(Editor's note: This is part two in a series about the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.)
MANCHESTER, Tenn. - Even the Bonnaroo Arts and Music Festival headliners with their iconic stature felt the need to perform big.
One such band with a chip on its shoulder was Metallica, whose new album "Death Magnetic" is being touted as a return to form from a band that has been inconsistent in recent years. The move to make the heavy metal band a main stage headliner at the traditional hippie friendly festival was one that sparked speculation amongst fans, and even some of the artists.
Glen Hansard, famous for his recent Oscar nomination for the musical "Once" offered up his thoughts on the matter. Saying that even for his band, a mostly acoustic offering, The Swell Season, the festival was an attractive idea.
"You have to give the festival credit," he said. "They don't seem to really be pacing themselves as they're not [just] going for the hippie genre. I mean they've got Metallica headlining which isn't a band that comes to mind for a festival like this."
By Saturday evening, the bright skies gave way to the oncoming clouds and rain. This might have dampened spirits had it not come at such a fitting time. The dreary weather coincided nicely with the oncoming of Metallica, who were taking the first solo headlining slot, introduced by none other than comedian Chris Rock, who had just finished his set on the stage.
The reaction from the crowd was mixed as many were seeing the band for the first time. Even while lead singer James Hetfield implored the festival goers to sing along, many seemed unable to come up with the words. One Metallica fan expressed his anger after the show saying: "I just wanted to go up to people and shake them and say 'do you have any idea what they're playing?'"
If nothing else, the band successfully proved that regardless of its age, it's still a solid live act, even if it had not been creatively on par for years. The group ended the set with ferocity by ejecting red fireworks while blasting the now-Guitar-Hero-certified jam "One." The display proved the rockers place at the festival and seemed to win over some of the original naysayers.
Other major acts, like My Morning Jacket, came out to promote their new albums and prove that they've still got it. The midnight set from the local Louisville band was a must-see as the band has played the festival five out of the seven years.
Debuting a host of new songs from its surprisingly conservative new disc "Evil Urges," it opened up the set with its self-titled track, a five-minute Prince-inspired funk jam. Despite worries about the new material, it was quickly embraced by the glow-stick hurling, massive, red ball-bouncing crowd, whose spirits appeared unhampered by the now steady rain.
Lead singer Jim James and company played a host of tunes from the new disc and refused to leave, playing a five-hour set that would later leave them to be hailed by the festival's daily newspaper "The Bonnaroo Beacon" as Bonnaroo's "Homecoming Kings."
For main stage star Jack White, his task was to up last year's performance on the same stage, though this time with his other band, The Raconteurs. Leading off with "Consoler of the Lonely," the first song on their new album of the same name, Jack and company were quick to grab the audience by the neck and not let up.
Over the course of the set, the band blazed through the majority of its new release which thrived in the live environment. White stood front and center, often dominating the landscape of musicians.
Halfway through the set, White seemed on a mission to leave the stage in flames as his solos bristled with flair, often flirting with backup guitarist Brendan Benson's grooves before going in for a knockout punch.
Fans had nothing but good things to say about the set which lasted an hour and a half and proved to be one of the fest's highlights. Most of the comments offered overwhelmingly positive feedback before apologetically offering the statement "and don't get me wrong I do love the White Stripes."
M.I.A. gave fans who arrived a treat. During her set, she announced that the Bonnaroo performance was to be her "last ever show" leaving her fans with a special bittersweet memory and one that will mostly likely forever be shrouded in mystery, as rumors began circulating that after she had reportedly canceled the event, she played merely to appease celebrity festival attendees, the Olsen Twins.
The festival was, so far, going off without a hitch.
For more information on the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival visit the Collegian Arts Blog at www.dailycollegian.com.
Peter Rizzo can be reached at prizzo@student.umass.edu.
Be the first to comment on this article!