Friday, June 10
Couldn’t be bothered to leave the camp early enough to see Jessica Lea Mayfield, so we stayed under the shade of the tent with misting fans glued to our faces, as you’d start to sweat if you sat still for more than 2 minutes. 
Waiting in line to get into Centeroo took ages! The line wouldn’t stop winding.
We finally left to get a good spot for the Justin Townes Earle set and were able to catch part of Ben Sollee’s set. I shimmied my way up to the front, because I’m short and otherwise wouldn’t be able to see. (Now, normally I’d think I was of average height, but at Bonnaroo there seem to be more people extremely taller or extremely shorter than I am. Don’t know what that’s about.)
While waiting for JTE to take the stage, a group of people behind me couldn’t stop going on about him, particularly the guys. I suspect they had crushes. “He looks smoking hot in that suit,” “Look at him talking out the side of his mouth,” “Oh, he’s got that cigarette hanging out,” “He’s just so cool – the real deal.” Just on and on. Then they spouted everything about him that you’re likely on to find on Wikipedia. JTE was as good as when I saw him play a smaller stage at Bonnaroo in 2009. He played stuff from his last and second albums mostly, which was fun.
Afterwards, I wanted to see Walk the Moon but they were playing all the way on the other side of Centeroo (a long trek if you’re running low on water, the merciless sun is out, and you sweat by just breathing), so we went to see Freelance Whales who were playing a second set at the Sonic Stage, which was closer. Win, win. There was some time to kill, so I decided to go to the bathroom and get more water while I still could. You have to wait in line for the bathroom and you have to wait in line for water. Waiting for water’s probably more stressful. It really does look like a bunch of cattle going after a trough. There’s usually not much of a line at the hand-washing stations, but that water’s got some sulfur in it and has a funny aftertaste. If you’re desperate, it’ll do, which is how we were most of the time. I’d like to think the potable water was just a couple degrees cooler, too, but whatever. I think it took all of 10 or 15 minutes to do this, and when I got back to the Sonic Stage the band before Freelance Whales were winding down their set. I spotted one guy really getting into it, dancing in his skirt like nobody’s business. I think I saw less man-skirts this year…more hipsters than hippies, I guess.
Later we went on over to the On Tap Lounge to stand under the Swiss Cheese and watch Givers. I couldn’t see much because I was sort of in the middle and off to the side. After they finished we moved over to see Florence + the Machine. Tried to get some shade under the few trees available (they really do need to plant more there; there’s room) and saw this guy wearing a black and pink tutu. It looked like he was lost, wandering around by himself, making a beeline through the crowd.
It was getting time for Florence’s set to start, and I made the mistake of actually getting under the tent and into the crowd. It immediately got hot, stuffy, and humid. I think I sweated more in there than I did that entire day. It was instant. Everyone was shoving, even the ones kind of in the back who had pretty much no chance of getting a good view anyway. I had to get out of there before I died. As soon as I made it out of the sardines, the outside air (which practically doesn’t blow whatsoever) felt like a gust of wind. But soon more people started to crowd around the side area where I was at, so I had to move back. Then more people came and I had to move yet again. I finally waited just behind the VIP area (I swear it’s getting bigger) and stood on the tips of my toes to see Florence come on stage in some sheer black thing. As soon as she started her song, I left to snag a spot for The Del McCoury Band and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
I wanted to see Ray Lamontagne but just passed by. At the Del and Preservation set, there were some Canadians behind me. Obnoxious and drunk. They kept screaming in my ear, and they talked quite loudly too – even when no music was playing. They also hooted after one of the guys in the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, whom they referred to as the “hot drummer,” though he wasn’t really the drummer. “You think he’s mulatto? Gotta be.” Who says “mulatto” anymore? Anyway, the set was amazing and people (at least in the front) sang along to the songs and really got into it. These guys were probably the most charming I’d seen.
Missed Bobby Long but was able to see Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons at the On Tap Lounge. They were really good. I stood next to Brendan Benson, who later played with the band. He was smoking and I had a sore throat coated with mucus by that point so it started to bother me after a bit. We’re pretty much BFFs now. I wish I took pictures at this gig but didn’t. Then JEFF the Brotherhood came on, but I started to feel sick and tired. I sat at one of the picnic tables while the jammed and fell asleep a bit. The misting fans weren’t blowing any air; just mist, which just made it more humid. By the end of JEFF the Brotherhood, I and my bag were dewy.
We had planned to see Arcade Fire (just a few songs) and then Lil Wayne, just to go to it. We were too tired and just walked by Arcade Fire (good enough for me. I only like one or two songs from their first album) and skipped out on Lil Wayne altogether.
More photos here.
Blizzog 