BONNAROO- 2006

June 15th I left for Bonnaroo from Murfreesboro with four guys I had never met. I knew of them through a friend, as she went with them last year. I felt like a hitchhiker, a tag-along journalist who was in it for the story.

It truly wasnt that dramatic. We were not akin to the groups of eclectics from the films "Jurassic Park, " "Deep Blue Sea" or "The Abyss." We were a computer tech, a digital imagery tech, an HVAC contractor, a waiter and an editorial assistant (read: obit writer, gopher, part-time entertainment columnist).

We packed four vehicles with four tents, two canopies, 12 coolers, propane and helium tanks, two weed-eaters, a two-burner gas grill, ceramic fire pit, portable toilet, camp shower and disco ball. If anything, we were prepared for the worst and the best of all parties.

We arrived at our Manchester campsite within three hours, after getting my tickets at a radio station and eating our last fast food meal for several days to come. The first thing the guys did was fire up the weed eaters. The field isn't mowed to perfection, so they quickly make an extra $100 by trimming campsites. Our site was complete within two hours, stretching about

35 feet long and 25 feet wide.

Ten helium balloons with lights inside spanned the acreage with the "1"

balloon nearest Centeroo, the main entertainment area with six stages, movie theater, comedy tent and other attractions. Our campsite was past the "10"

balloon. The walk to Centeroo was 30-40 minutes long on dirt, grass, crushed stone and asphalt. The paths were lined with vendors, RVs and tents. I saw all ages, all types of people. Our camp neighbors were four college kids from Nashville, a couple from Tulsa, Okla., two friends from Miami, Fla., and Charleston, S.C., and groups from Lexington, Ky., and Albany, N.Y.

Friday morning I left camp to attend a press conference. I never found it, which wasn't a huge loss since that's as far as my press wristband would get me. While waiting for the guys to join me, I watched "This Is Spinal Tap" in the movie tent, almost falling asleep. At this point, the balls of my feet developed monstrous blisters. I went back to camp to rest my feet and take a nap. I didn't go out again until that evening.

With my Chuck Taylor sneakers padded with paper towels, I joined the guys at the main stage. Oysterhead was on-stage. You may want to sit down before you read the next sentence. Oysterhead is composed of the following musicians:

bassist Les Claypool from Primus, guitarist Trey Anastasio from Phish and drummer Stewart Copeland from The Police. That's right, Oysterhead is a metal jam funk new wave rock band. They took equal turns to showcase Primus-type music and Phish-type music, then turned it all inside out with 10 minutes of impressive chord progression covers and mosh-inducing noise.

The joy on Trey Anastasio's face while playing metal licks was priceless.

Then, as the sun was setting, we all waited patiently for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. We'd heard rumors that Bonnaroo was going to be one of Petty's last three concerts since being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease (this is still unconfirmed). Petty opened with "You Dont Know How It Feels."

A few songs later he introduced special guest and friend Stevie Nicks.

Together they sang three songs, including "Stop Draggin My Heart Around."

Petty continued into most of his greatest hits, "Free Fallin', "American Girl, " "Dont Come Around Here No More, " and tunes from his first album, his days with the Traveling Wilburys and his new album "Highway Companion"

(available July 25). The entire crowd seemed to be on the same wavelength, just relaxing and enjoying great music from one of America's greatest songwriters. Petty spoke to us as well. One of my concert pet peeves is when the artist doesnt acknowledge the crowd. Any comment more than a "thank you"

or "this is a new song" helps develop a bond between artist and audience, plus it's interesting to hear how a singer speaks.

By Saturday I had gained two blisters on each heel and a sinus infection. I was not in the best shape, but I was not leaving without Radiohead. We all left camp that evening with the intention of seeing three or four acts, before claiming a spot for Radiohead. The crux of our plan was the staging and schedule. We heard Beck playing as we walked to catch a few minutes of Les Claypool; then Cypress Hill where we kept our "hands in the air" through four songs. With an hour before the main attraction, we rushed over to the main stage to get comfortable or rather to sit on the ground while others clumsily worked the maze to their own spots.

Radiohead's two and a half hour set revealed a tight unit of playful friends who happen to compose beloved rock and progressive music. As much as Thom Yorke wants to say, "it's just pop music," fans didn't do the latest dance craze. Instead they listened for answers and raised lighters to salute "Exit Music (For A Film)." That's the beauty of Radioheads music -- it fuses alienated paranoia with the unity of a crowds display of affection.

Twenty-eight songs fairly represented the bands career from "Karma Police"

to "Fake Plastic Trees" to "There There" to the brand new "Body Snatchers"

and "House of Cards." While the monitors that allowed me to see the band worked half the time, I caught drummer Phil Selway singing along, guitarist Jonny Greenwood tucking discarded glow sticks in his strings and singer Yorke dancing wildly, dodging and tossing glow sticks with the crowd. The band was having fun. They helped me forget about my aching feet and appreciate just being there. Like a star-crossed tryst, I'll probably never see them again, but they'll always have a piece of my heart.

We went to sleep that night earlier than before, worn out from the heat and the movement of 80,000 people on 700 acres. Sunday morning we woke to warnings of rain clouds. I decided to leave, even though Bonnaroo wasn't over until that evening. My feet and sinuses couldn't take any more abuse.

The guys loaded my truck bed with empty coolers, which I deposited back at the meeting point in Murfreesboro. My Bonnaroo experience was then officially over.

I've learned the following lessons:

1. I can sleep outside in broad daylight.

2. Warm water is actually refreshing.

3. Having the guts to travel with strangers, the ability to tolerate annoying behavior and the independence to walk miles by myself are invaluable traits (and reminded me of college).

4. I probably won't go next year ... well, it depends on who's playing.

I would love a feed back from Y'all.  It's on the top right of this page!!!

Ltr,

jill