Megan Caldwell Chandler

I’m back from this year’s Bonnaroo adventure, and I’d love to share with you my experiences!  Naturally, I have a lot to say about this trip, so I’m going to share my stories in two posts.  (For those who don’t know, Bonnaroo is a four day music and arts festival in Manchester, Tennessee.  It’s pretty much the best thing ever.)

I must first comment on the title of this post.  I mentioned in my last post that my brother Travis and I would be painting murals while at Bonnaroo.  I also mentioned that Bonnaroo can be hectic and plans can often go out the window.  This week I’m referring to myself as the Lazy Artist, because I, in fact, did not paint the mural.  It’s not like Travis and I had specific plans that interfered with the mural making, we just got lazy.  The very first day of the festival I asked Travis, “Do you want to paint that mural?”  We both looked at each other and simultaneously answered with a resounding, “NO.”  And then we laughed, danced off to the shows, and had one of the best times of our lives!

Bonnaroo always begins with a somewhat harrowing ride in an RV, as we travel from Indianapolis down to Manchester, Tennessee.  Each time I drive an RV, it gets easier and less scary.  This year the RV left Indy on Wednesday with me, Travis, and my cousins Alex and Kayla.  My cousin Robert was traveling behind us in his own van.  Our first stop was in Louisville, to pick up Kris.  She introduced us to her new doggie, Suzie Q, and I got me some puppy love. 

Our stop in Louisville was memorable because this is where Robert’s van broke down.  Thus began many a trip back and forth to a local auto parts store.  This is also where I had a mini-panic attack (thanks to my dear friends Jaime and Tina, I received some much needed over-the-phone therapy and recovered quickly).  I’m proud to say I think I can now drive an RV anywhere.  Robert had to leave his van with a mechanic, and so our final RV occupancy went from 8 to 9. 

Our next stop was Nashville, and when I pulled into the gas station, I saw on the curb a mountain of supplies and three women drinking alcohol out of brown paper bags.  I took this as a very good sign.  Jaime, Tina, and Shelby joined our group and we were off to Manchester!  To wait in a line of traffic!  In the dead of night!  For hours and hours!  Hooray!  We finally arrived at our campground around 5:30 am Thursday morning, and we all get some much needed sleep.

Thursday was a good first day to the festival.  Most of our group watched comedian Maria Bamford, who was hilarious.  We found ourselves quoting her pretty much the rest of the weekend.  (“Goddamn you.”)  Next, I checked out Purity Ring.  Travis introduced me to them before the festival, and I’m glad he did.  They were amazing, and I mean the actual Webster’s dictionary definition of amazing.  I MUST see them in concert again.  After Purity Ring, Travis, Robert, and I saw Father John Misty.  I love his work.  I think I would have enjoyed him more in a smaller venue. 

Friday started with a bit of Glen Hansard, Passion Pit, and Wilco.  And then our entire group gathered for, drum roll please…PAUL MCCARTNEY!  Yes, that Paul McCartney.  A Beatle.   I saw a Beatle perform live!  What an experience!  To be singing “Hey Jude” with 80,000 other people is a feeling I will never forget.  Some high points from Sir Paul’s show:  “Maybe I’m Amazed” with crazy, slow moving vintage photographs of Paul on the big screens; “Something” as a tribute to George with Paul playing a mandolin (at least I think it was a mandolin); “Back in the USSR” (I got to sing one of my all time favorite lyrics, “let me hear your balalaikas ringing out!”); guitar cover of Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady”; “Live and Let Die” with a massive fireworks/pyrotechnics display (the stage looked as if it was exploding and Travis claimed to feel the heat of the fireballs from 200 yards back); the “Hey Jude” sing-a-long; and the grand finale, “Helter Skelter” with red, white, and blue fireworks from the stage (at that moment, I couldn’t help but wonder if Charles Manson still thinks this song is a special message to him, or if he was always just play acting).  It was a GREAT show.  When I looked at our group, every single person had the biggest smile on their face.  It was perfect.

After Paul, I caught the end of the XX, and at 2 am Pretty Lights began.  I stayed for 40 minutes of the show, but was so tired I had to go back to the RV for sleep.  Travis and Robert were brave souls who stayed for the whole concert.  The show was scheduled for two hours, but Trav and Robert reported to me the show lasted for almost 4 hours!  They were grooving until the Tennessee sun peaked over the horizon.  Travis emulsified a piece of gum in his mouth (goddamn!) and uttered the best quote of the night: “Hooray for lasers!”

Stay tuned for Part 2 of my Bonnaroo 2013 adventures!