Channel Surfing: Bonnaroo 2012

Oh the beauty of technology and a proper internet connection. And the pains of time zones! So I've been pretty much glued to the livestream of Bonnaroo on youtube for the last two days hearing my favorites and then some. I missed day one for a shoot. Which also meant I missed Two Door Cinema Club, Foster The People, and Radiohead. Still a teeny bit bummed about it because our internet was dead when I got home that night so I couldn't even catch the rebroadcast. But I made up for it on Bonnaroo's Day 2, waking up unnaturally early at 4am to catch The Temper Trap.

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Something I don't regret because they were awesome. I was even mouthing the words to their songs at such an ungodly hour. I'd be singing my lungs off if I was there, but I wasn't. And the neighbors are sleeping soundly. That's the last thing anyone would want to wake up to --me singing off key to a song they probably haven't heard yet. I went straight back to bed after their set, only to be woken up two hours later for breakfast.

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Thanks to that, I caught Santigold, who did 3 outfit changes for her set! I think if she was given a bit more liberty, she'd have an elaborate set, more dancers and fireworks on stage. Her set was definitely one to remember for showmanship at least. But her set was great. I've never listened to her before and I enjoyed it very much. She even had people come up on stage for one of her songs, and that was a party! Everyone was busy dancing on stage no one seemed to notice she left to change to look #3. Something about Santi reminds me of Missy Eliott. I don't know if it's the outfits, or just me.

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Then surprise surprise, Ben Howard comes on stage after Santigold! Naturally I freaked out and fangirled as would be evident on my twitter. It wasn't on the broadcast lineup when I checked the day before, so it was a very pleasant surprise for me indeed. I love Ben. But I was disappointed that only two songs were shown. Surely they didn't bring him all the way from England to Bonnaroo to play just two songs. I was more than willing to hear more, you know. And stay awake longer for it. But no. And it was Childish Gambino's time on stage.

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I'm never really a huge fan of hip hop or rap, as you may have noticed. But Childish Gambino counts as one of the very few exceptions. And his set didn't disappoint! Me and my sleep deprived self was dancing in the home office. There were technical difficulties during the show that had Gambino freestylin while they sort it out. If that would be the case, they should have those more often because him freestyling was hot. And I'm not even a rap person! It was a party, his set, and I enjoyed every second of it.

Sadly, it also drained me of what little energy I had that I crashed and missed Red Hot Chili Peppers. To those who caught it, was it good? Should I be consumed with regret? As much regret as missing the first day?

Day 3 was even more fun than day 2. I got out of bed even more unnaturally early at 3am, making my phone blast Grouplove's Colours to remind me of why I had to be up at such an hour. One more thing I didn't regret one bit. I missed Grouplove's set on Coachella, and I promised myself I wouldn't let that happen again. Once more I find myself singing along and dancing to their songs. Sorry neighbors. I did do my best to keep my voice at a reasonable volume. And I also managed to stay on key. I think. The crowd was brilliant singing and clapping and dancing along to their songs. It made me want to be at that place, that very moment so bad. They also did a Whitney Houston song, which was beyond epic. The whole thing. The crowd, the band, the music. It was one of the best I've seen.

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Once again, I had to go catch some sleep after their set while waiting for Ben Folds Five to come on stage two hours later. Sleep was a little hard to get after seeing Grouplove. With me all pumped and dancing and all for about an hour. And then I wake up before my alarm goes off. Great!

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So while Ben Folds plays on stage, I get the lovely task of making breakfast. Oh, I also caught Kenny Rogers and Lionel Richie singing. But it was only a peek. I missed Ben Folds Five very very much, and hearing them perform Brick just made my heart melt out of sheer nostalgia.

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Then comes the most painful bit. Bon Iver goes on stage at Channel 1, and I had to choose between him or Ben Folds. Of course I chose Bon Iver. Him and his glorious music. It was eargasm for breakfast and I regret nothing. I stayed till a little after he played Skinny Love because The Shins were now up on Channel 2. Oh the pains of loving music so much you're forced to choose between two amazing artists.

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Once both Bon Iver and The Shins's set was done, it was Fun's time on stage. Now all I know of fun is that they're under FBR, and that their song We Are Young was fabulous. That's it. So naturally I'm curious to see them perform live.

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And it makes me wonder why I never bothered checking out the rest of their music, because their set was, like their name, a whole lot of FUN. Unfortunately my internet started dying on me before Fun was even halfway through their set. You can imagine how bummed I am about it. I'm not even counting on the rebroadcast because our connection is painfully dreadful in the afternoon. But I'm making the most of what little I can get out of their set. And I'm certainly getting their album after. At least I catch We Are Young, which was golden. The crowd singing along makes my heart turn to mush.

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Closing the broadcast is The Civil Wars, one I've never really listened to before. Because of reasons. Which is my bad. It's a little hard for me to explain, the kind of music they do, but it was lovely. I can understand completely what has everyone so taken. Their voices blending sounded so beautiful.

I heard the crowd at Bonnaroo was smaller compared to the last time, but I think regardless of how many people were there, the bands, the music, it looks like the entire thing was a success. I hear a music festival is taking place in Manila soon. I can only hope that it would be as grand and as awesome as the livestreams I've seen so far. On a side note, I think it's funny reading tweets from viewers saying how glad they are to get a shower and crash on their beds comfy and all after witnessing Bonnaroo. Is it really that hardcore?