><<><><>><><<><><><><><<><><><><><><><><><>><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> I have shot photographs at Bonnaroo the last 3 years. It's been an interesting experience. Bonnaroo has elevated it's status among music festivals becoming the largest festival on Earth. It's been a great exercise as a photographer and music fan hoofing about trying to get to any number of shows playing at the same time. It's hard work and demands much energy and stamina. Being older than the average patron I have to dig in the well sometimes to keep going. Often times in the middle of the four days I find myself questioning my sanity. Then I'll witness a show that reminds me of why I'm here. It's a crash course in music performance and learning how to wrangle a photograph in the first 3 songs of a set. This is the common rule in live music photography. You have 3 songs to get it and quit it. One of the things that makes Bonnaroo special among festivals is they are beholden to no genre. You might see a great bluegrass band and turn around and get your mind blown by amazing hip hop. <><<><>><><<><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><<><>><>><>><><><><><><><><<><>><><><
st. Vincent put on a great show. She is very innovative and coaxes amazing sounds out of the guitar. The first is a double exposure which I used a lot at 'Roo.
This was my favorite performance I saw this year. Tune-yards is this one woman dynamo. She had a bass player and a couple of horns. Simply amazing show with very original music!
I saw the Red Hot Chilli Peppers several times 20 years ago. They put on great shows back in the day. I'm pleased to announce old guys only get better. They worked up the crowd into a ball of party and dancing. Plus how many rock and roll hall of fame inductees can still take their shirts off on stage?
I've always wanted to see Radiohead. I'm a big fan. Their show had incredible light design and they took the show in a direction which I'll call trance. Dreamy and atmospheric they delivered a great set.
The smaller tent stages were the most intense crowd wise. This is the crowd at the Bad Brains show.
Ben Folds always takes a photo at every show with his Hasselblad. I've seen him do this several times. He usually has the crowd flip him off which is pretty humorous.
The Roots brought it to the main stage. They opened with an old Beastie Boys song. Now that's savvy showmanship.
Alabama Shakes was the hot ticket on thursday night. The other stages were empty so everybody came and the photo pit was a nightmare.
Local legends Glossary were at Bonnaroo this year. Fantastic American music!
I even got my Metal on! Monstro actually impressed me.
Mos Def and BlackStar filled me up with killer hip-hop. I saw a few other rap acts but I've always liked the BLack Star record so it was cool to see them. I took over 1200 photos at Bonnaroo and even did a large amount of abstracts there which I'll try to get up here soon. Thanks to American Songwriter for supplying the photo pass and publishing my work. Til next year!
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