popwreckoning

Canadian indie rockers Tokyo Police Club is preparing its forthcoming release Champ.

While fans are waiting for Champ to hit store shelves on June 8, the band was kind enough to satiate musical appetites with an early stream of their tune “Wait Up (Boots of Danger).”

They’ll be hitting up Bonnaroo and touring with Passion Pit after the album’s release. Full dates are below.

Tour Dates:
Apr 27, 2010 Mr. Small’s Theater – Millvale, PA
Jun 9, 2010 The Tabernacle (with Passion Pit) – Atlanta, GA
Jun 11, 2010 Bonnaroo – Manchester, TN
Jun 12, 2010 Club at Firestone (with Passion Pit) – Orlando, FL
Jun 13, 2010 The FIllmore (with Passion Pit) – Miami Beach, FL
Jun 14, 2010 The Ritz Ybor (with Passion Pit) – Tampa, FL
Jun 16, 2010 House of Blues (with Passion Pit) – New Orleans, LA
Jun 17, 2010 Warehouse Live (with Passion Pit) – Houston, TX
Jun 18, 2010 Stubb’s (with Passion Pit) – Austin, TX
Jun 19, 2010 Stubb’s (with Passion Pit) – Austin, TX
Jun 21, 2010 Palladium Ballroom (with Passion Pit) – Dallas, TX
Jun 23, 2010 The Pageant (with Passion Pit) – St. Louis, MO
Jun 25, 2010 Royal Oak Music Theater (with Passion Pit) – Royal Oak, MI
Jun 27, 2010 Mann Center (with Passion Pit) – Philadelphia, PA
Jun 29, 2010 Prospect Park Bandshell (with Passion Pit) – Brooklyn, NY
Jun 30, 2010 Governor’s Island (with Passion Pit) – New York, NY

Alternative rocker Jack White is not one to sit idle, nor is Hip hop music mogul Jay Z. The two constantly have new solo and group projects in the works and for the first time their musical giant paths have converged.

In a recent interview with GQ, Jack White revealed that he just recorded a new song with Jay Z:

“We did a song together a few weeks ago. It was incredible. I played him something that I’ve been kicking around for a while and he immediately came out with words for it. It’s unbelievable sounding.”

Both are set to appear at this year’s Bonnaroo music festival. Could a special live performance of the tune be in the works as well? We’ll keep our fingers crossed.

No word on the song’s release yet, but we’ll definitely keep you posted as it is sure to be epic.

Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Jack Johnson and popular artists from the history of Bonnaroo have collaborated together on a free Best of Bonnaroo album. They just ask that people contact their elected officials about climate change.

The compilation features 17 live performances for the festival and is available for free download at www.Musicforaction.org. The music is free no matter what, but it is strongly encouraged fans take action about climate change.

“This generation has an opportunity to be remembered as one that confronted environmental challenges and took responsibility for the future,” said Jack Johnson, whose song “Inaudible Melodies” can be heard on the compilation. “With that opportunity comes the responsibility to speak out.”

Climate change legislature has been introduced in the U.S. Congress, but since reaching the U.S. Senate, the legislation appears to have reached a standstill. Many other countries are waiting to pass their own governmental decisions based on the actions of the U.S.T

Track Listing:
Wilco – Bull Black Nova
Pearl Jam – Animal
Jack Johnson – Inaudible Melodies
Dave Mathews Band – Rapunzel
Death Cab for Cutie – Cath…
Ani DiFranco – Fuel
Phish – Kill Devil Falls
Gov’t Mule – Banks of the Deep End
O.A.R. – Delicate Few
moe. – Not Coming Down
Raphael Saadiq – 100 Yard Dash
Bob Weir & RatDog – Throwing Stones
The Disco Biscuits – And The Ladies Were the Rest of the Night
The Decemberists -The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid
My Morning Jacket – Oh! Sweet Nuthin’
Guster – Happier
Phil Lesh and Friends – Box of Rain

If you’re so hip to music you’re nicknamed “A&R” and all the club bouncers know you on a first name basis because you go to shows so much and you’re constantly finding yourself saying, “I listened to that band before they got big,” then Bonnaroo has the perfect challenge for you. They’re looking for help booking one of the greatest, but lesser known artists and they want the local music gurus to share their discoveries with the rest of Bonnaroo in 2010.

To help book, head to bonnaroo.com, then watch Gary Chardonnay‘s Bonnaroo video at the top of the page and answer the following questions:

• How many bobbleheads appear in the video?
• What is the meaning of “Bonnaroo”? (hint: it’s written in the clouds)
• How many times does Gary Chardonnay say “Bonnaroo”?
• What recent (ridiculous!) news scandal is touched upon in the video?

Submit your answers along with a testimonial in 25 words or less on why YOU should be allowed to book a band at Bonnaroo.com and you’re entered for a chance to win and book a band.

One winner gets to book an artist, but 100 other contestants will win the 2010 calendar seen in the video. The grand prize winner is announced Wednesday, January 6, 2010. They’ll then participate in a “booking call” and help select a local/regional act or a relatively new artist starting to achieve major recognition. Qualify acts should have been together and performing for at least 200-300 regularly for a year, they should have one CD released for about six months, they can’t have more than one CD on a nationally recognized label and the winner can’t be a member of the band or the manager of the band nor can they be a music industry professional.

Official contest rules can be found at Bonnaroo.com.

The 9th Annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival is confirmed for June 10- 13, 2010.

The four-day music and camping festival will once again be held at Great Stage Park, our beautiful, 700-acre farm in Manchester, TN, 60 miles southeast of Nashville.

Bands will be announced in late January/early February, but you can start buying presale tickets next Friday, Nov. 27 beginning at 12 p.m. EST until Dec. 31, 11:59 p.m. EST. Visit here for presale tickets.
Bonnaroo: website | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Of Montreal @ This Tent | Spotted: Drew Barrymore | Quick News 1 | Quick News 2 | the experience

We’ve told you about the bands, but the experience of Bonnaroo is just as much about the stuff happening outside of the music. So here are some pics to try and help explain Bonnaroo: The Experience. Of course, there are tons of things we didn’t have time for, so you’ll just have to go next year and see for yourself. Bonnaroo is unlike anything else.

People were trying anything to get into Bonnaroo. While sitting in traffic, we saw our fair share of hitchhikers.

Some opted against the walking method and took a golf cart taxi to get around instead:

The tents were endless:

Inside the main festival grounds, we saw some crazy artwork. Like an endless line of Bobbleheads.

Some people found relaxation in yoga.

This art took place over a few days. Anybody could paint a tile to add.

The fountain in the center of the main grounds was a popular attraction…and shower.

My favorite time at Bonnaroo was around sunset. Even with all the people, it was a peaceful scene.

Bonnaroo: website | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Of Montreal @ This Tent | Spotted: Drew Barrymore | Quick News 1 | Quick News 2

I love Bonnaroo, but it is lucky that it is only four days. I don’t think my body could have moved if it had been a fifth day. Part of the reason for my extra soreness might have been due to sleeping in the car instead of the tent. My camp partner kept moving the tent despite it being five in the morning and in frustration, I just crashed in the car. Seat belts in the back are not much more comfortable than sleeping in the ground. Feeling extra gross, I actually paid the five dollars for a cold shower before I was ready to take on Sunday.

Joshua caught the first act of the day, Cage the Elephant, which he describes as “This generation’s Nirvana.”

Following Cage the Elephant in energy and in craziness was Dillinger Escape Plan. The screaming is not really my cup of tea, but as they climbed over amps, the guys continued to keep their musicianship tight.

We calmed down a bit with the songwriter stylings of Jessica Lea Mayfield. Though really a solo project, her drummer came very close to outshining her.

Another lady rocked our hearts after Mayfield. The buzzed about YouTube queen, Julia Nunes delivered hits and covers on her sharpie-decorated guitar and ukulele. Nunes and her friends whipped out sunglasses to look like true “douches” when covering a “douche” song before playing a cover of 3OH!3‘s “Don’t Trust Me”. After witnessing her humor in person, it is easy to see why she became such a YouTube sensation.

Josh and I again parted ways after Nunes. He had yet to witness the masterful sounds of Andrew Bird‘s whistling and violin playing, so he went to the Which Stage.

Meanwhile, I ventured over to the Other Tent for my first time in the entire festival. The atmosphere there was warm and I don’t mean the muggy Tennessee weather. The people and workers there felt more like a family than the other tent. It probably had a lot to do with the line up there, too. As the bare footed, Brett Dennen, jammed and danced away on stage, it was hard to not feel like you were at a party with your closest friends.

Brett Dennen’s Set List:
Someday
When You Feel It
So Far From Me
San Fran
Darlin
Who Do You Think
She’s Mine
I’m Strong
Heaven
Crazy
Blessed

After Dennen, Okkervil River was next up. Will Sheff really is an amazing songwriter, but I had never really given him credit for his stage presence until this performance. As he passionately gripped the microphone, he danced around the stage.

Josh and I briefly crossed paths as he worked his way over to catch Arizona rockers Dear and the Headlights at the Troo Music Lounge. They’ve been busy on the festival circuit and have their performance down to a science.

I worked my way over to What Stage to catch none other than Snoop Dogg. He was sporting some bling, but his set lacked the usual paraphernalia I had seen with it. Erykah Badu joined him for some numbers, but while everyone else buzzed about that, I could not help getting excited over Snoop’s drummer. With a flick of the wrist the guy was artfully drumming and tossing sticks everywhere. I guess I didn’t give rap and hip hop drummers enough credit, but this guy was better than all the rock drummers I had seen the entire festival.

Band of Horses‘ gentle tunes were warming up the Which Stage as I walked over to see Neko Case. She showed she had a sense of humor by doing a duet with Triumph the Insult Dog.

Josh watched one of the best sets of the festival by Coheed and Cambria. Big hair and tongues wagging, these guys embodied what it meant to be a rock star. I had never seen them with a girl before, but as she picked up some of the higher notes, I soon learned her purpose. Claudio Sanchez has enough on his plate without having to keep up the breath support to do his signature falsetto the entire time. For example, he was busy teaching the audience that it was in fact possible to play an instrument using your hair.

Ending the festival, just as they began it by headlining, was Phish. Phish fans celebrated before their set with a tortilla fight. Then as Phish jammed, one final festival surprise awaited. Bruce Springsteen had stuck around to do a final guest appearance. Since he’s The Boss, Phish played a few Springsteen songs with him before bidding him goodnight and jamming some more. Fireworks heralded the end of the festival and people flocked back to their tents and back to their homes.

Bonnaroo 2009 was a huge success filled with classic and new talent thanks to Big Hassle. While I think I might settle on hotel instead of a camp, I’m excited already thinking about the next year. Here’s to Bonnaroo 2010!

Bonnaroo: website | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Of Montreal @ This Tent | Spotted: Drew Barrymore | Quick News 1 | Quick News 2

Photos by: Bethany Smith and Joshua Hammond