Bonnaroo 2008

This year was my first adventure at the epic music festival that is Bonnaroo. It was an unforgettable experience, to say the least.

I'd like to say that all the rumors of an endless supply of drugs are false. But they aren't. You have to know coming to Bonnaroo that you're going to see drugs, smell drugs, and be offered drugs. But, if that's not your thing, it is not impossible to avoid. Just don't take any of the grilled cheese offered to you.

Expect a cloud of smoke over every concert lawn.

And if you are planning on attending next years festival, come prepared. Bring your cell phone chargers, both car and wall outlet. I've never seen electricity become such a commodity as it was at Bonnaroo. They only had one place that offered electrical outlets to charge cell phones and such. I've never seen anyone get so vicious over a wall outlet. It was like the last galloon of gasoline on earth was in that barn and everyone was trying to get it.

Bonnaroo is not for the high maintenence. Showers were available, but they cost $8, so most of us chose to go el natural. They have a big water fountain (shaped like a mushroom) in centeroo that people stood under to wash off. There was actually a community shampoo bottle left there so people could clean up if they wanted. But, the roads all around the campsites and Centeroo were dust clouds when we got there. Dust clouds turned mud pits after a night of rain. We were all a mess.

Nights were hot. Days were hotter. They had cold water spouts for free in Centeroo, but there was sulfur in the water, so we all got used to holding our nose as we drank.

My group survived the trip eating nothing but granola bars and pretzels. There is plenty of food available to buy, but count on paying no less than $9 for a slice of pizza or a corn dog. There's not really time to cook back at the campsite, since you spend most of the day inside centeroo concert-hopping

But don't forget, my friends, why everyone gathers to be grungy for four days and sleep in a tent. The music.

Kanye West screwed himself over when he showed up two hours late to his concert. He was greeted, unsurprisingly, with booing. People threw glow sticks at him and every artist after him joked around about how disrespectful that was on his part.

My personal concert favorites? The Avett Brothers. I've never felt so much energy in a crowd as when they finished their last song, Go to Sleep, and the entire audience continued to sing the last verse until they came back on for an encore.

Ben Folds. As he hopped on top of his piano and conducted each half of the audience to sing. Sigur Ros. The flashing lights and unique Icelandic sound had the entire lawn spilling over with mesmerized fans. Death Cab for Cutie. The sun was starting to set on the last day at Bonnaroo. It was a perfect closing to my four-day adventure.

My trip to Tennessee for Bonnaroo was well worth it, ten times over. I've never felt so tired and excited at the same time. Inspired and moved by all the music, welcomed and friended by all of the lovely hippies. I will definitely be back next year.