except for running into Bruce Springsteen backstage and seeing him surrounded by about 15 kids that looked like smaller exact clone versions of the big Bruce. The look on everybody's face backstage after Bruce's set while watching the HUGE Tennessee state trooper escort take Bruce, little clone Bruces, and the E Street Band back to the cloud they all live on for the night- that was fun. Finding out that the Kennedy's were in a bus near us...that was kinda cool. Seeing David Byrne from the side of the stage and having his neatly dressed dancers warm up inches from us (ok, that was kinda goofy...the frantic warm-up routine). Seeing the SteelDrivers KILL with a great set! If you haven't heard of these guys, then do yourself a favor and do just that. Waking up and going right out to see the legendary Allen Toussaint- not a bad way to wake up, so I guess that part wasn't so bad.....Running into my old friend and legendary photographer Danny Clinch backstage and catching up. Danny has shot EVERYONE in the business, but he started out shooting the Wheelies and Gov't Mule. Now he's one of the most respected photogs in the world. 

Seeing Del McCoury and what seemed like his entire band hanging/riding on a little teenie golf cart backstage. That was cool and funny.  Hanging out in the artist compound was...ok, I guess.....there was the ever present ice cream truck where we picked up lots of free ice cream. And then there was the Converse tent where we all picked out some cool new Chucks! They gave EVERYBODY in the band new shoes, They even gave out Chucks to all the kids!!! WE LOVE CHUCKS!!! Being camped out just near enough to view the main stage and being able to check bands without ever even leaving the comforts of our bus was fantas....err...uhhh..ok, I guess. Being onstage while Al Green showed EVERYBODY how legends do it and why he IS a legend. 

I have to say that because I was busy doing interviews and such, I didn't get to see a lot of the acts that I really wanted to see, but I still had a fantastic time! The biggest part of the weekend, of course, was our performances. We were told that our time slot was notoriously the toughest slot of the entire festival and that was exactly why they put us there. The crowd seemed a little worn and weary, but by the time we got mid way through our set everyone had warmed right up. This was a show to remember!!

I went back to the bus for a nappy poo, then back on the feet to do more interviews and then off to the Sonic Stage for an acoustic set.  I never found the auction tent where they had our drum head featured. I had commissioned David Swanagin to paint us a replica of our Salvation In Lights drum head just for Bonnaroo. Hope they raised a lot of money with it!!

My mind is starting to draw blanks now. The sensory overload has taken full affect. It's just as well because I now have to go fix a leaking yard hydrant (or have someone else fix it- that's more like it).  Back to the real world, indeed! The Bonnaroo world sure is a beautiful place though. Out of 80,000 people we only encountered 2 ass*%#@s. That's the way real life is. Nice people always outnumber mean people. Kudos to Superfly Productions and AC Entertainment for providing the world with an amazing musical experience. Except for all these incredible memories I guess it wasn't all that great, afterall......