Bonnaroo

So I've had 3 weeks or so to reflect on it and I figured since I'm wearing my tie dyed roo shirt today, I should say a bit about Bonnaroo. Jeregano was going to post something but he never did so here I go. We spent 4 days and nights with 80,000 of our closest friends in a 700+ acre field filled with dirt and dust. Unfortunately we were parked really, really, REALLY far away from the center of all things exciting, aka Centeroo, and our first day there we hauled all of our crap in 2 trips from the truck to the tent only section to set up. It was only 90+ degrees outside and due to the lack of road signs (yes the place has named roads), we took the long walk with all of our stuff. Jeregano was carrying a Vietnam style dufflebag and wasn't very happy. Luckily our setup went pretty well. We saw comedy by Lewis Black and friends, movies in the much loved air conditioned movie tent, and so much live music it was hard to wrap your mind around it all. We even saw half naked ladies in a burlesque show! The Police reunited and even though Sting screwed up "Roxanne" and the band fell apart AND they ended their show about 40 mins early, they still rocked. The dust was so thick Sat. night we were barely able to breathe, let alone see. So many people walked around with bandanas on their faces it looked like a scene from the old west. I blew black stuff out of my nose every morning and I had to show it to Jeregano because it was so unbelievable! Everyday he had to witness the black snot. I washed my hair in a trough on saturday and it was one of the most exhilirating experiences of my entire life but not to be outdone by the first post roo shower that I took at my folks house on monday morning. It is possible to sweat your ass off for 4 days in 90 degree heat without showers and NOT smell like a pigpen. Baby wipes were our friend. I lived in a tent for 4 days with no pillow ( I knew I'd forget something!) and basically sleeping on nothing but a sleeping bag and woke up every morning feeling fantastic. It was totally impossible to sleep past 8am because despite our shade canopy, the sun turned my tent into a sauna at about 7:55am every morning. Beer was overpriced at $6 a piece and you couldn't bring your own into Centeroo. Thanks goes out to the boys with the flask full of bourbon! I came down with a bizarre and unidentifiable rash on my feet, neck, and arms. It went away about a week later thank goodness.

Despite it all, it was one of the best experiences I've ever had. I saw Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Bang Bang Bang, The Police, Government Mule, Dierks Bentley, The Yard Dogs Road Show, Damien Rice, Ben Harper, Wilco, Old Crow Medicine Show, Ziggy Marley, Uncle Earl and the list goes on and on. I remember standing there Sat. night listening to the Police with probably 70,000 other folks and really feeling like a part of something great. I still feel a little sad that I fell asleep during Wilco but nothing beats sleeping in a field with a gyro in the belly. What a great nap that was.

So check out www.bonnaroo.com for lots of amazing pics. If I can ever figure it out, I'll put some pics of my own up here.

I can't wait for bonnaroo 2008!