In this running feature from the Bonnaroo Beacon, Artists look back on their previous Bonnaroo experiences…
Umphrey’s McGee
Bonnaroo Classes: ’02, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’08, ‘10
Umphrey’s McGee have grown alongside Bonnaroo more than almost any band on this year’s lineup. The Chicago-by-way-of-Indiana band was still relatively unknown outside the Midwest when they played an early afternoon set at the first Bonnaroo in 2002 but made enough of an impression that moe. invited singer/guitarist Brendan Bayliss to sit in. Umphrey’s McGee scored a coveted late night set of their own when they appeared again in 2004 and returned the favor by inviting moe. to sub in during their intermission. Many still consider that marathon two-set show the moment Umphrey’s McGee’s truly arrived on the national stage. They made their third trip to Manchester, TN in 2005 for a spot on the massive Which Stage and became one of the only bands to play Bonnaroo three years in a row when they split a late night barnburner with the Disco Biscuits in 2006. As Umphrey’s McGee have started to headline festivals on their own, they’ve returned for two more Which Stage sets and some members of the band even participated in two spirited masquerade balls a few fuzzy years ago. After a year off, Umphrey’s McGee returns to Bonnaroo with the new, progressive studio album Death by Stereo. Shortly before the festival, guitarist/singer Brendan Bayliss recounted his rise through the Bonnaroo ranks.
What were your expectations prior to your first trip to Bonnaroo?
I had never been to a music fest like Bonnaroo before that first year, so obviously any expectations I had were blown away. I knew it was gonna be special but no one could have prepared me for how massive it was. And how seemingly every friend I’ve ever had was there, too.
Describe your craziest Bonnaroo experience.
Sitting on the side of the stage watching moe. and realizing that Al is motioning for me to grab his guitar mid song. Then realizing two minutes later that I had needed to get his guitar back to him cause I really shouldn’t have been in public at that point.
How does Bonnaroo compare to other festivals you have played?
It’s a whole different animal than the average festival. That caliber of music is unmatched, the attention to detail is insane, and the options for the fans are too numerous to count. And the vibe in the air is unlike any other place.
What was your quintessential Bonnaroo moment from years past?
Having 20,000 people yell “fuck you Joel” to our keyboardist during our first late night set. It still makes me smile to this day.
What band would you most like to collaborate with at Bonnaroo this year?
The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Flea has been a huge influence on me, my fashion sense is directly ripped off from him. I would die my hair pink or green or red if he would play a tune with us. I would even consider wearing a sock.
Dawes
Bonnaroo Class: ‘10
This year Dawes joins a growing list of Bonnaroo bands who have graduated from one of the festival’s showcase café stages to a far more spacious tent slot. When the LA-based folk-rock group made their Bonnaroo debut in 2010, their first album North Hills was already picking up steam and had recently attracted the attention of Dave Matthews’ ATO label. Not only did the album’s roots-oriented sound reflect the festival’s grassroots energy, but the members of Dawes immediately embraced Bonnaroo’s collaborative spirit, and they invited kindred souls Edward Sharpe out for a well-timed sit-in. Dawes are still down for a good guest appearance two years and countless accolades later, and the group’s recent onstage jams have included cross-generational icons like Jackson Browne, Robbie Robertson, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ Benmont Tench and Levon Helm, among many others. They’ve also released a stellar second album, Nothing is Wrong, on ATO and clocked in hundreds of dates around the globe. Frontman Taylor Goldsmith reflects on the band’s humble Bonnaroo beginnings.
What were your expectations of Bonnaroo before you played the festival for the first time?
We didn’t know what to expect. We thought we’d for sure be playing to no one, but we played the perfect size stage and had a great time.
What do you remember most about your own performance?
I remember some folks from Edward Sharpe coming up and helping us sing some songs. I remember some loud stage going on behind us so we had to keep the show loud and the energy high. I also remember being way sweatier than after most shows.
Describe your craziest Bonnaroo experience?
We got up to sing a part of a song with Ed Sharpe and it was insane to see and experience what a show to a packed tent felt like from standing on the stage. We’ve never had that and hopefully will someday.
How does Bonnaroo compare to other festivals you have played?
It’s definitely the wild one, and because of that the fans seem much more excited to get involved and catch everything they possibly can.
What was your quintessential Bonnaroo moment from years past?
Watching Kris Kristofferson join John Prine for “Paradise” during Prine’s encore.
What band would you most like to collaborate with at Bonnaroo this year?
Probably Feist. Im a fan. We’ve even toyed around with working up a cover of her song “Comfort Me.”
Wyllys
Bonnaroo Classes: ‘02, ‘04, ‘06, ‘08
Wade Wilby has experienced Bonnaroo in all sorts of ways during the past 11 years. He attended the first Bonnaroo as a patron and returned in 2004 a lighting director. After being hired as a member of the Umphrey’s McGee road crew, he worked Bonnaroo two other times in a technical capacity, and now Wilby will make his official debut as a festival performer. Over the past few years, Wilby has performed across the country under the alias Wyllys, mixing DJ gigs with live electronic shows with his groups Space Disco and the NY Hustler Ensemble. Wilby will put a new, silent spin on his Bonnaroo resume when he performs in the festival’s signature Silent Disco at 3:30 AM Friday night (technically Saturday morning). He’ll play an encore set in the Silent Disco at 5 PM Saturday afternoon. Wyllys walks us through his varied experiences at what he calls the “Super Bowl” of music festivals.
What were your expectations prior to your first trip to Bonnaroo?
Phish was on hiatus, so really we were expecting, for all intents and purposes, The Clifford Ball. However, once we arrived we found the land to be rather inhospitable compared to Upstate NY or Maine. Once Umphrey’s hit the stage, we were blown away by their energy and their effect on such a large crowd. We immediately got over the heat and humidity and proceeded to have one of the best weekends of our lives. I’ll never forget when UM dropped “The Triple Wide.” I literally saw that whole tent become UM fans at the touch of a button. Amazing.
Describe your craziest Bonnaroo experience?
Talk about your loaded questions. What I can say about my craziest Bonnaroo experience is that we still talk about it to this day. There is a song written about it (Lyrics: me Music: Adam King), and I hold it very dear to my heart. It was one of those Saturdays that turn to Sundays in the blink of an eye and I literally shot fire from my mouth at sunrise on Sunday. It was also the creation of “Tanuary,” where Wade ceased to exist and Cocoa Crisp was born. Lol.
How does Bonnaroo compare to other festivals you have played?It doesn’t. It is the Super Bowl of festivals, with the best backstage in all of festivaldom. You don’t ever have to go to gen pop for anything. You can do the whole thing from backstage, which is great for sociopathic artists like myself. Amazing VIP bars, coupled with clothing and footwear vendors throwing swag at you make backstage at Bonnaroo the place to be. Plus you get to see the behind the scenes shenanigans a-la Pearl Jam and Kanye’s crew getting INTO IT at changeover.
What was your quintessential Bonnaroo moment from years past?
Sigur Ros. Hands down a transcendent experience. I went with Jake from Umphrey’s as the rest of UM was waiting in a field for Kanye to come on. Joke was on them big time, as we witnessed the extended Sigur Ros with a mini orchestra deliver a jaw dropping performance. Still the greatest encore I’ve ever seen at Bonnaroo. They took the stage and did a group bow and left. No song. HAHAHAHA. That takes some brass Icelandic balls.
What band would you most like to collaborate with at Bonnaroo this year?
I could front and give you the name of some esoteric indie rock band, but obviously the answer is Phish. I talk to so many indie rock bands and DJs that grew up on Phish but it’s taboo to bring them up. Fuck that noise. I owe all my success to the inspiration they gave me at such a young age and feel that the speed of the disco I play (100-110bpm) could be an amazing springboard for their improv. I’d also love to have Ben Folds rage some sarcastic disco vox.
Do you approach a Silent Disco DJ set different than a normal DJ set?
Absolutely not. a party is a party is a party. I never use a setlist, cause that is asinine for a DJ to do. You roll up to the decks to push your own agenda, 9 times out of 10 you’re falling on your face. You’ve got to read the crowd, but more importantly you have to go see other bands at festivals. See what the crowd is reacting to. Do your market research. Get out and rub elbows with the kids, even for just a few hours. However at Bonnaroo, it’s really hard to leave backstage.
Delta Spirit
Bonnaroo Class: ‘09
Delta Spirit has only played Bonnaroo once, but frontman Matt Vasquez still describes that set as the band’s most “surprising and thrilling” show to date. Still a young band at the time, Delta Spirit overcame travel problems, inclement weather and even a missing bass player to deliver one of the biggest shows they’ve ever played. Even three years later, fans continue to trace their love of the band back to that set. Delta Spirit should covert even more fans when they make their debut on the massive Which Stage. Part of an extended tour in support of their self-titled album, Delta Spirit’s set will showcase a new batch of big, diverse songs.
Since they describe Bonnaroo as a “giant tour reunion,” we also won’t be surprised if we catch some of the band’s members checking out a few other performers on or off stage as well. Multi-instrumentalist Kelly Winrich recounts the curious circumstances leading up to the band’s 2009 Bonaroo debut.
How does Bonnaroo compare to other festivals you have played?
It’s definitely one of the bigger festivals we’ve played. Every festival has its own unique character. Sasquatch! has the Gorge, Lollapalooza has Chicago, Coachella has the California desert. Bonnaroo has a very organic, natural feel to it. It has something for everyone.
Describe your craziest Bonnaroo experience.
Probably the craziest, most memorable Delta Spirit festival experience came from Bonnaroo 2009. To preface, Delta Spirit has always had the worst luck when it comes to flying. So on the way to Bonnaroo, the day before we play, it was no surprise that our connecting flight through Dallas was delayed. An hour delay turned into a 2 hour delay, into 3 hours, and eventually it was cancelled. We still had 24 hours before our set time at 7pm on Thursday. But as our luck goes, there were no later flights that evening. All the planes in Dallas were grounded because of a hurricane or some sort of crazy weather. So we ended up rescheduling our flight for 8:30am the next morning, still with plenty of time to get the festival. Again, our new flight was cancelled – the weather was still insanely bad. At this point, we’re scrambling to get on any flight we can, in order to make it in time for our set. Flight after flight is getting cancelled, and we’re starting to get worried. Eventually, after a day from hell in the airport, we miss our 7pm set time at Bonnaroo. Needless to say we’re bummed, but we figure we might as well go to the festival since we’re half way there already. Somehow we snag 5 spots on a standby list, the only catch is we have our bass player Jon’s wife Amy with us, making 6 total. When it comes time to board the plane, Jon decides he’ll stay back with her, since we missed our set anyway, and they’ll come later. As soon as we get on the plane, we get a call from our manager saying they rescheduled our set time. Passion Pit was nice enough to not only let us play after them, but to let us use their gear. Our set is on, and we now play at 12:30am in That Tent. The only problem is, we don’t have a bass player. I call Jon, yell at him for staying back with his wife (haha) and tell him to bribe whoever he can to get on a plane to Bonnaroo. He gets a flight into Hunstville, which is about an hour and a half away from Bonnaroo, rents a car, drives 90 mph non-stop, only to get to the festival 5 minutes before we’re supposed to play, throws on a bass, and we start the show. What makes this story even better, is that it was pouring rain, so literally everyone at the festival was trying to crowd under our tent, making for a crowd upwards of 10,000 people. We played one of the most intense, energetic shows we’ve ever played. People were losing their minds. We went through hell to get there, but Bonnaroo 2009 was the best festival performance we’ve played yet!
What band would you most like to collaborate with at Bonnaroo this year?
Not sure who we would collaborate with, but definitely excited to see a bunch of bands. Radiohead, Bon Iver, the Roots, Black Star, the War on Drugs, Here We Go Magic, the list goes on…Also excited to see friends bands, which is what’s so great about festivals. It’s like a giant tour reunion.
Dispatch
Bonnaroo Class: ‘08
For all intents and purposes Dispatch broke up around the time of the first Bonnaroo in 2002. Though the New England-bred rock band came together for a massive farewell show in 2004 and three benefit concerts at Madison Square Garden in 2007, the band’s touring days seemed to be over when singer/guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Chad Stokes played Bonnaroo with his politically-charged trio State Radio in 2008. But the group’s fan base continued to grow while the trio focused on other bands and charity work, and last year Dispatch reunited for their first tour in a decade. Stokes, bassist/guitarist Pete Francis and drummer/guitarist Brad Corrigan spent time in the studio as well, and the group will release their first studio album since 2000 later this summer. Dispatch are slated to appear on the Which Stage at 8:30 PM this evening while Stokes will sit for a performance and interview with Rock the Earth on the Solar Stage at 2 PM. Before heading to Manchester, TN, Stokes reflected on his previous Bonnaroo experience with State Radio.
What were your expectations prior to your first trip to Bonnaroo?
I was excited to see all the bands and all the camping fans – and honored that State Radio was asked to come down and play under one of the big tents.
What do you remember most about your own performance?
We took our shirts off for the encore (a rare sighting as I get sun burned in the rain) and then I ripped out the chord that goes into my guitar as I jumped over to Chuck’s side of the stage for the climactic last note of the last song – that of course came out silent. Maddog threw his drums off the riser to help me out and all the while the crowd was awesome.
Describe your craziest Bonnaroo experience?
We did a secret show that no one came to because it was secret.
How does Bonnaroo compare to other festivals you have played?
It’s played in the home state of Davy Crockett – pretty cool.
What was your quintessential Bonnaroo moment from years past?
I was with my photographer friend and he said stick around Jack White’s about to be here. But then our manager said Converse was offering us free shoes. So I left and got a pair of shoes. Bad call – never choose shoes over meeting a musician you really like – unless you’re jumping freight trains barefoot, then I’d go with the shoes.
What band would you most like to collaborate with at Bonnaroo this year?
Alice Cooper and Ludacris.
ALO
Bonnaroo Classes: ‘05, ‘08
ALO bassist Steve Adams had such a good time when his band played Bonnaroo in 2005 that he came back three years later just to hang. Like many of you, he braved the rain to see My Morning Jacket’s epic late night set and watched Galactic kick out the jams with some of the scene’s biggest rappers in support of their album From the Corner to the Block. Of course it helped that ALO keyboardist/singer Zach Gill was on the bill performing with event co-headliner and longtime ALO pal Jack Johnson. Now, seven years since the veteran California jamband made their Bonnaroo debut one hot Thursday night, ALO returns to Bonnaroo with their new, hook-laden but still loose album Sounds Like This for a high-profile slot in This Tent on Sunday Morning. They’ll also play a more intimate set on the Solar Stage at 3 PM today and will appear on the Sonic Stage at 3 PM. Adams recently spoke about his experiences at Bonnaroo as both a performer and fan—and even shed some light on his ideal comedic collaboration.
What do you remember most about your own performance?
I remember the big tent we played in, Which or That, I forget. And that Rose Hill Drive wrapped up their set just before ours with a crushing cover of “Immigrant Song,” one we’d also worked up for our set. You win some you lose some.
Describe your craziest Bonnaroo experience?
Getting rained on during My Morning Jacket’s outdoor night set in 2008. The band played on and we all got drenched. Rock trumped the elements, it was majestic!
How does Bonnaroo compare to other festivals you have played?
Bonnaroo is uniquely interactive. Every element of it is engaging, you’re constantly brought into the experience, if you’re not already in it without even knowing.
What was your quintessential Bonnaroo moment from years past?
The folks at Bonnaroo do a great job facilitating rad musical collaborations. One of my favorites was Galactic with Chali 2Na late night in 2008. Galactic sounded so good. Perfect organ and guitar hooks, great grooves and drum breaks. It was really cool to hear hip hop with so much life.
What band would you most like to collaborate with at Bonnaroo this year?
Let’s get Kenny Rogers over to the ALO set, we’d love to play a tune with him! Or, do you think Aziz Ansari would want to do “Baby Baby” with us? That’d be amazing.
