Interviews

An Interview with Against Me!’s Tom Gabel

Shannon Hassett :: Thursday, July 8th, 2010 11:30 am

When I meet up with Tom Gabel, we’re sitting in the catering tent surrounded by band trailers at the Williamsburg Waterfront. The Silversun Pickups are sound checking on the enormous stage behind us, which faces outward towards the City and an almost pretty East River.

Gabel and his band Against Me! have come a long way since their early Gainesville days, signing to a major, playing festivals from Bonnaroo to Leeds and only switching drummers twice on the 13-year ride. Gabel may not have lost his boyish charm or that penchant for performing in all black, but at 30 years old, he’s now a father and a newly anointed citizen of L.A. That he also finds himself in the hot seat quite a bit these days is no surprise, as is often the case when you’ve gone from basements to best album of the year. MORE »

Ten Bands To Check Out On NPR’s Bonnaroo Stream

Colin Jones :: Monday, June 7th, 2010 7:00 pm

Taking a page from their impressive live concert streams and in-studio performances, NPR, the place where everything from things to songs are considered, announced that they will be streaming performances from this year’s Bonnaroo. Starting this weekend, NPR.org will feature over 25 shows from the prominent festival. In addition to the live streams, select concerts will be archived for on-demand listening. MORE »

Bonnaroo Donates to Nashville Flood Victims

Johnny Sanford :: Tuesday, May 25th, 2010 12:45 pm

In an effort to speed the recovery of Nashville’s flooded streets, the organizers of Bonnaroo will match donations dollar for dollar (up to $50,000) for those who donate to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. The three-day festival that showcases indie rock, bluegrass and jam bands will go on as scheduled from June 10th-13th, as it was not affected by the flooding. MORE »

Al-Qaeda Suing Bonnaroo?

Nick Nicoludis :: Thursday, April 8th, 2010 2:00 pm

We all know Bonnaroo as the weekend long drug romp music festival, held in some backwoods farm in Tennessee. But Bonnaroo is making the news in ways completely unrelated to music…well kind of. It seems that two men, are suing the fstival for reasons that are only important to themselves. Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri and Jonathan Lee Riches, who both most likely live in a federal pen because the address they list is the very same as a jail in Lexington K.Y., have filed a law suit arguing that the festival’s music and “alchohal” (that’s how they spell it in the papers) negatively influence people and more specifically the Muslim world. MORE »

Aziz Ansari Announces New Tour!

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 3:15 pm

The man who is Raaaaaaaandy is returning to the stage, and I couldn’t be more excited. He announced the “Dangerously Delicious” tour on his Twitter five hours ago, and the pre-sales for ALL the shows have already sold out. I guess he really has blown up! You can buy tickets the day of the regular release on his website on 3/20. He’ll be debuting all-new material at the shows, and I’m itching to get tickets. Oh, and he’s performing at Bonnaroo, too! Here’s hoping for more Harris and Darwish jokes! MORE »

Conan O’Brien Confirms Bonnaroo

Shannon Hassett :: Thursday, March 11th, 2010 12:20 pm

Bonnaroo in its infancy was a safe haven for Phishheads and general burnouts alike — a weekend down in Tennessee where all those kids in high school who just ‘weren’t born into the right decade, man’ could congregate and listen to jambands. Ew. Then Bonnaroo got smart and realized that being grassroots is great, but getting a ton of huge acts and catering to hipsters is way more profitable (hipster trust funds > hippie trust funds). Now its comedy act is following suit, boasting what is arguably the most highly anticipated performer at this year’s festival, Pavement included. Yes, Conan O’Brien will be taking the stage — a stage Bonnaroo goes great lengths to emphasize as seated and air-conditioned (see? lucrative yuppie distinction) — along with other big name talent in the form of Margaret Cho, Aziz Ansari, Jeff Ross, Nick Kroll and Bo Burnham. This will also be the inaugural year of the Bonnaroo College Comedy Tour, featuring past festival acts including Amy Schumer, Pete Holmes and Kumail Nanjiani in an effort to cement what Bonnaroo Comedy self-proclaims as one of the “premiere comedy brands.”

GWAR’s 25th Slay-a-bration Continues at Bonnaroo

Shannon Hassett :: Thursday, February 18th, 2010 1:05 pm

In a press release today transmitted by Oderus Urungus, I was informed that GWAR will be closing out the main stage on Saturday night (June 12th) at this year’s Bonnaroo. The show comes as part of a two-year-long (yep) celebration of the band’s 25th Anniversary, the theme of which has officially been declared “Lust in Space.” Mr. Urungus also noted that he is “looking forward to nostri-raping the entire Dave Matthews Band,” as well as reasserting the band’s mission (while here on Earth): “Our ruthless extermination of all life shall be continued after we have driven the forces of Cardinal Syn (who is an asshole) back into the inky abyss! And as we slay, we celebrate 25 years of debauchery, depravity and entertainment with the world’s foremost authority on all of the above - fucking GWAR!” The band’s European dates after the jump, as well as a preview of what to expect at Bonnaroo (besides a bloodbathed shit-show, obviously). MORE »

Neon Indian Does Jimmy Fallon; Announces Tour

Shannon Hassett :: Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 5:10 pm

For all you fans of Todd Rundgren out there, of which there should be many, you’ll be happy to know that Neon Indian backbone Alan Palomo is of your number — so much so that one of his songs samples directly from Rundgren’s own library without offering any credit. The track “Deadbeat Summer,” off Pitchfork darling Psychic Chasms, generously helps itself to Rundgren’s “Izzat Love;” a fact that is made abundantly clear here. In any event, Neon Indian will be performing tomorrow night on Jimmy Fallon, kicking off a small national tour that includes South by Southwest and Bonnaroo in June. Check out the jump for a full listing of dates. MORE »

More Bonnaroo News: Daryl Hall and Chromeo to (re)Unite

Amy Laviero :: Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 4:15 pm

Daryl Hall and Chromeo are all set to recapitulate their 2008 union from an episode of Hall’s popular web series, “Live From Daryl’s House.” The unlikely, yet fabulous union will take place on the June 11th date of Bonnaroo, where the pairing will collaborate on both Hall & Oates and Chromeo songs.

I’m beginning to think that Daryl Hall is a genius. His unique and fully interactive web series, “Live From Daryl’s House” appeals to today’s web-obsessed culture and features a wide range of current and classic artists. Collaborations range from Robbie Krieger of the Doors, to Patrick Stump of the recently defunk Fall Out Boy. Unlike many artists of his time, Hall has successfully battled the fall into obscurity. Watching him perform with Chromeo on “Family Man” is a bit surreal, but Chromeo’s modulated vocals and catchy synth-riffs add a really interesting touch to the Hall & Oates classic. MORE »

Lilith Fair Ditches the Daisy Chains

Shannon Hassett :: Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 3:30 pm

With Bonnaroo stealing all the festival headlines this week, it’s easy to overlook another hippie-turned-hipster (or Hova, apparently) summer gathering scheduled for this year. Yes, I am referring to the triumphant return of Lilith Fair. I’m just as tempted as the next person to dismiss the 1997 through 1999 traveling festival — better remembered as breastfest and spearheaded by Sara McLachlan, the woman responsible for making this a number one hit. Don’t let its Liz Phair meets Indigo Girls exterior fool you, however; Lilith’s recent lineup announcements indicate what some of us knew all along: girls know how to get their shit together. MORE »

Bonnaroo: Worth It This Year?

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 3:20 pm

Bonnaroo is the weirdo of all the big festivals. It’s not really about industry, or after-parties, or what celebrities turn up. You invariably lose your cell phone. Make-up and any/all attempts at being fashionable are sneered at (it’s a hundred-degree sweatfest and no one has showered in days. Face it, you’re not going to look all that great). It’s kind of disgusting. Yes, Bonnaroo is basically about setting up your tent in the mud next to the campsite of a dude named Squirrel and liking it, and I don’t think anyone who’s been would have it any other way.

Bonnaroo 2010 Lineup Update

Johnny Sanford :: Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 12:00 pm

So yesterday, we had just a taste of the lineup for this years Bonnaroo 2010 lineup, but now we have a full course meal. It looks to be a big ticket, and Jay Z has announced his plans to be a headliner for the show. Another surprising addition to the roster is Tenacious D, which is a surprise to me after watching the documentary on The Complete Masterworks II a few days ago. But it’s great to see JB and KG back on top. For a full list of the performers, which is extensive, make the jump. MORE »

Bonnaroo Announces 2010 Lineup!

Johnny Sanford :: Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 12:00 pm

In the mood to take a trip to the backwaters of Tennessee this summer for 3 days of peace, love and long bathroom lines? Well, here’s your chance to get to gator country and see some bitchin’ music. This year, Bonnaroo’s organizers have let the artists announce themselves. And so far it’s a big ticket! Tickets go on sale at 12pm today, and the list of artists we’ve gathered so far is after the jump! MORE »

Far Away? Far Out. The 4 Best Psychedelic Rock Tracks From Other Countries

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Friday, January 15th, 2010 4:30 pm

From South America to Eastern Europe, psychedelic rock has been interpreted through the lens of many different cultures through the years. This usually results in bizarre hybrid songs that are equally traditional garage rock and local influence, to varying success (if you’d like an example of where it doesn’t work, check out Pakistan’s most popular band, Junoon. I love tabla, but it just ain’t right with distorted guitar). The artists listed here have definitely found the right mixture of the two, proving that you can be far from the original scene and still be way far out.

All Tomorrow’s Parties: Dates & Some Artists Announced

Gray Hurlburt :: Friday, November 20th, 2009 5:50 pm

Just announced today, the decade-old All Tomorrow’s Parties music festival will return next year on Labor Day weekend, running from Friday, September 3rd through to the fifth. Playing on the first day, for the nostalgic “Don’t Look Back” performances, will be the following: MORE »