Time Is Money--Five Bonnaroo Gambles
1. Grizzly Bear
Like a gentler, more hermetic Radiohead, Grizzly Bear create music of precisely calibrated, intricately assembled beauty. The Brooklyn band's sound translates fairly well to sit-down theaters and indoor rock clubs, (though I think it sounds best on record), but given their lack of muscle, I worry that all the ethereal four-part harmonies and airy orchestrations will evaporate in the giant, open-air atmosphere.
One of the legends of country music, the Hag has a vast catalog of classics ("Mama Tried," "Movin' On," among many others) to draw from. Similarly, his well-oiled band can turn on a slippery dime from honky-tonk to swing. Haggard and Co. are consummate pros--and that's what troubles me. Is Bonnaroo just another gig for a guy who's been touring hard for more than 40 years? Even heroes phone it in sometimes.
3. High On Fire
I think this Bay Area power trio is the best live metal act on the planet. But in sort of a bizarro version of the Grizzly Bear dilemma, I worry that High On Fire's sustained roar--so viciously pulverizing in a small venue--will be rendered ineffective by the vast outdoor setting. Similarly, the band's music wins through attrition; they wear away your defenses by remorselessly pounding out riff after riff. Also, unlike Metallica, HOF doesn't offer the respite of catchy choruses or heroic twin lead-guitar lines. Since the crowd is sure to be full of mellow Phishheads, this could be a problem.
If EC were playing with the fiery Attractions, he wouldn't be on this list. Instead, pop's most musically versatile craftsman will be playing solo, singing his wordy, melodically tricky songs accompanied only by his own acoustic guitar. There are very few people in the world who can perform that way without making me want to take a nap. I hope Costello is one of them.
5. Lebowski Fest
Yep, the bong-soaked and hardboiled travails of the Dude, Walter Sobchak, and the Nihilists will be on display at Bonnaroo-the festival is a holding a "Movie Party" wherein The Big Lebowski will be aired on a giant screen. I presume the movie-watchers will include a number of people in costume as characters from the film and sipping on white Russians. This could be delightfully surreal or a twee disaster.
Agree? Disagree? Check out the Bonnaroo lineup:www.bonnaroo.com/Artists.aspx then come back and let me know which bands you think are most worth seeing or steering clear of.
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