My VIP 'Roll Like a Rockstar' Bonnaroo adventure continues with days three and four. To read about days one and two (Part 1), and see pics and video, click here. Read about Andrew's very different experience here [Text and Instagram photos by Deborah, band shots by Mike].
SATURDAY, JUNE 12
Waking up to a late start, we realized we needed to venture back out to Walmart to pick up some crucial supplies for the group, a process that only took only about 45 minutes; from what I've heard, GA passholders can't leave the farm at all. Though momentary civilization was a nice break, especially the wifi, while we were out I missed the first of four Blind Pilot sets. Though I'd recently seen them play at Crowbar, I've been playing their album nonstop and really wanted to see the band perform in front of a crowd this large. I heard they played a cover of the Grateful Dead's "Friend of the Devil," which would've been really cool to hear at a festival with jammy roots.
Since there was some time before the next show I headed over to guest hospitality, a private area press and VIP has access to. It's a good rest stop that's filled with groves of shade trees, Adirondack chairs, private Porto-potties, and a bar. While hanging out, our friend was speaking with the staff from Bonnaroo Studios, who graciously gave us laminated passes providing access to their exclusive open-bar. The bartender mixed us up some refreshing vodka/orange/cranberry with lime, which we enjoyed sitting on sofas in the secluded shady tent before heading across the way to artist hospitality. As rock stars and industry-types mingled, we watched a bit of Champ Kind from Anchorman (Dave Koechner) hosting a chat for Bonnaroo 365, while sitting under a giant shady canopy chatting with more new friends. As some of our group received chair massages from the staff on hand, we listened to The Temper Trap playing from the What Stage adjacent to the area.
After the relaxing morning we'd just experienced, emerging out into the masses was like encountering a scene from The Grapes of Wrath. Mid-day in the hottest sun of the weekend, the day pass holders had invaded the festival in what seemed to instantly double the amount of sizzling sunburned bodies sprawled in the dust. It was bizarre realizing just how different this festival is for general admission, as we shook our heads in sympathy for the swarms of people waiting in line to fill their water bottles. [More after the jump.]
This article appears in Jun 28 – Jul 4, 2012.