1. Mumford & Sons joined by Old Crow Medicine Show, Dave Rawlings, and Gillian Welch to perform Wagon Wheel. And the entire M & S set before that. I've never had goosebumps for over 40% of a concert until this show.
That video captures it pretty well. And Rolling Stone was correct, choosing between Mumford and Avetts was nearly impossible, but one had to choose.
2. Dawes. For those of you who know me, this is obviously a biased choice, but the Troo Music Lounge was my home away from home this past weekend and I'm at least partially inclined to lust any band that played there. (It was tiny, had chairs, a water-spray/fan station, and was located about twenty feet from a budwesier stand). I can't blog anymore about them, but just know it was a highlight and go google them for yourself if you're still interested.
3. Angus and Julia Stone. Despite Weezer being SO F-ING LOUD, Angus and Julia (brother and sister, we finally discovered) played a hauntingly beautiful acoustified set in a cafe tent off the beaten path to a crowd full of adoring (and surprisingly male dominated) crowd.
4. The Middle East. Once again, Weezer can burn in hell for its obnoxiously loud set that nearly dominated these guys in the Troo Music Lounge (yes!), but they still managed to capture my ears. Great Lake Swimmers meets The Low Anthem meets.....a girl with a flute.
5. Dave Rawlings Machine, mostly because of this insane song:
6. Kevin Devine. He changed his lyrics to include the oil spill and other pertinent and disastrous world events, and he proved to everyone that he needs to be f-ing listened to. So, if you haven't heard him by now -- even though you're about three to four years late -- go listen to him for your own good.
I feel like giving only six highlights because I could mention Regina Spektor's scintillating voice and Jonathan Tyler's pervasive sex appeal, but perhaps I will save that for a later date. Oh, but if you ever go to Bonnaroo, make sure you hit up the silent disco. It will be the most shameless experience of your life.
