The mainstage lineup could be stronger, with the dessicated corpse of Metallica and some apparently popular guy named Jack Johnson. I am excited about Pearl Jam, though–I’ve been a fan from day one, but I’ve never managed to see them. I’m also a pretty unabashed Kanye West fan, and they’re saying great things about his show.
I managed to get a media pass this year via my radio show, so I’ll get to go to the press conferences and with any luck I’ll snag an interview or two.
Lucky bastard. Go see the Raconteurs. They are phenomenal live. You serious about not knowing Jack Johnson? Acoustic surf rock. Great summertime driving music. Lucky bastard. Have room in your suitcase for a 6’3 180 pound guy?
I know who he is, and I’m familiar with a bit of his music, but I’m not sure when he became popular enough to headline a festival like this. Particularly since Kanye West is playing at the same time on a significantly smaller stage.
The White Stripes tore the place down last year, so I’ll be front-and-center for any enterprise involving Jack White (even if I’ve been lukewarm on the Raconteurs’ albums).
I recommend Gogol Bordello, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Broken Social Scene (I thought they broke up?), Two Gallants, Battles, Extra Golden (amazing juju band out of Kenya), and possibly My Morning Jacket. All put on an amazing show, as does M.I.A., although she’d be harder to get to. The Avett Brothers and Felice Brothers are also quite entertaining live, but I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way for them.
Gogol Bordello was incredible last year. I’m really looking forward to My Morning Jacket–I haven’t seen them since their crappy little club days.
Thanks for the heads up on Extra Golden–I’m not familiar with them, and it sounds like I should be.
All good possiblities. The problem is that I’m such a musical omnivore that there are several times when three completely dissimilar bands are playing that I want to see at the same time.
Great music – he’s doing a retrospective of everything he’s ever been and done, which means Ronnie Hawkins, Dylan, the Band, etc. – and his own stuff like off of “Dirt Farmer.”
Levon has great people playing with him too – amazingly so.
If anyone is interested, I’ll be blogging the hell out of the festivities at my blog and my Livejournal (comment to be added). Right now I’m collecting YouTube clips of some of the artists playing each day.
I know a lot of people had to look twice at that one, since Led Zep themselves were long rumored to be headlining. Still, hot women doing Zeppelin covers–ain’t nothing wrong with that.
Yeah I think he’s become to newer college kids what bands like DMB and O.A.R. were like to kids my age (not myself but to the legions of part-time stoners who promptly stopped giving a crap about them when they graduated).
I’m back, and more or less recovered! It was awesome!
Check out my blog for a few tales from the weekend, including my account of Kanye West’s now infamous debacle. I also have some great shots up at my Flickr page.
My five favorite sets: The Swell Season (aka the couple from Once), Gogol Bordello, Pearl Jam, My Morning Jacket, and Aimee Mann.