1st Annual Bonnaroo Awards

The month of June not only marks the beginning of Summer, but also the annual music lover's festival known as Bonnaroo. Anyone who has EVER attended the festival knows that when you enter the campgrounds it is like you are entering another world. You will see every possible type of person you could ever encounter, overpriced foods of every type, and art in all of its shapes and forms. You will walk up to 15 miles a day and have the most hideous blisters you have ever seen to prove it. You will be sunburned, sleep deprived, and dirty, but on the way home the withdrawals will begin to set in and you will realize how much you miss the techno music pounding at 3 am. That is when you decide you are going again next year, and possibly upgrading to VIP. In honor of this magical place, I have decided to create my own annual Bonnaroo awards.
2010's Honorees:
The Kanye Award: This award goes to the artist who most disappointed their fans at Bonnaroo. The title of this award is due to Kanye West's infamous 2008 performance, or lack thereof. This year's honoree is none other than Wale. After showing up 40 minutes late to his own show due to falling asleep on his bus, he spent most of his stage time trying to get the crowd back on his side. When he finally started to play his hits, he did different versions of the songs. The biggest disappointment being his hard rock version of his hit "Nike Boots." Sorry Wale, but you are no Lil' Wayne.
The Best Catchphrase Award: This award goes to Regina Spektor for her address to all of us BONNAROOsters.
The Craziest Show Award: Without a doubt, this award belongs to The Flaming Lips. When a nude CGI woman gives birth to three band members, while the fourth band member appears on stage in a hamster ball, you know you are in for a treat. The rest of the show remained just as outrageous, including a sing along where Wayne Coyne would say a word and the audience would make whatever sound came into their heads. This started off easy, but got more difficult when words such as helicopter were introduced.
The Best New Find Award: I'm going to give this award to Bass Nectar. Anyone who can steal my attention away from The Flaming Lips has some serious talent.
The Most Bonnaroo-like Spirit Award: This award goes to the artist who most embodies what Bonnaroo is supposed to be. This year's recipient would have to be Kid Cudi, who only hours prior was arrested on charges of criminal mischief and possession of a controlled substance yet still flew in to perform for his fans. Side note, I would like to send a shout out to the people who broke into my tent and car causing me to miss most of Cudi's performance. I hope you got ran over by one of the golf cart taxis.
The Least Disappointing Vocals Award: The only band or artist worthy of this award is the English pop quartet The xx, who actually sounds better live than on record. The contrast between the subdued, bittersweet vocals of Romy Madley Croft and the rough, earthy vocals of Oliver Sims set against a backdrop of techno meets tribal with a touch of pop influence is what sets the band apart from their competition. I predict this band will blow up over the upcoming year.
The Most Entertaining Personality Award: This award goes to Ingrid Michaelson, who rated the audience on a kissing scale and described one of her songs as being her "carebear sh*tting out skittles song."
The Most B.A. Show Award: This award goes to Jay-Z, who performed as many songs as possible in his small time slot by performing snippets of his less popular hits, along with a full length version of his current hit "Young Forever" and other bigger hits. Also, he wins points for turning the lights on during his show and spotting out individuals in the crowd and for bringing a girl up on stage and singing happy birthday to her in the middle of his set. Seriously though, anyone who is in the middle of a European tour and flies in to smalltown Manchester, Tennessee to perform for two hours is a baller. I've had jet lag and it's no joke!
Best Reason to Miss Conan Award: Tokyo Police Club had the crowd on its feet at 12 pm, which is quite an accomplishment considering that these people were up until 5 am the night before.
Biggest Disappointment Award: This award goes to the jerks who broke into my vehicle/tent causing me to miss LCD Soundsystem. At least I heard that they did not perform "Someone Great," otherwise I would hunt you down Rambo-style.

This concludes my choices for the best & worst performances of 2010's Bonnaroo awards. Can't wait to see next year's line-up!
To check out photos go to www.bonnaroo.com.