Excerpts from "The 2011 Bonaroo Preview"

{In March 2011, I along with some of my cohorts at my old college magazine/newspaper component Loomings wrote about the upcoming Bonaroo line-up with two sections: Those You Would Know & Those You Should Know. I've included only my own pieces.}

Those You Would Know

Eminem

Do I need to say anything? Come on, he’s Eminem, the highest selling artist of the decade, a man who changed the face of rap music, and made it so that every middle schooler and their mom knew “The FCC won’t let me be.” The first rapper to ever win an Oscar (suck it, Will Smith) Eminem came back stronger than ever with the release of the Grammy nominated Recovery. Now back at the top of his game, a rare chance to see the master at work cannot be missed.

Songs to listen to:
“Lose Yourself”, “Stan”, “Love The Way You Lie”

Those You Should Know

Mumford & Sons

One album out, and the boys of Mumford& Sons are on top of the world. Millions of fans, Grammy nominations and a chance to play with the legendary Bob Dylan ain’t too shabby. Mumford & Sons isn’t just the most fun band name to say since Toad the Wet Sprocket, it’s also the best folk rock band playing today. There’ not a single track on their debut Sigh No More that isn’t absolute brilliance, and if their newly announced train car tour is any indication, these boys just keep getting better.

Songs to listen to:
“Little Lion Man”, “Roll Away Your Stone”, “Winter Winds”

Ryan Bingham

Say what you will about the Oscars, they’re great exposure for unnoticed geniuses in music. 2008 brought us Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, 2009 A.R. Rahman, and 2010 gave the world Ryan Bingham heart wrenchingly beautiful “The Weary Kind” from the movie Crazy Heart. The fact is, even if you’d never heard his fantastic debut self-release Wishbone Saloon, or the major label Mescalito, just hear Jeff Bridges growl out “The Weary Kind”,  and you’ll need to see Bingham live. You’ll also wanna watch Tron.

Songs to listen to:
“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)”, “The Highway”, “Freight Train”

Scissor Sisters

These are some wild musicians over in England that call themselves the Scissor Sisters. Their debut album featured a mix of Elton John-esque rock jams (“Take Your Mama“) and disco (yes, disco) dance tracks (their cover of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb”). They’re glamorous, wild and about as gay as good music gets, and that’s why they’re such a breath of fresh air.

Songs to listen to:
“Take Your Mama”, “Filthy/Gorgeous”, “Comfortably Numb”