2009 Bonnaroo Lineup

It was a late night in the back end of February 2006, cold as a witch's tit out, when my friend messaged me over MSN. It was the first time I ever heard about Bonnaroo. Tom Petty was to my friend as Barack Obama is to America, and he was going to be performing at a music festival way down in the back waters of Tennessee. Basically, he was going no matter what, and as it turned out I was obliged to join him. Radiohead and My Morning Jacket were the ones that had me sold. Well that, and obviously Mr. Phil Lesh and friends. Anyways, I went, many shows were seen, many faces were melted, many memories were made, I discovered the purpose of life itself, yadayadayada 2007's line up rolls around. I'm not gonna lie, my initial reaction was bittersweet. This go around there was no MMJ, but Jacky White would make his first appearance on the farm, and seeing how I hold him in the same company as I hold Jimmy James and the boys, I knew I had to make my triumphant return. Once again, a merry time was had by all, but if the ghosts of the past have told us once, they've told us a thousand times.... nothing compares to your first. Mind you, The Flaming Lips did land a spaceship onstage, so I mean, there was that. When it came time for last year, I was once again a bit skeptical. Yes My Morning Jacket was back, but Metallica, at Bonnaroo, really? It's not that I didn't like them, but it just didn't feel.... right. I got over it though, being through two Roo's can really alter your perspective on a lot of things. And besides, headliners are just the cherry on top; everyone knows the undercard is where it's really at. In the end I'm glad I came around. If you were there, then you also witnessed the greatest concert in the history of music. I'm of course talking about MMJ's torrential onslaught on all that we knew..... or at least thought we knew. Any person walking away from that show would forever be different from the person they were when they were walking to it. Yes, I'm not lying, none of this is hyperbole, we actually witnessed God confirm his existence..... unless those were rain machines after all. Either way, if you've made it this far, if you've trudged through all that verbal diarrhea, what I was trying to get at is I've come to know and love Bonnaroo. So it is with confidence when I say that, for me, this is by far the greatest line up I've seen for Bonnaroo..... and it doesn't even include MMJ. I will be glad to make 2009 the fourth time I visit the farm. I can't wait to bask in all it's glory with all you fine ladies and gentlemen that will be joining me. Somebody set my alarm for Saturday morning, I gots me some tickets to order:

The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival 2009 Lineup:

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Phish (2 Shows)
Beastie Boys
Nine Inch Nails
David Byrne
Wilco
Al Green
Snoop Dogg
Elvis Costello
Erykah Badu
Paul Oakenfold
Ben Harper and Relentless7
The Mars Volta
TV on the Radio
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Gov’t Mule
Andrew Bird
Band Of Horses
Merle Haggard
MGMT
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The Decemberists
Girl Talk
Bon Iver
Béla Fleck & Toumani Diabate
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Galactic
The Del McCoury Band
of Montreal
Allen Toussaint
Coheed and Cambria
Booker T & the DBTs
David Grisman Quintet
Lucinda Williams
Animal Collective
Gomez
Neko Case
Down
Jenny Lewis
Santogold
Robert Earl Keen
Citizen Cope
Femi Kuti and the Positive Force
The Ting Tings
Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Kaki King
Grizzly Bear
King Sunny Adé
Okkervil River
St. Vincent
Zac Brown Band
Raphael Saadiq
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Crystal Castles
Tift Merritt
Brett Dennen
Mike Farris and the Roseland Rhythm Revue
Toubab Krewe
People Under the Stairs
Alejandro Escovedo
Vieux Farka Touré
Elvis Perkins In Dearland
Cherryholmes
Yeasayer
Todd Snider
Chairlift
Portugal. The Man.
The SteelDrivers
Midnite
The Knux
The Low Anthem
Delta Spirit
A.A. Bondy
The Lovell Sisters
Alberta Cross

MORE ARTISTS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

Best Albums of 2008

Did you really think this was going to come on time? Are you not starting to pick up on the trend here?

“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.”

I feel like someone important once said that, and it’s true, so you might as well get used to the fact that the arrival of these babies is always going to be absolutely unpredictable. I mean, who said you can’t come out with an Album’s of the Year list for 2008 after 2009 has already arrived? I had to let that shit gestate. And, with the utmost consideration and deliberation, it humbles me to say I think I might have come up with the definitive list. So without further ado, (and lord knows we’ve had our fair share of ado) here she be:

1)Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes/Sun Giant EP


2)TV on The Radio – Dear Science


3)My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges


4)MGMT – Oracular Spectacular


5)Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago


6)Dr. Dog – Fate


7)The Raconteurs – Consolers of The Lonely


8)The Felice Brothers – The Felice Brothers


9)Department of Eagles – In Ear Park


10)Islands – Arm’s Way


11) Deerhunter - Microcastle


12)The Black Keys – Attack and Release


13)Wolf Parade – At Mount Zoomer


14)Delta Spirit – Ode To Sunshine


15)Deer Tick - War Elephant


16) Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend


Once again, much like last year, I couldn’t quite narrow it down to just ten albums. Although you will notice I was able to actually give them a numerical breakdown, as opposed to just alphabetical order and a number one like 2007; and even though this is my own personal list, I was able to take enough of an objective approach to not give the number one slot to my favourite band, MMJ, (another example of the sacrifices I'm willing to make to ensure that this is the definitive list).

Once you've had a chance to devour those delectable delights, here are the rest of the albums worth checking out from 2008:

Black Mountain - In The Future
Okkervil River – The Stand Ins
She & Him – Volume One
The Walkmen – You & Me
Kings of Leon - Only By the Night
Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping
Blitzen Trapper – Furr
Dead Confederate – Wrecking Ball
Hacienda – Loud Is the Night
Earth – The Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull
The Dodos – Visitor
The Hold Steady – Stay Positive
Vivian Girls – Vivian Girls
Cold War Kids – Loyalty to Loyalty
Girl Talk – Feed the Animals
Little Joy – Little Joy
Drive-By Truckers – Brighter Than Creations Dark
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds – Dig! Lazarus Dig!
Plants And Animals – Parc Avenue
White Denim – Workout Holiday
Hot Chip – Made In The Dark
The Whigs – Mission Control
Cat Power – Jukebox
DeVotchka – A Mad & Faithful Telling
Man Man – Rabbit Habits
Tapes ‘n Tapes – Walk It Off
Human Highway – Moody Motorcycle
Why? – Alopecia
Lil’ Wayne – Tha Carter III
M83 – Saturdays=Youth
Black Kids – Partie Traumatic
Old Crow Medicine Show – Tennessee Pusher
Ladyhawk – Shots
Conor Oberst And The Mystic Valley Band – Conor Oberst
Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
Eagles of Death Metal – Heart On
Mudcrutch – Mudcrutch
Beck – Modern Guilt
The Black Angels – Directions to See a Ghost
Buffalo Killers – Let It Ride
Raveonettes – Lust Lust Lust
Hercules and Love Affair – Hercules and Love Affair
No Age – Nouns
Passion Pit – Chuck of Change EP
Hey Rosetta! – Into Your Lungs
Shearwater - Rook
Abe Vigoda - Skeleton
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah: Part One (4th World War)
Women - Women
Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
Fuck Buttons - Street Horrrsing
Fucked Up - Chemistry of Common Life
Seasick Steve – I Started Out With Nothing and I Still Got Most of It Left

Best Music of 2009 (so far)

I'm just in the midst of putting the polishing touches on my Best Albums of 2008 article; so now that you've had the chance to digest everyone elses', you can come here to get the straight up, true music lover's choice... the definitive list, if you will. In the meantime though, 2009 is making itself out to be an early contender for a great year of music. Already out are a couple albums that have pretty much guaranteed their way onto my Best of 2009 list. First up was Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion. Indie rockers must of been extra good this past year because come Christmas morning the album somehow had magically found it's way onto the interwebs. You can listen to the whole album streaming here or I'm sure with enough sniffing around you too can find a download of it. Check out the album cover....


Don't worry, that's just your eyes playing tricks on you. You haven't been slipped any electric kool-aid. But, if you do want to know what an acid trip actually feels like, just download "Merriweather Post Pavilion" and you'll have a pretty good idea......
Be forewarned, any consumption of hallucinogenics in collaboration with the listening of said album could potentially produce severe brain hemorrhaging and should only be undertaken by the utmost professional.

If you do make it through Animal Collective's latest opus, you're going to need something to come down to. Thankfully, M. Ward's Hold Time is now available as well.


It's not actually released until February 17th but the whole album is currently streaming over at NPR . If brevity is more your thing, check out this video for the title track directed by M. Ward himself.



Lastly, but definitely not least, is Neko Case with a new song called People Got Alotta Nerve off Middle Cyclone, due out March 2nd. The best part about bringing you this tune? Just by linking to it here on my blog, Neko Case's label will donate $5.00 to the Best Friends Animal Society. If you have a blog, you should link to it as well as the deal stands for all that do.

Chapter One: He adored New York City....

Last night Woody Allen's Annie Hall was on TV, and it got me thinking of another one of his excellent films, Manhattan. I just had to share what might just be the best opening of a film ever....



Now that's what I call editing! A perfect mix of a monologue, blissfully romantic shots of Manhattan, and the timeless, pulsating jazz of George Gerswhin's "Rhapsody in Blue". I'm also including a sort of "remix" of this scene. It's accompanied by some poetry, read by Jack Kerouac, author of one of the greatest books in the history of mankind, On The Road.

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a wonderful new year spent with the ones you care most about, reminiscing of the warm times you shared throughout the year that was. My own ringing in of 2009 was overall a little quieter than previous years. I guess you can blame that on the current economical collapse that were in. I was originally intending to spend New Year's Eve in New York City watching MMJ absolutely own MSG. But alas, fate had a different plan for me.... no worries though, thanks to our old friend the internet, we can now all experience their magic together:



Mmmmmm, that's some sexiness right there.

In other Green With Envy news, about a month and a half ago our good friend Richard MacIntosh had the pleasure of attending one of the two Neil Young shows in Toronto. Neil wasn't alone though, he had Chicago's own, Wilco, opening for him. Yes that's right, it's OK, you can puke all over yourself. I certainly did when I first heard about it. Anyways, some of you might remember Richard from when he reviewed an Acid Mother's Temple show for us a little while back. Well, there was no way he was going to this one without reporting back as well. Here's what he had to say about his night of musical purity:

As I walked into the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, with a craving of live music, a friend and myself immediately gain floor access and our night instantly enhances. L.A. rockers Everest opened the festivities with a shocking performance. The California-based band did not disappoint the half-full stadium, with pretty acoustic ballads and long jams induced with a sort feeling that made me believe I’ve seen this band before. But in fact when I tried to find some videos of the band (or lack there of), and despite opening for the well appreciated and impressive likes of My Morning Jacket this past summer in Europe, Everest has still yet to burst through. Their first album, Ghost Notes, was released last May. But in my eyes, they have already made a name for themselves, opening for a massive rock legend and ‘soon to be legends.’ I predict big things for these fellas, as their young and inventive, something the Indie rock world really needs more of... or does it?

Wilco took the stage after the boys from L.A. and put on an exceptional display of musical talent. With the melodic and almost monotone voice of the one Jeff Tweedy, and the satanic guitar playing of Nels Cline, Wilco should have never left the stage. “Handshake Drugs” and “Impossible Germany” truly brought out the genius of Cline’s guitar work, who at times was scaring the livin’ shit out of me. He would get into these ‘trances’ of tainted destruction, where his strumming was jet-speed and his eyes turned utterly demonic. The bands musical talent was really displayed through “Via Chicago”, where at times Tweedy and bassist John Stirrat would keep the bare melody of the tune rollin’ as Cline, drummer Glenn Kotche, pianist Mikael Jorgensen and multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone would absolutely lose their minds and create a vicious sound. But the key here, is the band was so tight, that once the abrupt background sound began, Tweedy and Stirrat would not loose their ‘cool’ and kept to the lyrics and slow beat, as the band behind them would go in and out of sanity. After the song was over, I saw the pianist look around in disbelief almost as if he couldn’t believe his band just did that. Other tunes, such as “I’m the Man Who Loves You,” and “Jesus, Etc.” toned down their pulsating sound with a melancholy mix of love and sadness. A couple tunes in Tweedy looked around at the packed ACC, and states, “You can’t get any more Canadian than this... Neil Young in a hockey arena.” The crowd, along with myself, voiced their absolute approval.

After the lively Wilco set, Neil and his hired guns took the stage around 9:00 pm. The applause he received while walking on stage alone, was simply incredible. Despite having seen Neil twice in the past, then and there I realized he really is a Canadian Rock God. Without saying a word, Neil and his talented bunch of musicians, including long-time bassist Rick Rosas, the great Ben Keith on slide guitar/piano, Chad Cromwell on drums, with Anthony Crawford and his beautiful wife Pegi on backing vocals, quickly rocked out to “Love and Only Love.” His initial electric assault, which was capped with the sparking of a little friend name J, last name: Oint, was then followed by a plethora of beauties, including the well-known “Hey Hey, My My”, the short but ‘to die for’ “Everybody Knows This is Nowhere.” Oh believe me Neil, I felt like I was in ‘nowhere’ last night. This onslaught continued with the guitar pumpin’ “Powderfinger,” the new but lyrically impressive “Spirit Road,” the soulful and mystical “Cortez The Killer,” which gave me goosebumps and chills right down my spine. Ever since the first time I heard ‘Cortez’ I wanted to hear it live and see Neil play the guitar like it was his magic wand, while singing with his ghastly voice, “He came dancin’ across the water, man.” And boy did I ever achieve that goal last night. He then strummed right into, “Cinnamon Girl,” which I really don’t have to say much about. The song speaks for itself, nothing less than a true beauty . Neil then ripped into his singer-songwriter catalog, with the cool “Oh, Lonesome Me”, the environmentally-friendly “Mother Earth” (with Neil on the organ), the junkie-heartbreaker “The Needle and The Damage Done,” and the love letter that is “Unknown Legend.”

Just when one thought Neil was done with his big hits, he brings out two of the most memorable songs in his repertoire, another crowd pleasin’ karaoke sing-along “Heart of Gold,” and the tune that made Neil who he is today, an “Old Man.” After a few rare but ever so inspiring tunes, such as “Sea Change,” “When Worlds Collide,” and the bluegrassy “Get Back To The Country”, Neil stepped up to the plate in a omnipresent style that blew my mind, body and soul. At the plate, with two outs (figuratively speaking), Neil smashed a single into the general admission (on the floor) with “Cowgirl In The Sand.” Besides the great lyrics and catchy riffs, Neil absolutely rocked the solo like it was 1969. Immediately after, he crushed a double into the 300 section of the ACC with the worldly, “Rockin’ In the Free World.” 17,000-plus were pumping their fists into the air, belting out, “Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World,” as Neil and his gang led the way; it was special, very special.

After the ever-so-popular clincher, Neil and “His Electric Band” left the stage, to a standing ovation. But don’t stop reading yet…as Freddy Mercury once said, the “Show Must Go On,” and it certainly did just that. After a short encore break, the 63 year old Torontonian crept back onstage and stepped up to the plate yet one last time. This time, he was not settling for a single or double base hit. This time, Neil knew he had to go Babe Ruth style to end his triumphant performance in his hometown. As he began with, “I read the news today, oh boy,” mostly everyone knew what he was getting into, an improbable cover of “A Day In the Life.” The band tore through the cover, like they were the bowl-cut’s themselves, leaving nothing behind. As for the Babe Ruth style, Neil truly hit this one outta the ACC and towards the CN Tower. Especially when the song ended, as he began beatin’ the shit out of his beloved "Blacky", he started pluckin’ the strings off of it and began strummin’ the guitar with its own strings. I know it seems ridiculous, but at this point no one in the audience nor in the band could give a flyin’ fuck what Neil did! He’s a legend, a rock God, a Canadian Idol (who made it big even without the help of reality television). Listen to Neil Young – Listen to Rock n’ Roll, go to concerts – Experience live music, there really is nothing better. I would like to take the time now to thank Neil for all he has given to the music world, and for treating me and my pal to a night of musical purity.

-Rock Till Ya Drop,
Richard MacIntosh


Sounds like he had himself a wild time. Neil also just announced yesterday that he's delaying the release of his long-awaited Archives: Volume 1 yet again to February 24th. The reason being he got himself busy writing and recording a new album inspired by the shit storm the economy has gotten itself into. Here's his home video for the lead off single, "Fork In The Road".



Anyways, stay tuned as I'll soon be debuting both my "Best Albums of 2008" and "Best Films of 2008"!