together and they did! Even with the small crowd, they put on a show! Once the tech issues were worked through and a round of whiskey shots were had by the band the atmosphere was relaxed with exchanges back and forth from the crowd and the band which included requests. They jammed on a few songs and in general were just fucking awesome. After the last song the crowd was rallied by a few to demand an encore which the band obliged only after making sure we really wanted it and of course we did. One of the instigators of the encore was called out by Jonathan to come up on stage to sing the song he had been requesting and he was anything but eager but the band wasn't taking no for an answer so he got up there and embarrassed himself to our entertainment. After the duet they finished up the song and ended the performance with an invite t the merch table.
We hit the merch table and got more compliments on our cupcakes which were down to the last few if any (my head was getting dangerously large)! Violeta and I both bought CD's and I even got two shirts! We hung out and talked with everybody a bit more and after a photo session we said our goodbyes and packed it up.
Mo walked us out and gave us her cd as well. It was a great night there aren't superlatives enough t describe it! I've said it before but f you don't know Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights get to know them and same thing goes for Suga' Tree Bakery!
This gig has been a long time coming! I bought the ticket in March and I believe this is the ticket I pulled off the road while driving from Chicago to Detroit to go into a McDonald's to use the free wi-fi in order to get onto Ticketmaster.com! Yes it was THAT serious! So after the ticket was secured the next hurdle was a passport, something I should have had long ago but I'm lame and have never been anywhere (SAAAD). After I have a horrible photography session, I apply for the passport, get sent a letter saying my identity is questionable, send a bunch more papers FINALLY get the passport right before the fourth of July. Next hurdle figuring out accommodations after many hours on hotels.com and bing.com I settle on a hostel that some friends of mine had been to before and given a good recommendation. Now there's just days to go and all of a sudden pigeon-gate 2010! Huge uproar cane be heard on twitter and surrounding social networks. Chicago, Cleveland and then Toronto! So for those who don't know I live in Detroit, MI (born an raised so watch your mouth) about four and half hours from Toronto. I set out at around 11am on Tuesday morning my soundtrack starts with The Stills who are very appropriately playing as I cross the bridge to Canada. Getting to the border is the shorter part of the trip only about 45 minutes. The drive is quite nice not much traffic until I approach downtown Toronto. I arrive at my hostel within in five minutes of exiting the expressway. Clarence Castle is located on Clarence Square in an ideal area just southwest of central downtown. I believe it is in the entertainment district it was just down the street from CBC, Rogers Centre, the CN Tower and only 2.6 km from the Molson Amphitheater. So I'd highly recommend the place if you're traveling on a budget. But enough of that infomercial, back to business. Tuesday was check in day, I got my stuff inside and settled a bit, updated my FB (my form of communication with my family since I was not even thinking of paying roaming charges to use my iPhone), went out exploring and the to dinner, gave Katia (@ShesOnly17) a call to touch base and go over the plan for tomorrow (Show day).
SHOW DAY! I woke up really early, surprisingly early but I wasn't really awake until I seen a tweet that @ShesOnly17 knew where the Kings were then I was wide awake! I got showered, dressed and went over directions to the subway and the mall where I would meet Katia. Just before leaving I checked my order email to see what card I'd used to purchase the ticket with because I hadn't ben carrying all my cards in my smaller concert going purse. This is when things fell apart, I realize after checking the receipt which says my card ends in 4807 I have NO card that ends in 4807! Then I remember the day I bought the tickets something was weird with my card and I was sent a new card shortly after. Now I'm flustered on the verge on panic. I find a local number to Ticketmaster only to call and be put on hold FOR-ev-ver to be told I need to know the entire number (who knows the entire number to a card they are no longer in possession of!) I procede to call Bank of America who tells me they can't give that information out over the phone so I try to calmly ask him if he has any locations in Toronto, Canada OF COURSE NOT its called Bank of AMERICA so then I think you're going to have to give it to me the number via the phone! He finally says he can do it and gives me the number. So I call the local number for Ticketmaster back, I'm transfered to a customer representative who says she needs to transfer me to the Canadian side WHO THE HELL DID I JUST CALL!!! OMG DYING Dying dying! I get the Canadian representative who tells me they're going to charge the new credit card number I immediately say well where is my refund going to go he explains some circle logic I still don't get (and no refund has posted yet!) but I say whatever just do it then I'm all set. Now I'm back on track so I head out to meet up with Katia and her friend Claudene who are already at the mall. I walk down Front Street where all the action is including a tour bus! I run to catch up to where its pulling over but only a short guy with a laminate I can't make out get's off then back on and it pulls away again and pulls over in front of a hotel after I catch up with it again I realize I'm out front of the Intercontinental Hotel. A large group of men who appear to be roadies are getting on I scan the crowd but no familiar faces so I pick up my pace to get to the subway station. I get to the station and I really don't know what I'm doing but I just ask the attendant and I'm on my way. A quick ride and I'm at the Eaton Centre a huge mall. I try to quickly find the Apple store because I know they have internet I can use to DM Katia so I can tell her I'm here. I find two Bell stores and I go in the second one because they have computers and iphones so I figured they have working internet, NO! Not only was the internet not working but somehow I picked the laptop that was missing a key off the keyboard and of all thes to be missing it was the "e" after about 5 minutes of my tweets not going through I quit and continue to look for the apple store I only found it after asking someone at an info desk. The internet works perfectly I DM her and she's there within minutes! At last were all together and starved its time for food then time to wait it out fr the rest of the afternoon. Shortly after being seated we learn from Jon (@_Custard) there are already several groups of people in line so we all three inhale salads and book it to the venue. The paperless ticket system rears its ugly head again when Katia and Claudene are denied being able to line up because the ticket holder isn't there yet luckily we smooth talk our way in and the waiting commences. In the mean time we all get more aquatinted make friends, laugh at security, sweat it out uner the sun then get RAINED on and then it is time. We're about to get our wristbands and I look at Katia and say "I don't think I need to say this but if there a problem with my card leave me just be sure to save me a spot!" they open the gates and everyone does the fast walk to the ticket printer people. I get to the front of the line and my person walks away! His printer isn't printing! For CRYING OUT LOUD! I'm vocally disgruntled. By this time everyone else I'm with has been let through. I'm standing asking can someone else swipe my card like someone who's printer IS working! Then his printer gets going and he gives me my credit card back and hands me my ticket. I dash around a few people and make it to the wristband station set up just before you step in the pit. Two girls a couple people ahead of me get pulled out of line and they look crushed. The security assures them they aren't getting denied but they don't have tickets I think they had the same guy as me and they ran ahead without the tickets so as they're pulled to the side people behind them are continuing in so she starts whinily asking can the line be held he says yeah but he doesn't I get in before them along with a bunch of other people...I felt bad for them but this is kinda like war and all is fair in love and war. I get to Katia, Jon, Claudene, Dom (Katia's brother) and his date (?) who both had joined us about an hour after we arrived at the venue. We're all position right in front of Caleb. Jon and Katia are on the barrier. I'm a little on the barrier and everyone else is in row two. The stage is close, very close, the closest I've every been I think but pretty high up (my neck is still aching). So from then it was 30 minutes till show time the high I was on had started to die and I was fading but then the Stills took the stage.
MAIN EVENT I have been waiting to see The Stills for what seems like forever! They are another band I was introduced to via Kings of Leon I have their debut Logic Will Break Your Heart newest album Oceans Will Rise both excellent! The Stills have a moody dark sometimes romantic sound. Even though I knew their songs I didn't know any bio info other than they were from Montreal so I had no idea who played what or what they looked like. When they took the stage I didn't have much reaction because I hadn't formed any idea in my head. I was happy that they were the only opener though because I would have a better chance at hearing all my favorites and I think they covered most of them. I was pleased by their set. They didn't talk a lot but they was a funny exchange from the lead singer about his guitar being slung way too high and not covering his man parts. The was some unintentionally humours moments including one of the songs where the bassist Olivier Corbeil doesn't play for the first 3/4 of the song and stood unmoving with a fixed gaze until I think he noticed us laughing at him and he started to crack a smile before regaining composure until his part came in. Another amusing thing was the guitarist Gregory Paquet who was nearly lifeless on stage people say Nathan shows no emotion this guy has him beat hands down. I kinda thought he was hot in a scary sexy kind of way he has beautiful blue eyes but I was most amused at his total nonchalantness I think people have more emotion practicing than he does performing.
The Stills wrap up and the guys come out and start tearing down. Of course that means Nacho comes out and gets to work, he's quite focused on his many tasks even though people are yelling his name all while he's working he does give a few nods and waves and continues to work furiously. Then theres some more wait wait waiting and then the lights go out the smoke starts and the lacrimosa plays! The guys come out and the smoke clears
Caleb is wearing a dark gray tee with the now infamous white jeans they kind of look super light blue or light gray but I guess they are white. His beard has been neatly manicured down to stubble but I actually havent been looking a pictures from the gigs since Bonnaroo so I really didn't even notice. Caleb did a nice speech about the fans being the best and greatly supportive he thanked the fans that are here now and the ones who have been here for a long time that got a loud cheer. He also remarked that they have had some good shows on this tour and some "funny" shows which got only a slight reaction from Jared. Caleb really seemed to enjoy himself I really got the full effect of his dancing for the first time and it was great watch those little hips go! Makes me smile just thinking about it. The crowd was particularly appreciative when he said we were one on the best crowds they've had on this tour.
Matt as usual has on layers a dark button up with a white shirt on underneath and I can't understand for the life of me how he can play like that. He's also looking the heaviest I've seen him and his hair is OUT OF CONTROL I'm missing the old Matt.
Nathan in all his glory had on a white cut off tee and thats pretty much all thats important there. I feel like I made serious eye contact with him but it was hard to tell with the angle we were on so who knows! What I do know is I will never forget him getting up from behind his set when it was all over and putting his hands together to form a heart I DIE! The man knows how to kill me HE KNOWS!
Jared was his best dressed self as usual he had on a cute red plaid short sleeve button up and tight fitting blue jeans and his hair was styled up like I like it. I realize now that when your that close up either Matt or Jared kinda get left out of the equation and usually I go to Matt's side but since we were all together I decided to stick with the group we were actually a little off from be dead center on Caleb so Jared, Caleb and Nate got all my attention and I forgot Matty existed until a solo came up which is usually what happens to Jared. But I have to say Jared made it worthwhile he was so into the show I was pleasantly surprised. He was giving good bass face, singing along to himself, smiling, making eye contact, I don't think he turned his back on us once and in general just being gorgeous. At one point I told Katia "I take every bad thing I've ever said about Jared back" he totally redeemed himself in my eyes.
the set list went like this
*Crawl *Notion *Taper Jean Girl *Immortals Molly's Chambers *Fans *Milk *Closer *Mary *Four Kicks *The Bucket *Radioactive *Where Is My Mind (Pixes Cover) *Sex on Fire *On Call *Southbound *Trani
< Encore > *Knocked Up *Use Somebody *Black Thumbnail
My thoughts- Immortals I always thought this was Radioactive and Radioactive was Immortals because it talks about going up yonder. Milk again YESSS! Mary, I think after the first couple bars of this song my stomach did a flip and a chill went down my spine (and I never get chills or the hairs on my arms standing up kind of feelings but I got it this night) and in the moment it overtook Southbound as my favorite new song. Radioactive into Where is my mind AGAIN I was shocked! Of the three times they've played this I've been witness to two! And I like it better every time which is the same way I feel about Trani again shocked! I was never a HUGE Trani fan, in that it was one of the not often heard one I would beg for but with Bonnaroo and now Toronto I fall deeper in love with it each time I hear it live. Southbound just pumps me the fuck up! I just feel like it was made for me (self centered much?)!
Those were my highlights. It was a great night, with an awesome crowd in an amazing city I will never forget it. I won't forget how my ear was ringing with the screams behind me. I won't forget Katia's face after she caught the hankie. I won't forget those guys giving it their all. I don't think it could have gone better. :-D
So if you're perpetually 15 like me and still watch One Tree Hill though seven seasons in and the writing nor acting have gotten any better you may have come to know a character named Grubbs this season. Grubbs starts out as a mind-reading bartender (I know I KNOW the writing is BRILL) who is discovered to be hiding his inner singer songwriter from all his friends. Despite the writing or genius character development Grubbs can sing. After just a few clicks through the interwebs I find out Grubbs is actually the lead singer of New York based band Wakey! Wakey! (possibly the best band name in history) who just happens to be passing through my town. I immediately text my BFF and fellow OTH watcher Vee and alert her, she needs no convincing she's in!
Fresh off my Bonnaroo/Tennessee/New Tattoo high I head to Pontiac, MI where the venue Clutch Cargo's is located. I've been to this venue once before on a night where it was just a club but tonight there is a lounge area then a dance floor then the stage. Along the walls there booths and a few tables. The place wasn't at all packed mostly just the lounge area and table were occupied and the floor left empty. Two of the booths have been taken over by merch vendors more on that later. So me and Vee hit the ladies room which was interesting and entertaining in of itself. In the ladies room there is a bathroom attendant with the normal stuff gum, perfume, lotion standard stuff. On the way into the stall I notice one of her bottles of perfume is my ALL TIME favorite that is NO longer in production! It's Escada's Rockin' Rio and if you're familiar Escada has a long line of one season fragrances. Rocking Rio was introduced in 2004 someone gave me an Escada sampler and by the time I had used the tiny sample bottle and went to buy the real thing it was no longer being sold and they had moved to another fragrance. I look for this perfume EVERYwhere I go with no luck! So upon exiting the stall I ask to buy the entire bottle from the charming attendant who is sitting on a stool penning out loud a letter to her locked up love Lavell (I shit you not). After being declined and following up with $10 bid she accepts SCORE! My night is already a success.
Back to the msuic there are two opening acts before Wakey!Wakey! the first is a singer songwriter named Susan Calloway. Susan is from the metro area and quite good with a very nice voice and even did an impressive cover of the Beyonce (or BC Jean song depending how you see it) hit "If I were a Boy". She was very engaging we had a whole dialogue about facebook she seemed new to it. Vee was thoroughly impressed and even bought one of her CD's.
Next up was a very different style act called Haper Blynn according to their myspace they are Rock / Melodramatic Popular Song who also hail from New York. They were really fun and funny reprimanding the crowd for not getting of their asses to fill the void between the stage and the lounge area. Vee and myself were at least out of our seats and dancing but didn't venture to the empty dance floor what can I say group mentality is hard to overcome. I really enjoyed these boys and they did an awesome cover of another Beyonce hit Halo (which I had been thinking after the previous cover would have been a good choice).
After a quick reset Wakey!Wakey! took the stage for an eager crowd. The common thread throughout a lot of W!W! material is love lost and heart break this coming from a very tall bearded man makes it all that much more appealing I think. The songs are very bare your soul, lay everything on the line put it out there which probably explains the crowd being 90% female. And speaking of female empowerment I think there was a preshow meeting about covers for the night because during Grubbs solo set he covered Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". I really enjoyed the show Grubbs was charming and funny. I loved that he was out numbered by girls in his band 2:3 with a girl on lead guitar, keyboard/bass and another on violin. He ended his set with the songs that could be heard on OTH and then encouraged everyone to come say hi at the merch booth.
Once they were leaving stage I kept inching closer to the stage along with another girl. We both knew what time it was although no one picked up set list to hand them to us we both just hopped up there and grabbed them! Vee not used to this activity was a bit startled and as I was explaining the procedure Grubbs walked out from backstage and we quickly accosted him for pictures he said something to Vee but took the picture anyway. As he walked away I realized he was telling her their was a line of people waiting I didn't realize that while I was stealing the setlist almost everyone in the venue had lined up and we had just jumped the line by getting him coming out of the door. WHOOPS! But I wanted my setlist signed and to buy stuff so we waited in line as the very last people until two other girls got behind us. We got to the front and took pictures
and I bought a Wakey!Wakey! Tshirt and some how I wound up telling them about the apostrophe fiasco with my middle name and laughing over that. Once we got the goods from Wakey! we moved over to Haper Blynn where I bought a CD continued the apostrophe tales and had an interesting conversation about the bands chosen album art.
Everyone was really nice and engaging and we had as much fun talking to them all afterward as we did listening it was a great night!
If you want to check out any of the bands and I think you should you can find them at
Finally getting my life back in pre-Bonnaroo condition. So Bonnaroo, my first time, 'Roo virgin! I decided this was my year to 'Roo no matter what! I was still determined to go even after none of my friends we're going to be able to make the trip with me. So the adventure started Tuesday June, 8th I woke up and headed out only after getting my tire pressure checked and finding out one of my tires was in horrible condition so $137.00 and one new tire later I was on the road. The drive was easy breezy! 575 miles from Detroit to Murfreesboro spent listening to Bonnaroo artists. I spent Tuesday and Wednesday sightseeing, getting my last minute things together and seeing old friends.
Thursday I was ready to head to the farm. Since I knew Feli, Stacy, Liz and Nan were going I had the bright idea of meeting up with them on the way there so at least I would have some familiar faces as neighbors. Meeting up didn't quite work out the way I had hoped. Most of I-24 was clear until about exit 110 then it was bumper to bumper and people were just inching along down I-24E until exit 127 where most people were directed to get back on I-24 and head WESTbound back down to exit 112! I didn't actually do this because I was trying to catch the girls in the other car I had been 2-3 miles behind them and unable to catch up in traffic. So I was speeding down the highway because they were nearing the exit. I was talking to Feli on the phone trying to catch up and I sped right past them on the exit ramp of 127 I could hear everyone in the car let out simultaneous groans and wails of frustration. So I keep going down 24E looking for an exit but of course there wasn't one. Finally I saw the turnaround in the median for emergency vehicles and a pulled an (illegal) u-turn I speed to exit 127 on the westbound side only to be waved on by an officer blocking the exit. I called Feli to find out they they had been redirected back to 24 going west. I catch up to the ladies only for us to sit on the other side 24 for another three hours. We waited and waited then after inching along, bathroom breaks in highway brush and some aggressive and evasive maneuvers we get to the front of the line and get to the entrance.
We show our tickets get our wristbands watch kids get busted for pot wait a little longer only then do I realize Stephanie was in the car with them apparently she was tucked away in the back. We all stretch our legs and finally get directed to our camp site. I had asked my sister to look up sunset time for Manchester while we were nearing the entrance and she told me we only had an hour and a half of daylight left so upon arriving at our camp site everybody was hustling to get their tents up. I had done a run through at home so I was pretty good working by myself and got my tent up fairly quickly. I did not have as easy a time with my mosquito tent and even after I got help, called my brother in law back home (which was the last time I had cell signal) and ripped a hole in the mesh netting I still only managed to get it half way together.
In terms of shows the rest of the time went like this-
THURSDAY Temper Trap The XX Wale
FRIDAY Jessie Baylin Gas Light Anthem Kings of Leon The Black Keys
SATURDAY Johnathan Tyler and the Northern Lights Brandi Carlile Dan Rawlings Experience Mumford & Sons Dead Weather Stevie Wonder Jay-Z
SUNDAY Ingrid Michealson Regina Spektor Kris Kristofferson They Might be Giants Phoenix Mike Posner
Thursday After getting the campsite pretty much together Feli, Stephanie and myself went to check out Temper Trap. I wasn't familiar with Temper Tramp and can't say I'm a fan even still but I was already feeling the festival-ness of it all come over me. We stayed at the same stage for The XX so we had a pretty good view. I really wasn't familiar with The XX either other than their AT&T commercial during the Olympics (and no Apollo did not make an appearance) but their buzz was big so I was excited to check them out. What I heard I liked but I decided to leave The XX early to see Wale. The first 30 minutes of Wale's set could be describe as WTF as in WHERE the fuck is Wale? Not on stage that's where! I was pretty annoyed by that and when he did come out I felt he did a bit too much talking. Because I left Feli and Stephanie at the XX I had to find my way back to camp solo BIG MISTAKE. I didn't know what pod we were in or what intersection and I walked for TWO HOURS trying to find it before asking several cab drivers that were of no help then FINALLY finding one that could help me get back to my camp.
Friday's sun came too early and now I see what Jessie Baylin meant about it being too hot to sleep late in the tents. I never slept past 7am because it was just too hot but hot or not we were all excited today was our big day Jessie Baylin and Kings of Leon! We showed up to Jessie's stage with more than an hour to spare. Upon arrival we were told we couldn't go to the barrier until an hour before. We were just hanging out when Carrie spotted me. I went over to grab some shade with her and meet some of the other girls. As it got closer to an hour before showtime there were quite a few people waiting around more than I had expected then I realized that it was because this "lounge" had not only tables and chairs but also electricity charging station for laptops taking this into account I realized we wouldn't have to fight the entire crowd for the barrier. When the lounge opened we quickly took our places with eagerness and speed that gave her drummer a good laugh. Not long after being at the barrier we spotted Courtney Jaye and then Jessie. Upon Jessie spotting Liz she came over to talk with her which turned her into a rockstar by association! Jessie took several pictures and was as sweet as always. Courtney Jaye even gave out a couple of her own CD's. There was murmurings of whether there would be a Nate sighting and sure enough he showed up. He stayed off to the right side hiding mostly out of sight but not well enough because he was soon spotted and while most of the crowd tried to play cool a few people went over to try to take pictures. Jessie's set started and she rocked it! She sang all new material besides "Leave Your Mark". Her hair was in big curls she wore and cool gray shirt, jean shorts, an Imogene + Willie necklace with a pair of very Jessie-esque boots. Her set was great I enjoyed the new material even more than I thought I would and Yuma was awesome! I think her album is even more anticipated than before if that's possible. For the last few songs of her set I broke out my hot pink sign that read "Jessie B. sign my sign for my next tattoo" (I forgot to take a picture of it). When the set was over I went around back for her to sign it and she was super sweet to me she recognized me for twitter (I was elated and embarrassed). I told her just how awesome I thought "Yuma" was and she seemed very appreciative. Just a few yards away Nate was acquiring quite a crowd and for some reason I decided to restrain myself and not to go over. Just before Jessie was whisked away on her golf cart Nate came over and congratulated her (I assume) and gave her a kiss it was cute beyond words. So when my Jessie Baylin experience was over the sun and heat was relentless so I decided to go check out Conan O'Brien in the air conditioned comedy tent. As I approached the tent a staff worker was circling the area in a cart telling people you had to have a ticket already to see Conan which I new nothing about so that plan ended there. Just then a girl asked me about just having been at Jessie Baylin I struck up a conversation and decided to go check out Gas Light Anthem with her and her friend. I didn't really know much about GSA but I had seen the lead singer in an interview and he seemed super cool so I wanted to see them. I really enjoyed their set and they definitely gained at lest one new fan. After GSA I was feeling a bit depleted so I decided to head back to the tent for some food and rest and sun relief. I thought it was gonna be a quick break and then I was gonna head back out for Damian Marley and Nas then She & Him but that never happened! I wound up eating then taking a nap in my car (with the air on of course). I didn't head back out until it was time for Kings by then the sun was going down as we set out for the main stage. I decided I wasn't going for the barrier earlier but Feli and Liz did so we got to the stage and found them in line with a ton of other people. As it got darker the line for the pit area got crazier, people gathered along the side of the barrier looking ready to jump the barrier to cut the line and that's just what happened. Chaos broke out people were pushing and shoving, people were getting squished and I think a few people actually fell down. It was horribly unorganized and I really feared for the safety of those involved. After a more people than I thought could even fit in the pit area got in then the craziness settled down. After more waiting the show finally stared with pyro and smoke! They came out and got right into it with
* Crawl * Taper Jean Girl * My Party * Be Somebody * Immortals * Molly’s Chambers * Fans * Milk * Closer * Mary * Wasted Time * Four Kicks * The Bucket * Radioactive * Charmer * Sex on Fire * Where is My Mind (Pixies cover) * Notion * On Call * Southbound * Trani
< Encore >
* Knocked Up * Manhattan * Use Somebody
I relished every second of those new songs. I was all to pleased with Milk, Wasted Time and Trani and positively stunned with the cover a COVER a FREAKIN' COVER! I didn't take many pictures because I wasn't very close and I wanted to be sure I had battery for video. I had am amazing time watching with Stephanie, Nan and Stacy. I'm sure people around us thought we were freaks for singing along to Mary.
By Saturday I was in a comfortable rhythm. Wake up, walk to port-a-potty in hello kitty pajamas, eat a hot dog or hamburger for breakfast go sweat it out all day in the sun. Up first Johnathan Tyler and the Northern Lights playing at the same small stage Jessie Baylin had played the day before. I was very excited to see JT and NL because I had been introduced to them by friends when I was living in LA and having seem them live once already I knew this would be a good set. They got off to a late (compared to Jessie the day before) and rough start, Nick the bassist was having audio issues through the first few songs. You could see some definite frustration but the band carried on. Jonathan came out of his shirt fairly quickly to the delight of many ladies. If you haven't heard JTNL they are southern rockers putting their own Texas twang on everything they touch. The four guys Jonathan, Jordan Nick and Kansas bring southern old school rock and Emotion Brown on tambourine and BGV's brings the old school soul and funk. Emotion actually took center stage during this gig and providing the lead vocal that included a rap which was pretty bad ass. The crowd seemed eager to hear more from her but that was all we got for this set. The band finished strong for the sizable crowd they had gathered wished us all well and dispersed from the stage.
Carrie had joined me in the crowd just as the set was beginning and we were festival buddies for the rest of the day. We left that stage to go to a tent where the next few sets we wanted to see would be. Brandi Carlisle, Dan Rawlings Experience and Mumford and Sons. I really only knew Brandi Carlisle's one big single so I felt a bit like an SOF fan when everyone around me was singing like every song. She had a good set and I realized just how powerful her voice is. I don't quite remember but we must have left to get water because our spots weren't nearly as close for Dan Rawlings Experience, we hung in the back sitting down in the sand. I think I must have been in an out of consciousness because I don't remember a lot about that set. I do remember Mumford & Sons and the large crowd that gathered for them. I especially remember the girls that had made shirts saying things to the effect of they wanted to give Mumford & Sons sons! We didn't stay long for M&S because we wanted to get over to the Dead Weather.
We trekked over to the big stage where we would be for the remainder of the evening to see Dead Weather, Stevie Wonder and Jay-Z. I think I was most excited for Dead Weather just because I really wasn't a fan yet. I had heard a few songs but Jack White had never really done it for me (blasphemy I know!). Just before their show time a light sprinkle came over the area it didn't last long but did give a reprieve from the sun. Jack White noted this when he took the stage, after being introduced by Conan O'Brien telling us to remember who brought the rain! A few songs in I started feeling exhausted so I spent most of their time lying down on my poncho in and out of consciousness but I do believe they made a believer out of me especially towards the end.
There was downtime before Conan came back out to introduce Stevie Wonder who had a great performance. I was very impressed by how entertaining he was, not sure why because he's been doing it since he was a kid so it shouldn't be at all surprising that he's so good at it. His set list was just hit after hit and he played all my favorites including Uptight (everything's alright). Jay-Z came to the stage (Conan didn't stick around for his introduction) in quite a good mood seeming happy and to be there. He ran through new songs and old jams that brought back memories from high school and college. Something I was surprised by was his production value and his set design it was very well done. He gave a shout out to Jack white but there was no duet and to the disappointment of some, no surprise appearance by Beyonce. The only there people on stage besides his band were Memphis Bleek serving as hype man and Bridget Kelly who sings Alicia Key's part in Empire State of Mind when Ms. Key's is unavailable the rest was all Jay. He was Jay-Z as you expect him and didn't disappoint even down to singles people out in the crowd as he has become known for doing which ed to a girl getting a special birthday moment when he brought her on stage and had the crowd sing happy birthday but not before a little language barrier between his NY accent and her (I assume) southern pronunciation of Maggie. I thought it was the perfect end to Saturday night.
Last day! Though I was sad it was going to be all over I was so excited by the thought of showering, real beds and toilets! However there was once concern...we were blocked in because there were people parked behind my tent which was behind my car which was behind Stacy's van. After I got up I started organizing things repacking, throwing away trash, disassembling and then I notice the people behind me were packing up so I casually asked them when they'd be leaving and they said soon in the next couple of hours (woot woot I was scared they were Dave Matthews Band fans and I'd be stuck till tomorrow), rejoice! Knowing I'd soon be free I packed up all my things so that after I saw my last show I could just hop in my car and drive away. After getting all of that together I set out to see and hear the last of Bonnaroo.
I had long been wanting to see Ingrid Michaelson live so I along with Feli and Stephanie headed out early to get a spot. Ingrid was hilariously entertaining! She had such funny commentary throughout her set I was actually quite surprised. She required a lot of crowd participation which include making hearts, "breaking that motherfucker" and jazz hands'ing it out. She was so funny and good I didn't hold it against her. The one not so good spot was her arrangement to her breakout hit "The way I am" tired of performing the same song she decided to change the arrangement (which is not uncommon the Yeah Yeah Yeah's did this with their big hit Map's). She took the midtempo song to a punk rock arrangement and it just didn't fly. But she did redeem herself with a cover of as she described an up and coming singer songwriter named... Britney Spears
which was followed by some AMAZING dance moves by her and her band skip to the 2:45 mark.
From there we went on to see Regina Spektor which was only ruined by it being a thousand degrees out with no shade in sight. Feli retreated quickly for shade me a Steph tried to tough it out but didn't make it though her whole performance. What I saw and heard reminded me of why I was supposed to go by her albums I had forgotten how much I liked her. When Steph and I left Regina's stage we went looking for Feli but instead found some band playing the ford fiesta garage with a lead singer/ Jesus impersonator as well as an clinically depressed angel playing violin
although they were riveting I left Stephanie to try to join Feli at Kris Kristofferson.
I wanted to check him out because Jessie Baylin is always professing sincere love for him and because he just an overall badass. I did a couple laps through the crowd but couldn't find Feli. I got a pretty good spot close to the stage. Kris was very old school country but as I was watching fatigue began to set in so I went and sat at a picnic table nearby but then proceeded to fall asleep so after dozing for a while I decided to get up and see if I could find Stephanie at They may be Giants stage. I didn't find Steph either but I did learn that TMBG was a comedy band which I had no clue of. After that was over I went to our meeting spot to meet up with the other girls before we were going to head to our last show together Phoenix!
While waiting at another table I was approached by a young man who after finding I didn't work at the festival proceeded to crush up a pill, snort it and continue on his way. Moments later I met up with Feli and then Steph we took one last trip to my car for them to grab some things and then we headed back to see phoenix. The area around Phoenix's stage was pretty densely populated so we hung way back. Stacy, Nan and Liz met up with us there, where we took one final group picture and I said goodbye to the gals.
I was on my own so I headed over to see Mike Posner to close out my Bonnaroo experience. His was in a tiny tent that seemed 15 degrees hotter than it was outside. The crowd was all super young kids that made me feel ancient, I think by the end of his set I had become a closet Mike Posner fan. But Mike put on a good show as he always does! Everyone knew all the lyrics to his songs he had the crowd rocking harder than everyone else I had seen all weekend and it was the perfect ending to my first 'Roo!
I trudged past all the DMB fans to make it back to my car. There weren't many cars on the roads so I was hoping I wouldn't be in line forever to get out but of course as I hit my street I see a long line of cars. I get to my car and get in line and it only takes me TEN minutes to hit I-24! I hit gas and wait for my cell reception to come back on the way to Murfreesboro.
THE END
P.S. On Monday before I left Tennessee for Michigan I got my Jessie Baylin signature turned into a tattoo. It commemorates my first Bonnaroo and my time spent in Tennessee. In case you're unfamiliar the lyric comes from Jessie Baylin's song "See How I Run" and the context is "...You step left right you can't get confused..." and I adopted it as a mantra of mine a while back and it seemed all to fitting for me at this point in my life.
I can hear him quite clearly. He himself jokes that his guitar only setup lends itself to sad and lonely songs and they do sound sad and lonely in a beautiful way that makes you think on Bon Iver. His set was fairly short with just seven songs. Jessie came on with what seemed like little commentary and went right into her set that went like this.
