The Bonnaroo Music Festival
Manchester, Tennessee
June 21 - 23, 2002

Reviewed By Cory Tressler

After seven hours of driving, thirteen hours in traffic jam hell, very little sleep or food, and few a moments of wondering if the seemingly endless journey was worth all the time and effort, my traveling companions and myself finally made it into the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. For the next three days our lives revolved around music and having a good time in the middle of the Southland. Our makeshift campsite acted as a luxurious vacation home and the surrounding tents were filled with our new neighbors inside the spontaneous community of freaks, which Bonnaroo had created overnight. Even though I arrived somewhat delirious and dehydrated from sitting motionless in the all night traffic death that led into the Festival, I could instantly feel the carnival like atmosphere that was present within the Tennessee farmland that had suddenly become a major metropolis of music lovers and partiers. The hot, sweltering Tennessee sun beat down upon us from the minute we got inside the festival, but our spirits and excitement could not be contained once the music started flowing from the four Bonnaroo stages.

The first day of the Festival contained an amazing collection of musicians and bands. From the jazzy funk of The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Soulive to the freak-out rock of Les Claypool, everything at the festival sounded spirited and the 75,000 festivalers danced and jiggled their way around it all. During the afternoon on Friday I made my way to the press tent to witness a small press conference with Government Mule's guitar hero Warren Haynes and manic drummer Matt Abts. Warren looked understandably uncomfortable talking in front of the 15 members of the press that had convened inside the backstage press tent. After answering a few relevant questions about Internet music piracy and the MP3 downloading revolution, Warren slipped out of the tent and onto stage with Les Claypool and his eclectic band, The Flying Frog Brigade. Warren played a smooth solo while Les and his band churned out Pink Floyd's psychedelic "Shine On You Crazy Diamond." After finishing his solo with Les, Warren was quickly transported via golf cart to Bonnaroo's 'Arena' stage where his band mates in Government Mule were awaiting his arrival. Warren grabbed his guitar and joined his musical comrades in playing a blistering set of pure blues based rock 'n' roll. Warren looked much more relaxed with his guitar onstage than he had been with a microphone at the press conference. At first, I had a great view of the Mule's set from right in front of the stage, but my press pass was not worthy of my stage front position for very long, so I found my way to another beer and joined the ever growing party in the crowd. Mule's set continued until right before Friday night's 'headliner' Widespread Panic took the stage. Because of all the great performances during the festival it is hard to say who headlined the event, but Widespread had the largest and most 'primetime' positioning on Friday and Saturday's schedule, so they acted as a great transition between the daylight festivities and the after midnight musical 'marathons'. After Panic ended their sets, The Keller Williams Incident and Karl Denson's Tiny Universe took the first day of the festival well into the second by playing until the wee hours of Saturday morning.

After getting some much needed sleep and water I began Saturday ready to consume as much music as humanly possible. My day started with Col. Bruce Hampton and The Code Talkers on the smaller 'Ballroom' stage. Col. Bruce's brand of bluegrass mixed with rockin' jazz transitions sounded fantastic and he even played a bluegrass version of "I'm So Glad", which was made famous by the super group Cream in the late 1960's. The bluegrass arrangement of Cream's poppy love anthem was very unexpected, and after his press conference I got a chance to ask Mr. Col. Bruce about the arrangement. Much to my surprise Col. Bruce informed me that "I'm So Glad" was actually an old bluegrass standard that had probably gotten it's birth somewhere in Tennessee's rolling countryside about a hundred years ago. Talking to Col. Bruce was very personable and interesting, much like the music he has made over the years. He even related a hilarious story to Patrick and I about how he was in a Cleveland hotel room some number of years ago, and he looked out his window and found Lake Erie on fire! Needless to say, this was a great conversation with a warrior of the 'jamband' scene. After catching Col. Bruce's set, I made my way to the 'Arena' stage to see Robert Randolph and the Family Band. Coming into the festival Robert Randolph was the number one act that I wanted to see and he did not disappoint. Randolph and his Family Band played an excellent set, including a 'Stevie Ray Vaughn-esque' version of Jimi Hendrix's classic "Voodoo Child" and a collaboration with the Del McCury Band on "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot". Randolph and the Family Band's playing was explosive and his positive attitude was infectious. Even though the crowd was getting scorched by 95 degrees of summer sun and heat, the spirits of the happy dancers were never higher than they were during Randolph's wild set closer "I Don't Know What You Come To Do". During Randolph's press conference he once again displayed pure happiness. It's great to see a 24-year-old musician that has positive things to present to the world, hopefully he will continue for many years to come. If you ever have a chance to see him perform live, go see him, you will not regret it.

The 'jam-packed' Saturday continued with The String Cheese Incident on Bonnaroo's main 'Stadium' stage. For two and a half hours String Cheese took over Bonnaroo. There were three other great bands playing simultaneously on Bonnaroo's other stages, but String Cheese had me captivated, making it impossible for me to leave during their set. Rousing versions of Aerosmith's "Walk this Way" and the Cheese original "On The Road" started the set off perfectly. The mammoth set continued to grow when Steve Winwood (Blind Faith and Traffic) joined the Cheese on organ for "Latinissmo" and a ripping rendition of the Spencer Davis Group's "I'm A Man". Winwood was a great surprise and soon Karl Denson joined the Incident to add some saxophone to the mix. String Cheese's blissful set climaxed with a horn filled version of "Black and White" and an amazing cover of Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir". As String Cheese concluded their encore, I wondered how Saturday could get any better, and then Widespread Panic took the 'Stadium' stage and absolutely destroyed all expectations. Panic's sonic blast of music once again provided an excellent transition between the sweaty daytime and the long nighttime jamfests. Galactic (joined by many special guests) and the intense moe. provided a few thousand hardcore festivalers, who had managed to stay awake, with music until sometime close to sunrise.

Sunday was the last day of Bonnaroo and it began very slowly for my travel companions and myself. The two days of constant music and partying had made us a little bit groggy and unenergized, but we pushed on and headed down to the 'Ballroom' stage to hear Robert Randolph's early set. Once again Randolph did not disappoint. His pedal steel guitar sounded like a gospel choir singing Sunday morning hallelujahs. Randolph and his Family Band single handedly revitalized my tattered body with a nasty version of Sly and the Family Stone's "Thank U (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)". After Randolph concluded his show I headed to the 'Stadium' stage to catch a little bit of Ween's eccentric set before going back to the press tent for the highly anticipated press conference for Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, and Trey Anastasio. Unlike the smaller press conferences I had witnessed for Government Mule, Col. Bruce, Ben Harper, and Robert Randolph the Weir-Lesh-Anastasio press conference was like being at the White House for one of bumbling Bush's speeches. The press tent was overloaded with drooling journalists that wanted a chance to ask the former members of The Grateful Dead and Phish questions about their careers and the festival. Anastasio, who was the biggest 'rock star' at the festival, appeared to be a little fidgety and nervous behind his dark shades. Although no important or profound questions were dropped on the aging members of the Dead and the artistic Anastasio, they did provide some nice commentary on how great Bonnaroo was for the live music scene and how much they were itching to get on stage and perform for the exuberant crowd. Phil Lesh and Friends with very special guest Bob Weir took the stage shortly after the press conference ended. A mix of songs from their new studio album and old Grateful Dead tunes were well received by the crowd. After a solid set, Phil and his Friends finished their show off with a spirited encore consisting of "Sugar Magnolia" and "Tennessee Jed". As the sun set in the background Jimmy Herring's guitar filled the air with the honky tonk blues melody of the appropriate "Tennessee Jed". Soon after the sun had completely disappeared behind the Tennessee Skyline, Trey Anastasio and his touring band stepped out onto the main Bonnaroo stage to finish the harmonious festival in grand fashion. Anastasio played a captivating and long first set full of extended grooves and furious solos. Bonnaroo was Trey's summer tour closer and his band sounded in top form. Although rumors floated around the Bonnaroo community about a Phish reunion acting as the festival finale, the other three members of Phish did not join Anastasio for his final set. Instead, Anastasio jumped into a 45-minute version of "Night Speaks To A Woman". A song as long as some other band's entire album was an appropriate way to finish a festival filled with bands that are based in improvisation. Anastasio did appease the Phish fans in attendance by playing acoustic versions of the Phish concert staples "Wilson" and "Bathtub Gin" to conclude his encore and the first annual Bonnaroo Music Festival.

For three days 75,000 people converged on a farm in lower Tennessee to see over 50 bands on four separate music stages. Although these people varied in almost every way, their love of the same music brought them all together for a peaceful event that was filled with the beauty of song and dance, the summer solstice, and the laughter of happiness. The only major 'problem' that the festival presented to the thirsty music lovers was that there was too much music happening simultaneously on each stage! There were multiple occasions when I would have loved to have seen every band that was performing at a given moment, but it was impossible to leave a band that was playing great to try and catch the end of another band's set. Oh well, there is always next year…

Widespread Panic
Bonnaroo Music Festival
Manchester, TN

Reviewed By Patrick O'Malley

The following are reviews of the first two shows of the Summer 2002 Tour of Widespread Panic (WSP). WSP is a six member band originally from Athens, GA that formed around 1985. They are: John Bell (J.B.) -lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Dave Schools - bass and some vocals, Mike Houser - lead guitar and some vocals, John 'JoJo' Herman - keys and vocals, Domingo 'Sunny' Ortiz - percussion, and Todd Nance - drums and some vocals. They are a great rock and roll band that thrive on their rigorous touring schedule and stunningly variegated live performances. They have an immense following cored in the south that was built through little radio play, non-stop touring, and grassroots marketing. To learn more visit www.widespreadpanic.com .

Widespread Panic - Friday, June 21st 2002
Bonnaroo Music Festival - Manchester, TN

Although the show might have been slightly lackluster, Panic was certainly more animated then I've seen them in a while. I saw more facial expressions and smiles from Mike Houser this night than I have seen in fifty-five other Panic shows combined. His notoriously stoic stage presence was all but shattered, it could have only been more uncharacteristic if perhaps he had played standing up for the first time in about six years. The intra-band energy was certainly there. That's why I had so much trouble putting a finger on where, but energy was lacking somewhere in WSP's Friday night show. It felt like the crowd lacked the proper amount of energy, but when you're in a crowd of 70,000 that's tough to discern. After all, I may be surrounded by 10,000 people without that much energy to see WSP, but another cell of 10,000 people on the other side of the concert field could be another story. Basically I just don't feel that the entire experience clicked Friday night, somewhere something was off. Despite this, what made me happiest was to see the members of WSP having such a good time, which they certainly appeared to be. All six guys were sly smiles all night long. It was the first show of the summer tour so there may have been some rust, but not much. Panic never rusts completely over.

If anything, it may have been the setlist which, although it did have moments of glory, for the most part stuck to the promotion of semi-new songs. Set one alone featured five songs from Don't Tell the Band (WSP's latest studio effort) out of nine total songs played! That's a little much if you ask me. I love the songs, but spread 'em out a little! In that aspect the first set was a bit of a downer, and the rest of the show didn't do much to redeem the first set. The only real highlights included the Drivin'>Porch>Drivin' sandwich, capped off very nicely by the unfortunately illusive Breathin' Slow Jam. As well as the Red Hot Mama>Fishwater>Drums>Fishwater which is usually a guaranteed showstopper, here it was great Panic but was too little too late. The encore especially left much to be desired, when it could have salvaged the show. I know I am basically bashing this show, but it wasn't that bad. It was in all respects a solid Panic show in any other setting. At the first annual Bonnaroo Music Festival in front of more fans than WSP had seen at one of their shows since the Athens free show of April '98, however, it was a bit of a let down. Fortunately for all, it was a two-night run and Panic seemed to expect reactions like mine to the first of these two shows (perhaps explaining their ever-present and slyly omniscient grins all night). Little did I know that Saturday's show would be the knockout punch of a one-two combo that left all in the ring quite literally sprawled on their backs in amazement, seeing stars.

Set I: Give, Henry Parsons Died, Hope in a Hopeless World , Greta>Little Lilly, Blackout Blues, Down*, Sometimes*, Imitation Leather Shoes

Set II: Surprise Valley, Drivin'>Porch>Drivin'>Breathing Slow, All Time Low, Red Hot Mama**>Fishwater***>Drums****>Fishwater, Pilgrims, Climb To Safety

E: Old Joe, Travelin' Light

* w/Randall Bramblett
** w/Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Matt Abts, Randall Bramblett
*** w/DDBB
**** w/Matt Abts, Terrence Higgins

Widespread Panic - Saturday, June 22nd 2002
Bonnaroo Music Festival - Manchester, TN

Saturday night crackled with excitement after an almost too-full day of phenomenal music. Among my friends and I excitement, anticipation, and expectation all bubbled in the stew of our pre-show preparations. It was difficult not to expect a great show after the slight disappointment that I at least felt after Friday night. We all went through our routine of calling out songs that we half expected or really wanted to hear, no matter how unlikely. That can easily go too far. Like Homer said, "I don't want to build it up too much, but this is gonna be better than ten Superbowls!". It's all in good fun though, or at least it was, until Panic took the stage. The mood seemed serious, no frills or chatter, just one of the best openers I have ever seen at a WSP show. Chilly Water is a great opener that always sets the pure-loud-rock tone for the evening, but a Chilly sandwich? Wow! Chilly>Makes Sense>Chilly started the show to everyone's bewilderment and great enthusiasm. I'm not sure if I've ever seen an opener like that in all my WSP shows. All my apprehensions about the night before and expectations of Saturday were washed away like sins of the newly baptized, and this theme foreshadowed nicely to what would come at the end of the set - a confirmation of faith for all in attendance by the reigning queen of gospel herself.

From there it was pretty much a free-for-all as WSP trounced through tunes like One Arm Steve, Wonderin', and Blue Indian. Not to mention classic rockers like Pigeons (in which School's bass was hanging ten on all space and time, and redefining distance) and the undeniable stamp on every good or great WSP show ever - Diner. When Diner comes in the first set, you can pretty much guarantee you're in for a great show. Then the parade of special guests began as famed gospel singer Dottie Peoples and the People's Choice Choir joined Panic onstage for a rousing version of Ain't Life Grand. This was especially fun and I was sure it was the end of the set, it had been a fairly long one as far as WSP first sets go. Not to be though as Panic, and the crowd, had apparently not gotten enough gospel yet. So WSP launched into the familiar and highly spiritual Tall Boy, but not just any Tall Boy. Dottie and the PCC stayed onstage to augment the song and take it in their own direction, resulting in a Tall Boy>Testify>Tall Boy sandwich. The spiritual tone had come full circle with a stellar first set that was book-ended by trademark Panic segues.

Set two began with the ubiquitous yet still always choice Panic instrumental, Disco. By this point I knew what I had seen and what I was still most likely in for, and I remembered why I came to Bonnaroo (and sat through thirteen hours of traffic to get in). Nothing was missing or off in any way about this night's Panic show, and everyone there knew it. Disco gave way to a three song chunk from Don't Tell the Band, and was nicely followed up by a Rolling Stones cover. George McConnell (guitarist, formerly of Beanland) joined WSP for their rendition of Stop Breakin' Down Blues, an excellent rollicking blues number that had 70,000 dancing hard.

There was a stop after that song, and little did we know that shit was about to hit the fan. We could see that Randall Bramblett was meandering on stage to join WSP, which is always a treat, but was nothing new as he sat in at most of the Panic shows on the preceding spring tour. Randall is a first rate saxophonist who has had an exemplary and lengthy career, his most notable outfit being Traffic. Just as we were getting excited to hear some more WSP with Randall on the horn, JB let us in on the real surprise: "Ladies and gentlemen please welcome our new friend Mr. Steve Winwood!". The place went shithouse as a Traffic reunion crashed into Widespread's Saturday night show, and they launched into Traffic's own instrumental led by Mr. Winwood himself, Glad. It felt like few in the crowd knew the actual Traffic song, but regardless all were pleased to see such a big influence of Panic onstage with them. It was especially cool to see the bewilderment on JoJo's face as he shared his pianos with a living legend. My friends and I are huge traffic fans so we recognized Glad immediately and danced in amazement, trying to preserve the moment in our minds knowing it was a first time played, and possibly a one time only rendition. It was a special moment in the weekend, perhaps the pinnacle for many of us, but there was still more to come. As Glad slowed and ended we had a feeling that neither the crowd nor WSP would let Steve leave the stage without hearing a nice long and drawn out version of the Traffic classic Low Spark of High Heeled Boys. We were right! Low Spark jammed on for around fifteen minutes, and the show could have ended right there, no encore, and I would have been satisfied. It didn't, however, and after they came to a complete stop they jumped right into an impromptu jam that we've dubbed The Traffic Jam. This was spectacular and was a great segue into drums as each musician wandered off stage to let the repetitive beating of animal skins take over.

Not to be outdone, even Sunny and Todd were joined by special guests; DJ Logic on turntables and Leon Mobley on djembe. This was a great drums, and it seemed difficult for them to slow down enough to slip gently into the Houser song Vacation. This was a touching rendition as always, but was practically drowned out by the two song segue that followed, Space Wrangler>Love Tractor. Space Wrangler is always good, but Love Tractor was one that everyone had been hoping for. A great song that is extremely rambunctious, it is also one of WSP's more lyrically original songs. Love Tractor is laden with more sexual metaphor than I've ever heard in a song, yet it is subtle, not abrasive. That brought the WSP show to an end, and we all looked toward the encore.

Honestly, some of the best Panic shows I've ever seen have been followed by encores that left much to be desired, especially when it's only a one song encore. I know, I'm greedy, but after a show like that I need closure! As usual WSP didn't disappoint and let out a three song encore that had the place rocking so hard you would have thought they were about to play a third set. The yet unreleased JoJo song Visiting Day played well here and segued into a fan favorite, Arleen. That was an extremely long version of Arleen and was all the Panic I needed to see. Hell, I could hardly dance anymore when they went from Arleen into the Talking Heads song City of Dreams. This was a nice touch and provided a soft end to one of the ten best Panic shows I've ever seen.

Set I: Chilly Water>Makes Sense To Me>Chilly Water, One Arm Steve, Wonderin'>Diner, Blue Indian, Pigeons, Happy Child>Ain't Life Grand*>Tall Boy*>Testify*>Tall Boy*

Set II: Disco>Thought Sausage>This Part of Town, Action Man, Stop Breakin' Down Blues**, Glad***>Low Spark of High Heeled Boys***, Traffic Jam***>Drums****>Vacation, Space Wrangler>Love Tractor

E: Visiting Day>Arleen>City of Dreams

* w/Dottie Peoples and the People's Choice Choir
** w/George McConnell
*** w/Randall Bramblett, Steve Winwood
**** w/DJ logic, Leon Mobley