The mega-powers collide: Headliner met headliner Sunday night on the Bonnaroo main stage as Bruce Springsteen joined Phish for a three-song set of "Mustang Sally" and a double-shot of "Born in the U.S.A." tracks: "Bobby Jean" and "Glory Days."
After being gleefully introduced by Trey Anastasio as his "boyhood hero," Springsteen handled vocals and bar-band guitar on a rambling "Mustang Sally," while Anastasio contributed speed-fingered guitar work to a rollicking, sweet "Bobby Jean." For his part, Springsteen helped steer a rough-start "Glory Days" back into calmer waters, the second time in two nights the What Stage lawn was filled with tens of thousands of sun-cooked, sleep-deprived music fans sang of baseball players and girls who live up the block. The three songs closed the first of Phish's two sets of the night. Springsteen was spotted earlier in the day taking in sets by Neko Case and Band of Horses. -Jeff Vrabel
Bruce Springsteen on Saturday night found himself in a position he probably can't remember last being in: having to preach to the not necessarily converted.
Springsteen and the E Street Band's headlining slot at Bonnaroo was only the band's second-ever festival date - the first being Pinkpop in Holland just weeks ago - and instead of proving it all night to a sea of older faces comfortable reporting back every syllable of every song, Springsteen arrived to a crowd that needed a little background. "The mighty E Street Band is here tonight and we're going to do everything we can to bring down the power of the music on you!" he preached during "Working on a Dream," and spent the remainder of his nearly three-hour, 28-song set striving to rise to that challenge.
There are over 125 acts playing at Bonnaroo this year. Trying to
navigate the overload? Billboard picked ten sets to take you from
Friday through Sunday night and give you the most band for your buck
without passing out from trying to race from one stage to the next.
Just start with number one as we count you through the weekend, and
preview the tunes you might hear along the way. 7. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND Saturday 9-12.30 What Stage
There are those who will argue that the E Street Band is at the peak of its legendary powers right this very minute, and that group includes Bruce Springsteen, who, following the close of the exuberant "Magic" tour/house party in 2008, speedily released "Working on a Dream" with the intent to return his sleek machine to the road as quickly as possible.
