Bonnaroo: Sunday 6/17/07: Wilco & The White Stripes Raze The Stages
While Saturday's lineup was the most set-hopper friendly, Sunday's spread offered two trump cards with eagerly anticipated sets from Wilco and the first post-Icky US show from the White Stripes. Before we got there, though, there were a few acts worth checking in with, including lady Feist at the Which Tent (dedicating "1234" to tourmates Grizzly Bear and promising corn dogs to anyone who sang along) and the Decemberists, who opened with "The Mariner's Revenge Song," dipped deep into The Crane Wife, and explained the appeal of Colin's trademark seersucker suit ("It's breathable!").
Wilco's stop on the Bonnaroo Main Stage was sensational, Jeff saying mid-set, "I can tell you one thing -- we're having a really great time. And that doesn't happen all the time, either, so that's saying something!" The Tweedy troupe opened with a killer "You Are My Face," letting Nels show those frets of fury, before indulging in Summerteeth tunes ("A Shot In The Arm" and a killer Kotche workout on "Via Chicago") and A Ghost Is Born's ""Handshake Drugs." Jeff asked for some singalong action, and unsurprisingly, the crowd's was at its strongest for Yankee cuts like "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart" and "War On War."
The biggest Sunday show, though, was Jack and Meg's American coming out party for the Thump.
And honestly, it should have been a main stage show (the mosh pit didn't have anything on the insane me-first photog area). Jack in red-on-red, Meg in white with red polka dots, the White Stripes opened their set with "Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground" and proceeded in grand sister/lover/brother fashion, Jack scurrying over to his Meg mic for some eye-locked wailing, dipping deep into the stage recesses, charging up front to lay a riffage assault on the crowd. We got lots of Icky (including the barreling title track, "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As Your Told)," and "I'm Slowly Turning Into You"); a pounding, falsettofied "Blue Orchid"; and a sludgy/shrieky take on Dolly standard "Jolene," before the Stripes bid adieu to the militant groove of "Seven Nation Army." The Stripes were the perfect endnote to a sweaty, dusty, weekend in the Tennessee sun. Sorry, Widespread Panic.
Now for the obligatory assessment of this year's crowd: it's no longer a hippie festival. If 2006 was a crossover success, 2007 cemented the fest's reputation as THE destination rock weekend of the summer. We smelled no patchouli. We did smell plenty of body odors, but the greenest hippie and greasiest hipster shower with the same rate of absolute infrequency ... so we'll call it a draw. And as always, great seeing blog brethren Muzzle Of Bees, Louder Soft, You Ain't Not Picasso, and Each Note Secure.
So 73 arrests and 200 citations later (but none for Stereogum!), we pack our bags and make the trek back to NYC. Big THANKS go to the folks at Big Hassle and Superfly for being so accommodating, and of course much appreciation to Jon Bahr of ASCAP/Team Slip for providing many of the pics you've enjoyed scrutinizing all fest long. Now, back to reality. Anything happen while we were gone? We'll get busy catching up while you scroll on to the last crop of .jpgs.
WOLFMOTHER
THE DECEMBERISTS
FEIST
WILCO
THE WHITE STRIPES
Posted at 12:09 PM in Concert
Tags: Bonnaroo | Feist | Jack White | The Decemberists | The White Stripes | Wilco | Wolfmother
Wolfmother + eyeliner = NO
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i want to marry meg
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That's quite a...jazzy (?) shirt on Nels.
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Nels shirt is almost as lame as his elevator music guitar soloing on Sky Blue Sky.
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c'mon...all jack and no meg pics?
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I can't tell whether it's your photographs or his old-school cereal-bowl haircut that's making Colin Meloy look like he has fetal alcohol syndrome. I know it sounds harsh, but now that I've seen it that way, I can't unsee it.
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the decemberists are the 00 version of barenaked ladies.
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Jack White is beginning to look more and more like Robert Smith who in turn looks more and more like Elizabeth Taylor. Coincidence? I think not.
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Don't worry Stereogum, you didn't miss much with Widespread Panic. Yes, their long-haired guitarist is awesome, and I was away from my (live-streaming) computer for much of their set, but their singer was so awful the last few songs or so that I wish someone would've given the old man some water or just told him to stop singing, period. It was almost painful to watch.
The White Stripes rocked, and did anyone notice Jack referring to Meg as "his sister" at the end of the show? Unless he does that a lot, I think those rumors about Jack and Meg being lovers should stop now.
And how cool was that clip of Jon Stewart introducing The Flaming Lips' "She Don't Use Jelly" back in the MTV show days being used to introduce their performance of that song this weekend?! Again, I don't know if they do that at every show now, but that was a nice surprise.
And it came at a good time during the show because their set was kind of boring until that point. (The set got better as they went along)
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The Lips do use the Jon Stewart intro for "She Don't Use Jelly" at all of their shows, and they even use their appearance on 90210 during the set as well.
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And I hear they still use confetti blowers, too!
:-)
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The Lips play the EXACT SAME SHOW every single time they play, from Coyne's little hand puppet, getting the crowd to sing prolonged notes on "Yoshimi," the bubble thing...I mean, CMON. Can't they ever just change it up a little bit?!? Maybe play a "Fight Test" one of these times?
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if you watch any video with the new wilco line-up, you'll see some pretty wretched shirts on mr. cline. it's actually quite hilarious.
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I think the lips cannot play fight test without paying cat stevens. Legally. Also, there's a lot of hater comments on here. Colin does look dumb with short hair, see the brother in arms video for further examples.
Also, aside from his sweet soloing, nels is probably full of helpful middle aged man tips about taxes and home repair.
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it seems like we all caught Jack with his hair standing straight up on his head! it was really great to see both of you guys (as always) & here's hoping you made it home safely.
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Feist=man face
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WS back to basics!
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wRV = waste of smegma
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i saw the white stripes at coachella in 03 and it still holds up as one of the best shows i have ever seen live. they rule.
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Festival Highlights: Decemberists cover of "The Weight", The Hold Steady's entire show, and shining the laser pointers provided by the Flaming Lips on the meaty security guards' privates.
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Good times hanging at the Roo with Mssrs. Stereogum (and Papa Stereogum) and yes, White Stripes = insane. @joe $, the reason there are no Meg pics is that from where Stereogum was standing in the impossible-to-move-around photo pit, a decent angle on her didn't exist. Unless you like the back of her shirt, and hey, you might. Who knows?
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i was first row at the wilco concert. it was phenomenal, and anyone who disses the soloing on the new songs is a pitchfork reader who doesn't know any better. the sky blue sky songs need to be heard live to be fully appreciated.
i wish i had caught the hold steady, i only saw thei r closer...i was seeing fountains of wayne at the time.
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jack, can i has your babies? kthxbye
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luv ya jackie boy!!
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epic lulz
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"Nels shirt is almost as lame as his elevator music guitar soloing on Sky Blue Sky."
Wow, cool man, let's talk about clothes.
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The Lips play several different sets, seen 'em live many times. And unless you've been there up close and personal (first 20 rows), you have no clue. So stop talking shit and get a one.
also I love the reviews by the guy who wasn't even there... that's awesome dude. See you at the next webcast man!!!
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Oh yeah... and anyone who talks shit about wilco needs to shut the fuck up. One of the most talented and giving bands on the planet. If I wasn't waiting to get first ten for the stripes, I would have been all over that. Oh well... saw em in Chi town, and they will be in Denver in the fall.
Oh yeah... and all the people talkin shit on here were prob all the people sittin at home while we were having the time of our lives at THE ROO!!!!!
Ha Ha... ur bad!!!
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