Jun 21 2007
Bonnaroo 2007: Rodrigo Y Gabriela & Flaming Lips
Man, have I missed you guys. I just got back from Bonnaroo a few days ago, and must say that it was one experience that will be with me for the rest of my life. I had the opportunity to catch up with some good friends, and watch some amazing live performances. Here is a list of everyone I had the opportunity to see:
Tea Leaf Green, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Brazilian Girls, Kings Of Leon, Michael Franti, Lily Allen (for a minute), Ravi Coltrane Quartet, Tool, STS9, String Cheese Incident, Ziggy Marley, Xavier Rudd, Ween, Spoon, The Police (for a few songs), Flaming Lips, Sasha and John Digweed, Bob Wier & Ratdog, Wilco, and The White Stripes.
There is no disputing that the Lips concert was the most mind-blowing concert there. Anyone who was part of it will remember that night for a very long time. Before the show, hundreds of those little pointing lasers were thrown out into the crowd, and the laser, confetti flying, balloon bouncing, spaceship landing, festivities that took place afterwards were magnificent–it’s one of those things you just really have to be there to see. I know that many of the Lips shows are relatively similar, maybe besides the spaceship, but there was something really special about being outside that night with that many thousands of people.
While the Lips concert was great, there was a performance on Thursday night from a lesser known band, that really grabbed my attention–in fact, it was probably my second favorite show at Bonnaroo-Rodrigo Y Gabriela. I have never seen anyone in concert before who is as captivating to watch while playing the guitar as these two musicians. On stage, they sat on chairs with their acoustics, and showed off their quick hands, while performing some wonderful Mexican melodies. Most American musicians would not be able to play with the kind of talent these two displayed, particularly Gabriela. As you can see in the above picture, there were screens behind them, and the videographer who was filming their performance added that much more to the show, often focusing in on Rodrigo and Gabriela’s hands, and giving unique camera shots and nice effects. They are on a tour right now, so if you have an opportunity to see them, I highly recommend doing so.
Was anyone else at Bonnaroo? If you were there, what were your favorite shows? Hey, even if you weren’t there, what do you think would have been your favorite shows? I hope everyone is enjoying their summers, and that I’ll get to write more about Bonnaroo and some other great music I’ve been listening to soon.
Rodrigo Y Gabriela – Diablo Rojo
Bonus:
Flaming Lips – She Don’t Use Jelly
Flaming Lips – SpongeBob & Patrick Confront The Psychic Wall of Energy (great song)
Video for Rodrigo Y Gabriela’s “Diablo Rojo”:
Whoaaa so you haven’t been taken hostage up by a passing troupe of extraterrestrial bandits? There goes my theory.
I’ve read a handful of reviews of Flaming Lips shows, Bonnaroo included, and I’ve deduced that it’s one of one of those things that needs to go on the “Stuff I Need to Do Before…” lists of many a person. And I’m intrigued by Rodrigo Y Gabriela. Are they purely an [fantastic] acoustic act?
Anyway, I would’ve loved to see Xavier Rudd, Kings of Leon, Flaming Lips, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Spoon and then Wilco, because I need to hear him way more than I have.
Nice to see a new post!
P.S. My friend got me hooked on She Don’t Use Jelly and I think I saw like a 10-minute live version of it on YouTube a while back and it looks like a mind-blowing amount of fun…
Rodriego Y Gabriela are absolutely brilliant. I’d love to see them live, but alas the last time they were anywhere near where I live, I was busy doing exams 🙁
Rodrigo y Gabriela were amazing and the best show there — unforunately I missed the Flaming Lips so I can’t comment. She completely owned that guitar. I think at the end she should’ve just broken it over her knee. lol
yeah rodrigo y gabriela were incredible.
Your reviews of The Lips and Rodrigo y Gabriela are dead on!
I chatted up two locals — gray-haired men in their 60s wearing overalls — and asked them, who are you guys here to see? (They looked so completely out of place.) They mentioned Widespread Panic and having seen Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson in previous years, then one man turned to his buddy and said, “I had never heard of that band The Flaming Lips before last night, but boy, did they put on one helluva show!”
Highlights for me included:
* Mute Math – never heard them until Bonnaroo, and wow great energy
* Wilco – nice to hear tracks off of “Sky Blue Sky”
The Hold Steady – every festival has at least one set you arrive at late and think, damn, I wish I had caught the whole thing.
Hey everyone, thanks for commenting! Sorry for not responding until now, I was in Seattle for a few weeks, and didn’t really use the internet.
Alie- Hello again:) I unfortunately was not taken hostage by a passing troupe of extraterrestrial bandits–that sounds like loads of fun though. Yeah, Rodrigo Y Gabriela are all acoustic, but they use there guitars as percussions. Pretty neat. Flaming lips are definitely a band you have to see live.. they are doing a US tour soon. Check to see if they are near you.
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/44006-the-flaming-lips-fall-tour-now-with-venues
Chuck- She definitely should have smashed her guitar. They smash a guitar in that video that I posted. Maybe she would have if Bonnaroo wasn’t a green festival? 😉
Dingo – Thanks for your comment, that’s hilarious. We met a few locals as well, I personally have no idea how they live in Manchester 365 days out of the year. 3 days is pretty much my limit. Wilco was definitely a highlight for me too, Tweedy seemed pretty nervous performing in front of that many people.
Thanks again guys, your comments are really meaningful, and your experiences add so much to each post.
the flaming lips was the best show i have ever seen, especially since i was tripping. and rodrigo y gabriela was raw talent. listen to the song “vikingman”, its really good.
The flaming lips was the best show i have ever seen, too. probably also because I was tripping. Insanity… they interact with the audience in ways that are completely unique.
And Rodrigo y Gabrielly were nasty.
Also, i never listened to Tool much, but i was completely blow away by their show… definitely a band of serious musicians. Their soundboard levels were insane… so loud but perfectly crisp vocals.
Yea rodrigo y gabriela are ace. they a brilliant live. if you like them you should check out music, they have influenced us over the years. check us out at,
http://www.myspace.com/farinomusic
all the best,
Farino
Hello everyone !
I’m just letting you know that this review is now available on the brand new official fanclub of Rodrigo y Gabriela, in the ‘tour dates’ section, along with dozens of them, plus videos, pictures… We’ve been gathering as much information as we could to build this giant online-database every fan should check out.
Also to expect on rodgabclub.com : exclusive audio material (bootlegs, demos), historical information about RyG, pictures, links to the official B-Major section, and live interactions with Rod and Gab themselves :
– you can vote for covers to be played by the band
– you’ve got access to messages written by the band exclusively for the fan community
– you get the opportunity to meet the band thanks to the Meet’n greet section ! A highly exclusive RodGabClub offer.
Hoping to see you there, may God bless you
The RodGabClub team