Well, I got my car out of the mud and decided it was best to just head on home. It would have been a dangerous long walk back into 'Roo. Still, I feel bad about missing the 3 shows I had wanted to catch today: Cage The Elephant, Citizen Cope and Andrew Bird. I'm sure my compadres will have awesome stories to tell of these shows and more, and you can hear those as well as mine in a Bonnaroo Wrap Up Monday evening at 9pm on WFPK 91.9.
I saw more shows this year even though I missed a day. I've lost some weight and that helps to get around... I took a pedometer and I walked 17 miles yesterday. And while coming home I started to think about all the acts I never got a chance to blog on. Take Jimmy Buffet for example. Talk about an event right there! He wasn't even on the line up officially, hence his odd start time of noon on Saturday morning. But he gave us a great breakfast of Cheese Burgers In Paradise and sharks swam to the left & right like crazy.
Booker T & the DBTs was a fun show. - plus I got a farmer tan; nice. No Neil Young surprise appearance (very few guest artist surprises this year) but a lovely show. Patterson Hood even worked in the Drive By Trucker standard "Let There Be Rock". Next I met Robert Kennedy Jr. (see Nick's video and look fast - I'm in the straw hat). I wiggled my way between a million kids to see Of Montreal - a visual show indeed. I may have to dig out my boa next time I see 'em.
One thing happened I will never forget - obviously a true story: I'm coming out of the porta-potty in the Radio Compound. Right out the door I find myself staring at Mike Gordon, bass player of Phish (I love Phish! Their show Friday was THE highlight of this year's 'Roo for me). It takes my brain a slow second to realize this is really happening and I find myself blurting out, "Last night's show was a transcendent experience!" He thanks me and says he "had fun." I walked back to my friends waiting for Springsteen totally in a daze. Did that really happen, or was I just dreaming of 'Roo?