live: Bonnaroo

"It's too f*ckin' hot for Santa Claus!"

Midway through Bruce Springsteen's 3.5 hr marathon set Saturday night at Bonnaroo, he descended into the crowd and grabbed posters from fans with song requests scrawled on them. One fan offered a full size picture of Santa Claus to which Bruce responded with the quote above, before he finally relented and busted out a truly inspired rendition of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town". This was just one unexpected and incredible moment in a weekend that was jam packed with them.

Simply put, the 8th Bonnaroo festival was a marvel in every respect. From the huge and diverse lineup, to the smart stage and vendor layout in Centeroo, to the meticulous organization of the campgrounds and the frequent porta-potty cleanings, it is obvious that the Bonnaroo team is a group of seasoned veterans.

And let's not forget the music! Aside from the epic headlining sets by Phish and Bruce (including an instantly legendary collaboration during Phish's set on Sunday), there was enough music to satiate even the most voracious live music fan. In fact, there was almost too much music, to the point where we had to miss a few acts we really wanted to see or else risk succumbing to exhaustion. Of the acts that we did catch, a few really stood out from the rest: Dirty Projectors, Amadou & Miriam, Santigold, Gomez, Bela Fleck & Toumani Diabate, Jessica Lee Mayfield, Elivs Perkins in Dearland, David Byrne were among the highlights. We also really enjoyed the different atmospheres throughout the festival. For example, on Friday, The Other Tent was African themed; on Saturday it transformed into a Bluegrass hoedown. It's also really neat to be able to see an intimate show with 70 other people in a tent (Where Cafe) and then walk a few steps and be in a field with 60,000+ people watching Snoop Dogg!

The only negative thing I have to say about the festival was that I fear that Bonnaroo may have outdone themselves -- who on earth could they possibly put on the bill next year to top this year's lineup?!?

-MORT

new: David Byrne and Brian Eno

"Someday's We Harmonize"

A great way to kick start the week. Listen to Everything That Happens Will Happen Today below, then buy it. Great to hear this classic pairing making tunes again. Highly rec'd.

this is just a tribute: Arthur Russell

"I'm A Little Lost Without You"

Jens Lekman , whose Night Falls Over Kortedala is a breath of fresh summer swedish disco pop, compiled this four song tribute to avant-garde cellist and disco producer Arthur Russell, who collaborated with David Byrne, Phillip Glass & Allen Ginsberg (just to name a few). Unfortunately, in 1992 Russell fell ill with the AIDS virus and, as Kyle Gann of the Village Voice wrote, "vanished into the music." Jens and some friends, including the enchanting Victoria Bergman of Taken By Trees, put this compilation together as a tribute to a true one of a kind. More on Arthur Russell soon.

Jens Lekman- A Little Lost
Taken By Trees- Make 1, 2

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Those cats at the Hood Internet done did it again. This time they bring in all of our favorites. Literally. R. Kelly, Jens Lekman, and Kid Rock! I can honestly say that I've listened to Jens joyously weep over "If I Could Cry (It Would Feel Like This" a shit load of times, and never, not once thought about Kels. God bless the Hood Internet.


ABX- If I Could Rock (It Would Feel Like This)

NASA featuring everyone and their mother

North America South America

So Squeak E. Clean and DJ ZEGON are NASA and they have some really cool friends that they make music with:

David Byrne, Tom Waits, M.I.A., Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O and Nick Zinner, RZA, the late Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Kool Keith, CSS' Lovefoxxx, Spank Rock, John Frusciante, Fatlip and Slim Kid Tre from the Pharcyde, E-40, Gift of Gab, Chali 2na, KRS-One, George Clinton, Seu Jorge, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, the Cardigans' Nina Persson, Amanda Blank, Z-Trip, and DJ Qbert

Check out this sick megamix for the 4th, courtesy of P4K.

NASA MegaMix

"Megamix" tracklist:

01 The People Tree [ft. David Byrne, Chali 2na, Gift of Gab, and Z-Trip]
02 Strange Enough [ft. Ol' Dirty Bastard, Karen O, and Fatlip]
03 NASA Music [ft. Method Man, E-40, and DJ Swamp]
04 Money [ft. David Byrne, Seu Jorge, Ras Congo, and Z-Trip]
05 There's a Party [ft. George Clinton]
06 Way Down [ft. RZA, Barbie Hatch, and John Frusciante]