” Coachella might have Cameron Diaz in the VIP tent, and Lollapalooza might draw more fans, but Bonnaroo — where 80,000 congregate each summer in the wilds of Manchester, Tennessee — is the ultimate over-the-top summer festival. (The seventh edition kicks off June 12th, with Metallica, Pearl Jam and Jack Johnson.) From the freewheeling camping area — where you can buy everything from moonshine to mescaline — to legendary sets by everyone from Wilco to Ornette Coleman, Bonnaroo is super-fan-friendly. And artists love it too. “We’ve played at noon — that was hot and crazy and scary — and we’ve played on Sunday, when everyone was fried from partying,” says My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James. Last year, Phil Lesh camped out in his RV, and this year, the Kings of Leon will drive down from Nashville even though they’re not on the bill. “We make it a point to go down there with a whole posse of friends,” says James, whose band will play a late-night set following Metallica and Chris Rock. If that trio doesn’t sell you on Bonnaroo, listen to Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips: “I like Coachella and Lollapalooza, but as far as the magnitude and the weirdness, Bonnaroo is the one.” AUSTIN SCAGGS “
Here’s a new one for me…I was challenged on the treadmill this morning by Mr Miagi… I was about five minutes into my run when this old, crotchety looking asian man started running on the machine next to mine. He kept to himself for a few minutes, but soon he starts looking over at the readout on my machine and adjusting his own to match. Grinning with few teeth in his mouth, and nodding at me he sticks his thumb up in the air. Higher, higher…
You gotta be kidding me… I don’t think he spoke much English, he continued to taunt me with pantomime and pounding on my readout. This went on for about 45 minutes before he had me at a straight sprint. There was no one else on the treadmills, just me and this Mr Miagi muthafucker… I couldn’t keep up after about 20 minutes of running full speed. I slowed my machine and started to cool down, and the lil fucker raises both hands over his head like he was crossing the finish line at the marathon. I ended up running three times the distance I normally do just cause this guy decided he wanted to play.
hard to find wifi out here. vids and pics coming very soon.
Havin a Guinness Pie at a restaurant in Temple Bar. First place I was able to find a cloud to connect. Getting hassled by beggars since I’m sitting out side. Smart fuckers here… they carry around an infant in thier arms. There’s a pack of them that roam the streets. I bet it’s the same baby, and they just hand it off like passing the baton in a relay race.
I bet the baby isn’t even real. I’ll try poking the next one that comes around. I’ll get back to you on that.
My flickr uploader just finished. A big ‘ole batch, mostly from the pubs in Temple Bar, my wandering towards the Guinness Storehouse and the Old Jameson Distillery.
Going to finish my meal and to talk to the girl with the smiling eyes sitting at a table across from me.
