2008 Woodie Awards
Headliners perform big at Bonnaroo
By Peter Rizzo, Collegian Staff
Issue date: 9/3/08 Section: Arts & Living
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.
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.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
David Gerard
posted 9/07/08 @ 12:41 PM EST
"It's the way business is done these days," Mr Ulrich said. "And there's the novelty of anyone wanting to listen to a new Metallica album." http://tinyurl. (Continued…)
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