Portugal. The Man

Bonnaroo Classes: ‘09, ‘11

Portugal. The Man cofounders John Gourley (guitar, vocals) and Zach Carothers (bass) may hail from Alaska and live in Portland, OR, but the electric psych group has clearly adopted Bonnaroo as their second home. The group made their humble Bonnaroo debut with a Thursday night showcase set in 2009 but truly ingrained themselves in Bonnaroo’s DNA when they returned two years later. Though originally booked for a set in That Tent, Portugal. The Man made the most of their time in Manchester, TN: they jammed in the Cinema Tent, drove around in a Cadillac with Neil Young and capped of the festival’s 10th year Mardi Gras parade with a pop-up show on the back of a wooden float. Earlier this year, Portugal. The Man also helped announced Bonnaroo’s 2013 lineup during a live webcast performance that featured none other than Weird Al Yankovic. Portugal. The Man return to Bonnaroo this spring not only seasoned veterans but also with their new, Danger Mouse-produced kaleidoscope of sound, Evil Friends. Portugal. The Man will graduate to Bonnaroo’s major league Which Stage at 4pm today. If Carothers has it his way, he’ll be coming back to Bonnaroo for years to come. Below, the bassist reflects on his past Bonnaroo encounters.

What do you remember most about your own performance?

That first show we played there was still probably the craziest feeling I’ve ever had going on stage. It couldn’t have been more perfect. We were playing the first night of the fest, Thursday night. We were kind of the first rock band of the whole festival and the first band to play at night. Everybody had just gotten there, everybody was so excited. There was a thunderstorm. We were a little nervous because it was our first major festival. When you play festivals, things always go wrong. You only have 20 minutes to set up and line-check everything and check it and normally, it doesn’t sound good because things are moving so fast and the band before us actually got caught in the storm at an airport in another state. So the band before us didn’t play and their slot got moved to later that night, which was actually probably better for them. So we had, I think an hour and 20 minutes to set up our gear and make sure our monitors were right. It was unheard of. You do not get that ever.

Describe your craziest Bonnaroo experience?

There’s a few. I guess the craziest, for sure, has to be on John’s birthday a few years ago, somehow, we got to ride around in a Cadillac with Neil Young listening to music for an hour. It was unbelievable. I was sitting shotgun – John was in the back – and I was sitting there texting my dad. My little brother was graduating college that day, too. My dad was a proud father that day. That’s definitely got to be the craziest thing. Later that night, we played out in the middle of the field at about three in the morning and sprayed champagne all over our gear and the crowd. It was one of the best days of my life, I guess I gotta say.

What was your quintessential Bonnaroo moment from years past?

I remember, right before we played [once], everyone was trying to set up. I’m usually the guy that moves all the gear. I set stuff up – I’m that guy. So while they were setting up, Buffalo Springfield was playing. So I told all the guys, “Look, I’m sorry. I know this is a huge pain in the ass but I have to go see Buffalo Springfield.” They were one of the first recollections of music I have in my life. I think “Mr. Soul” is the first song I remember hearing as a child. And it’s just huge. My mom just played that shit all the time. And so, unfortunately it started raining and everyone started freaking out so I got to see about two songs and had to run over and deal with a bunch of stuff. But I still got to stand up on top of the slope and watch from a distance and listen to it.

What band would you most like to collaborate with at Bonnaroo this year?

Man, honestly Bjork. There’s a lot that I would love to do, but my number one answer actually already got fulfilled. That was Weird Al Yankovic, but we actually got to do that. It wasn’t at Bonnaroo but it was for Bonnaroo. He played with him as part of this year’s lineup announcement webcast. That was about the craziest thing ever. That was definitely a pinnacle moment in my life and career. That guy – I’ve been listening to Weird Al forever. I wasn’t sure how he’d take it. I imagine that guy gets a lot of, when people meet him, “Oh, I used to listen to you all the time.” But we still, especially John and I, listen to Weird Al quite often. To this day. We are big fans of his and that was pretty insane. I definitely hope to work with him again.
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Marco Benevento

Bonnaroo Classes: ‘05, ‘06

Keyboardist Marco Benevento has performed at Bonnaroo a handful of times during the past few years but always with a slightly different band. In 2005, Benevento and his childhood friend Joe Russo performed at Bonnaroo as both The Duo and as part of a trio with Phish bassist Mike Gordon. Their high-energy set offered a mix of Duo originals, Gordon classics and a cameo from Les Claypool protégé Gabby LaLa. The trip was such a success that The Duo released their show with Gordon as an official live album. Though not originally on the festival’s bill, Benevento made a surprise appearance the following year as part of Bonnaroo’s trademark SuperJam. Using the SuperJam to debut his new band with Russo, Gordon and Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio, Benevento blasted through a late night set of mostly new material that stretched into the early morning and featured Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh on a few tunes. Benevento will return to Bonnaroo for another late night set this evening. Along with Russo, Ween bassist Dave Dreiwitz and Wolf!/Rana guitarist Scott Metzger, Benevento will perform at a set of instrumental Led Zeppelin songs as Bustle in Your Hedgerow. The late night set at 2:30am in This Tent.

What were your expectations of Bonnaroo before your first trip to the festival?

It seemed like it was gonna be huge . . and it sure was !!

What do you remember most about your own performance?

Well, I do remember getting a message from Trey the night before our set and he was cracking himself up saying that we should come out on stage wearing capes (because it was called “Super” Jam). I’d say playing “Casey Jones” with Trey, Phil, Mike and Joe during that Super Jam was a big highlight for me!! That was easily the biggest audience I’ve ever played to. We did play a few Benevento/Russo Duo tunes during that set and I remember that feeling pretty amazing!

Describe your craziest Bonnaroo experience?

That same year that I was playing with Joe, Mike and Trey, Radiohead was also playing. I remember seeing Thom Yorke and Phil Selway walking around backstage. I quickly left the group of people I was hanging out with to go over and introduce myself to them and just say, “hi” and let them know how influential their music has been to me. As I was swiftly and confidently walking over to Thom and Phil, getting closer and closer, my courage started to fade away and when I was about one foot away from them I totally bailed and walked off pretending like I was going somewhere else. I just couldn’t do it. They are so famous. . .

How does Bonnaroo compare to other festivals you have played?

It really doesn’t ! – It’s sorta THE one !!

What was your quintessential Bonnaroo moment from years past?

Playing with Trey, Mike and Joe for superjam !!!!!!!!

What band would you most like to collaborate with at Bonnaroo this year?

Hummmmm let’s see . . . Paul McFREAKINCartney !!!
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The Lumineers

Bonnaroo Classes: ‘02 (Wesley Schultz) and ‘08 (Ben Wahamaki)

If you spent time at Bonnaroo’s Silent Disco in 2008, you may have very well have danced next to one of this year’s biggest stars. Lumineers bassist Ben Wahamaki attended the seventh Bonnaroo as a fan in 2008, right after he graduated college. He took in all types of music – from the Silent Disco to Against Me! – and watched as 80,000 fans came together in the wake of Kanye West’s controversial late night performance. Likewise, Lumineers frontman Wesley Schultz attended the very first Bonnaroo way back in 2002. He describes the festival’s early years as “the wild west” and his true induction into the world of festivals. Shultz and Jeremiah Caleb Fraites started collaborating in New York a few years later but they didn’t really get much traction until moving to Colorado and picking up cellist Neyla Pekarek. Their self-titled 2012 album was a grassroots hit bolstered by the infectious, roots-y single “Ho Hey.” Wahamaki officially joined the band later that year and The Lumineers have quickly jumped from festival goers to festival headliners. The Lumineers will make their formal Bonnaroo debut on the massive Which Stage at 8:15pm today (a similar spot that helped catapult both Phoenix and Mumford & Sons into arena stars in years past).

What were your expectations of Bonnaroo before your first trip to the festival?

It was my high school graduation present so I guess I was just expecting quite an experience – the dust and the bigness and the grandeur of the whole thing – and that’s exactly what I got too I think. I think Wesley went to like the first one. So he and I sort of shared stories back and forth just about how different it is – just how much it’s changed and how it’s become this whole huge thing

What performances stick out in your mind when you think back to that trip?

Definitely the best thing that I saw was Against Me! They put on a really rad show and it was cool because they sort of had the command of that tent and that was really fun to see. It was all really intimate even though it was a really big tent full of people.

Describe your craziest Bonnaroo experience?

It was crazy. I mean, the whole thing was just kind of like a culture shock for me. I just remember doing the Silent Disco and being like, “this is the weirdest thing right now. We’re in the desert (laughs).” Some days it seemed like it was bordering on survival conditions – just to stay hydrated and stay cool, you know. Meanwhile you’re like in this bizarre silent disco thing.

How does Bonnaroo compare to other festivals you have played?

I feel like Bonnaroo and Coachella are the two kind of mammoth giants in a way. But the characters of the festivals are so different. Each one has its own unique thing going on and its own personality. Bonnaroo has a lot more into all the crazy [vending] booths and the big mushroom fountain. It’s kind of iconic on its own. The other thing that was so amazing to me was the expanse of the living quarters. It was easily like a 30 minute, 45 minute walk from my tent to just the entrance basically. But that side of it’s pretty wild too because outside of the festival grounds itself you have this whole kind of microcosm of culture on its own.

What was your quintessential Bonnaroo moment from years past?

I went the year the Kanye West thing went down [the rapper showed up very late for his already late night set], and I just remember seeing all the anti-Kanye graffiti all over. And that was crazy thing too was that it literally the next morning. The place was just covered in all this “Kanye sucks!” graffiti and it was amazing how quickly that group mentality kind of gathered up.