MOG

The amazing M.I.A. in action. Photos by Charley Rogulewski

Every Bonnaroo becomes its own epic story, outrageous accounts into the weird, unpredictable that couldn’t be made up, even if you tried…hard. This year mine started off checking into the Park Motel, a small mom and pop operation on main street Manchester, TN (same zip as Bonnaroo) followed by two DEA agents. As the DEA agents busted up an illegal drug trafficking operation, a meth lab perhaps, I got into my Hyundai Sonata rental and proceeded to look for some other lodging.

Kirk Hammett delivers the goods.

This year, the seventh year of Bonnaroo drew 70,000+ people, including the Olsen twins (like I said, you can’t make this shit up). Despite the celeb sightings and drug busts, the music on Friday was unsurpassed. In a matter of 12 consecutive hours my Metallica cherry was popped, M.I.A. nearly brought down the That tent, I sang onstage with the Felice Brothers, Minus The Bear convinced me I should pay more attention, Tiesto didn’t live up to the hype, while My Morning Jacket, the Raconteurs, !!! did. Chris Rock made history, by being the first comedian to perhaps perform to a crowd of 70,000+ people on the festival’s main stage (I also group hugged the guys from MTV’s Human Giant, twice). All of this I get to do it all again, but different… on day two.

The Felice Brothers.

The Felice Brothers started Friday off for me playing their second Bonnaroo set on the intimate Sonic Stage. Despite some technical difficulties with the accordion, the SKA/old timey young guns mixed it up with the hyper "Whiskey in My Whiskey" and introduced a slow jam by saying it was inspired by "the Rockefeller Drug laws in New York." How fitting. The brothers ended by inviting the crowd onstage for a sing-a-long to "Glory, Hallelujah."

James Hetfiied has the power.

Stationed in the second row, the only thing disappointing about Metallica’s set was the crowd. No surfing. No moshing. The lack of chaos was noticeable and felt unusual, despite Metallica totally bringing it. James Hetfield lived up to his promise early in the set by playing some old classics like The Black Album’s "The Unforgiven" and "Nothing Else Matters" as well as Justice For All’s namesake and "Harvester Of Sorrow."

"Something for your neck tomorrow" Hetfield told the crowd before going into Kill ‘Em All’s "Whiplash." Pyrotechnics exploded on stage before the band went into "One" and "Enter Sandman." (Sleep with one eye open gripping the pillow tight…maybe at the Park Motel.)

The incredible My Morning Jacket.

My Morning Jacket played a midnight set in the rain. Jim James started things off with Evil Urges’ title track. Z songs like "Gideon" and "Off The Record" were interspersed with other MMJ oldies and newbies. The set went on for hours and it felt like the band played almost every song in their song catalog.

Being tagged as "The World’s Number One DJ" can be a hard thing to live up to. For DJ Tiesto it was. The trance DJ made me dance, no doubt, but while other mainstream DJs can build and until the song explodes, Tiesto’s trance felt repetitive. There were hints of his Magik days, but I’ve definitely left feeling like I’ve been more entertained by a Chemical Brothers set. After two hours in the silent disco (I want one for my backyard, for my birthday)…it was time to call it a night or morning.

Minus the Bear’s frontman summed it up perfectly earlier in the day " This festival is, if not the best …one of the best we’ve ever attended."

For Saturday’s review of Bonnaroo head here.

For Sunday’s review of Bonanroo head here.

For video highlights from the festival head here.