168 words about 42 bands at Bonnaroo

Here are all the four-word reviews I wrote at the Bonnaroo festival, including a few that didn’t make it onto ArtsBeat. Many of these shows — but not all — have been archived by NPR.

Once again I acknowledge the inspiration of Coolfer Glenn (now Billboard Glenn). But of course nobody’s making any claims about originality here; it’s just fun to work in miniature.

The sets I enjoyed the most are in bold.

• Non-Commissioned Officers: Shouty kickoff, afternoon steam.
• The XX: Cold, beautiful, boring mask.
• Manchester Orchestra: Scale, grandeur, pathos. Songs?
• Fanfarlo: Proof ArcFire’s more’n fiddles.
• Entrance Band/Baroness: If hippies hate Slayer, is heavy’s success failure?
• Neon Indian: Didn’t really chill me.
• Blitzen Trapper: No longer simply derivative.
• Needtobreathe: Pushing Southern groove buttons.
• Calexico: Mariachi horns = soothing refreshment.
• Jamey Johnson: Deadpanned, rehabbed soothsayer. Understood?
• Regina Spektor: Charms multitudes like friends.

• Zac Brown Band: Skynyrd + Dave + Daniels + “Margaritaville”?
• John Fogerty: Indelible songbook; confusing riffage.
• Kris Kristofferson: Stark, strong, wise, silly.
• Weezer: Caustic, candied pop. Antijam.
• Thievery Corporation: Globalist blockrockers. What chillwave?
• Norah Jones: Soundbleed obscures her grace.
• Lissie: Her Gaga tender, raw.
• Mexican Institute of Sound: Ambassadorship served hot, booming.
• Clutch: OCD riffing, insistent barking.
• Deadmau5: Appropriately cartoonish hau5. Ka-pow!
• Stevie Wonder: True jamming, humanism. Magnificent.
• The National: Ennui too complex here?
• Tori Amos: Rhapsodic psychocabaret: unscary entertainment.
• Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Conservative, but right on.
• Les Claypool: Worst dancers (so far).
• Kings of Leon: A carnal sorta homecoming.
• Black Keys: Trying open-mindedness. Trying.
• Daryl Hall & Chromeo: Jukebox dancealong: Bonnaroo gold.
• The Flaming Lips: Dull side ofthe ’Roo.
• Galactic: Aggressive, phattish Nawlins funk.
• Conan O’Brien: Smaller stage, bigger love.
• Umphrey’s McGee: Oh, so thaaat’s “jamming.”
• Local Natives: The mustaches speak louder.
• Nneka: Drowned by Bud logos.
• She & Him: Muggy vibes’ perfect breeze.
• Lucero: Bruce > Gaslight > Marah > Lucero.
• Ween: Strangely flaccid. What’s wrong?
• Martin Sexton: Quite lovely, if tame.
• Bomba Estéreo: 2010’s Bonde (that’s good).
• Phoenix: Non-DMBers’ effervescent closure.