Some final random thoughts on Bonnaroo 2007:

* It didn’t rain this year, but I almost wish it had. Rain would have kept the dust from choking everyone at the festival. Half of the festivalgoers looked like bandits in a Western, with bandanas tied across their face to try and keep the grit at bay. I had to have my contacts polished today to get rid of the grime. It’s probably unwieldy, but with everyone complaining about the dust, it’d be nice if the Bonnaroo folks could figure out a way to water the grounds slightly to keep it down.

* Just before The Police encore, drummer Stewart Copeland grabbed the mike and announced, “Sting will shortly be taking his clothes off and dancing naked among you. And if he doesn’t, I will.” So Sting - he’s 55 years old - took off his shirt. He was ripped. Women swooned.

* Speaking of Copeland, his drumkit rivaled Rush’s Neil Peart for sheer size and complexity. And Copeland, one of the greatest drummers in rock history, made use of every piece, from the gong to the chimes.

* Best T-shirt seen at Bonnaroo: “Little Lebowski Urban Achiever.”

* I wish people would actually listen to the lyrics of songs. By one estimate, “Every Breath You Take” has been played on the radio more than 6 million times. Surely everyone has heard it a minimum of 1,000 times. The song sounds beautiful, but it’s a creepy song about obsession. And yet, while Sting sang it, some young couple swayed and held each other as if  it was a love song. Boneheads.

* We decided that the generally mellow vibe - we didn’t see a single fight - was in part due to the fact that Bonnaroo is a stoner festival, instead of a drinking festival (although alcohol was certainly consumed). I wish I could’ve opened a tent selling nothing but Doritos. I’d be rich.
* Every year, organizers try to hold a mini-concert for the media as a “thank you.” This year, it was the Cold War Kids joined by Elvis Perkins in Dearland. The two bands joined to play four acoustic songs in the media tent, and it was very well-received. By the way, Elvis Perkins is the son of “Psycho” star Anthony Perkins.

That’s all I have from Bonnaroo 2007. Thanks for reading…

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