See Brandi Carlile, Alabama Shakes, and Twenty One Pilots Highlights From ‘Bonnaroo Rewind’ Documentary
After 15 years of going strong, Manchester, Tennessee’s Bonnaroo continues to be one of the go-to music festivals of the summer. Watch the 60-minute documentary Bonnaroo Rewind on att.net/bonnaroo to see a best-of look at the most celebrated live performances of the 2015 four-day event, when it descended upon Manchester, Tennessee last June, and check out previews from three of the incredible artists – Brandi Carlile, Alabama Shakes, and Twenty One Pilots – below.
Brandi Carlile, “The Eye”
Brandi Carlile and her longtime band members, brothers Phil and Tim Hanseroth, maintained the essence of their compassionate song, “The Eye,” when playing the festival. They kept it stripped-down and acoustic, just as it appears on Carlile’s album The Firewatcher’s Daughter. During the song’s intro, Carlile referenced their influences from the likes of Fleetwood Mac and Crosby, Stills & Nash, and said that they “really don’t have a lead singer,” before showcasing their angelic three-part harmonies.
Alabama Shakes, “Don’t Wanna Fight”
It’s hard to find a ballsier lead vocalist these day than Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard. At Bonnaroo, she took the stage sporting a blonde Mohawk, choir-robe dress, and metallic gold collar. Then she opened with a climactic wail that most singers reserve for the song’s end (all while playing guitar). With the support of her band that also includes guitarist Heath Fogg, bassist Zac Cockrell, keyboardist Ben Tanner, and drummer Steve Johnson, Howard brought to life the song’s lyrics about the fear of “working myself to death.” What a riveting anthem.
Twenty One Pilots, “Heavydirtysoul”
Don’t waste your time trying to categorize Twenty One Pilots, the Columbus duo whose sound spans multiple genres. Case in point: Vocalist Tyler Joseph rook the ‘Roo stage in one of his trademark masks, spewed rapid-fire raps on top of Josh Dun’s complementary drum rhythms and electropop breakbeats… and after 25 seconds, the sound took a new course, more fun and pop-rock, before switching yet again. The crowd couldn’t get enough.
Check out the full Bonnaroo Rewind stream to see Mumford & Sons’ entire set that includes the band covering the Beatles’ classic “With a Little Help From My Friends”; performances by Robert Plant, Hozier, and D’Angelo; a legendary collaboration with My Morning Jacket, Dawes, Hozier, photographer Danny Clinch, and Ed Helms.
