Bonnaroo 2009: The Road to Bonnaroo Starts off 8th

By Steve Haruch in Bonnaroo, Cream Calendar, Creamtastic

Fri., Mar. 13 2009 @ 6:06AM

Three Nashville bands are going to play Bonnaroo this year. But whose tight jeans will reign supreme, "earning" them the chance to rock multitudinous faces (or spray them with white foam) in Manchester come June?

Well, that's where you and I and BMI come in. One band will be chosen at each of three different 8 off 8ths starting March 23.

Here's the deal: We all go to Mercy Lounge on Monday night like we always do. Everyone gets a ballot. The bands play, and votes are collected at the end of the night after all the bands have gone on (so you have to stay for everyone in order for your vote to count). Fan voting accounts for half the deciding power. The other half comes from a panel of local *cough* music writers *cough*, bloggers and 8 off 8th hosts. The winner of each night's voting gets to play Bonnaroo. Somebody text Nate Silver.

Anyway, the first one's in a little over two weeks. May the best band win! Schedule after the jump.

Monday, March 23
The Features
The Garland Sisters
Korean Is Asian
Lylas
Tommy and the Whale
Kindercastle
Eureka Gold
Red White Blue

Monday, April 20
How I Became the Bomb
And the Relatives
Reno Bo
Those Darlins
Pico Vs. Island Trees
Mike's Pawn Shop
Protomen
AutoVaughn

Monday, May 18
Glossary
Shoot the Mountain
Elle Macho
Kindergarten Circus
Heypenny
Space Capone
The Tits
Jacob Jones

Tags: 8 off 8ths and Heartbreak, BMI, Bonnaroo, contests, Mercy Lounge, panel of experts

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31 comment(s) / Post a Comment

ryan says:

This is pretty awesome.

The only issue I have is.... Mike's Pawn Shop? Where did this shit come from? Let me guess:

"Fuck the haters! Your jealous cuz your band plays for 3 people! Mike's Pawn Shop owns you!"

"MIKE"S PAWN SHOP FUKERS!"

"I dont know why everbody hates on Mike's Pawn Shope. They better than half the shit bands int this shit city."

"Mik'es Pawn shop has more talent in there pinky fingers than your assholes combined. Suck it."

Posted On: Friday, Mar. 13 2009 @ 9:00AM

luke from character says:

yeah this is pretty cool. those shows will be packed. whoever plays later will have a big advantage.

ok, so i assume the panelists will not be judging on the nights that their bands are playing??

also...no hotpipes? caitlin rose? cortney tidwell? kyle andrews? tristen? the privates?.......

Posted On: Friday, Mar. 13 2009 @ 9:41AM

luke from character says:

the brotherhood?

Posted On: Friday, Mar. 13 2009 @ 9:44AM

Ashley says:

Oh, this is awesome. 8 Off 8th has pretty much owned my Mondays for a while now, but I'm excited about an actual incentive to drink on a school night.

Posted On: Friday, Mar. 13 2009 @ 9:52AM

alum says:

where's hands down eugene on this list?

Posted On: Friday, Mar. 13 2009 @ 10:18AM

Gold says:

Tristen and Caitlin Rose are The Garland Sisters.

Posted On: Friday, Mar. 13 2009 @ 11:26AM

tony starks says:

parachute musical?

Posted On: Friday, Mar. 13 2009 @ 1:44PM

bluedrew37203 says:

Just so everyone can direct their anger somewhere:
Since that band you like or are in was not selected to play, all of the bands playing the Road to Bonnaroo 8 off 8th's were hand-picked by Chark and me. The awesome thing about that is that none of the bands listed are actually playing. All three nights will be nothing but Chromeo and Foghat trading off three-song sets. Hopefully, one of them will get to play Bonnaroo this year!

In all seriousness, the bands were selected by a combination of Bruton, myself and six of our regular 8 off 8th hosts: Gold (who did not pick his own band), Bawston Sean, Ryan Zum, Jacob Hot Rocks Jones (who also did not pick his own band), Deano Shortland & Joe WOTT Colvert.

Posted On: Friday, Mar. 13 2009 @ 1:50PM

familiar sideman says:

Sad to see JEFF the Brotherhood isn't on this list... or at LEAST one bizarro act like Dave Cloud or The Mattoid. They're not exactly "go getters" but they have more of a regional following and strong word of mouth compared to half of the groups on this list. They've also won over huge rooms (yes, NOT in Nashville and yes, even those weirdos have A games). Of course, I know the reality of noone wanting to work with potential wild cards. At any rate, a festival spot, ideally, serves as a spark to an already kindled fire. I say everyone just go ahead and put their votes behind the Features. They have a regional following, are good/can carry a festival stage and dare I say they deserve a spot like this???

Posted On: Friday, Mar. 13 2009 @ 2:23PM

KEWL says:

space capone would be BADASS at bonnaroo.

Posted On: Friday, Mar. 13 2009 @ 2:42PM

Gold says:

I picked Mike's Pawn Shop 3 times.

Posted On: Friday, Mar. 13 2009 @ 2:47PM

Anthony Cacciatore says:

Where's my band?

Oh fuq it, everyone come over before these shows for a homecooked italian meal.

-Anth

Posted On: Friday, Mar. 13 2009 @ 2:49PM

HighonLife says:

I just think this pool should have represented a wider cross section of Nashville music.

There are no metal bands. There are no experimental acts. There are no punk bands. Yet there are LOTS of indie rock bands. I think Dave Cloud would have been a given for this. Perhaps instead of a committee, this should have been done by votes from the public. But hey, that's just my opinion. I certainly don't mean to be negative against any band that DID get picked, or the tastes of the people on the committee. All these bands have worked hard and they deserve a spot. Congrats to those who were picked.

Posted On: Friday, Mar. 13 2009 @ 2:55PM

Joe Baine says:

Actually, strike Glossary from this list and substitute Hotpipes.

Posted On: Friday, Mar. 13 2009 @ 3:24PM

jimmy says:

i saw Mike's Pawn Shop Monday, they are just ridiculous! they are emo rap with a dancing guy like the MM Bostones who "plays" keyboard. HILARIOUS!

Posted On: Friday, Mar. 13 2009 @ 5:27PM

Hearn says:

yeah The Features deserve this more than anyone. They've been busting their asses and putting out great records for something like 15 years.

Posted On: Friday, Mar. 13 2009 @ 6:36PM

east side says:

I'd like to see AutoVaughn win one of the slots. They played 160+ shows last year in the US and Europe and they are a really great live band.

Posted On: Friday, Mar. 13 2009 @ 9:10PM

actual east side says:

Umm...east side doesn't speak for all of us. Most East Siders don't really get off on AutoVaughn. Like...at all really. It should be The Features. I'm sure The Protomen have a shot as well. It'd be nice to see a smaller band make it through, but at least they'll have the chance to play in front of a big audience.

Posted On: Saturday, Mar. 14 2009 @ 11:57AM

bluedrew37203 says:

Just so everyone knows, three bands all together (one band each night) will win a slot at Bonnaroo — not just one out of the twenty-four, as some people have suggested.

Posted On: Saturday, Mar. 14 2009 @ 8:04PM

Davis says:

Love that eureka gold is on here. Surprised madi diaz is not. Wish that We Were The States was on here. also wish parachute musical was on here. Oh: and what the hell is shoot the mountain doing on this list. Eek.

Posted On: Sunday, Mar. 15 2009 @ 6:24PM

Davis says:

Posted On: Sunday, Mar. 15 2009 @ 6:26PM

OH! says:

I have been so confused over the last few months. Kindercastle is different from Kindergarten Circus. No offense to either band...just so glad to have that cleared up.

Also, this is going to be STIFF competition.

However, I officially predict (and am placing bets on):

The Features

The Protomen or How I Became the Bomb (tough call)

Shoot the Mountain

Anybody else wanna take a gander?

Posted On: Sunday, Mar. 15 2009 @ 9:14PM

Sherry says:

My guess is:
The Features
The Protomen
The Tits

Posted On: Monday, Mar. 16 2009 @ 11:52AM

big pinto says:

features will win...they were written up in the smoking section of RS not long ago. who is kindergarten circus? sounds weak.

Posted On: Tuesday, Mar. 17 2009 @ 11:11AM

bluedrew37203 says:

A little more info / a reminder:

The fan voting is on premise only and by paper ballot only. In addition, the ballots can only be picked up prior to the first band going on and can only be turned in after the last band goes off. In other words, fans can only vote if they have seen all eight bands.

Hopefully, this will allow the band whose fans are the most dedicated and whose fans can hold their booze the best to win the fan voting portion of the contest.

Posted On: Tuesday, Mar. 17 2009 @ 2:50PM

carligula says:

That's a great idea, drew. I think that's really the only fair way to do it. Hopefully each band will go out of their way to let their fans know they need to be there for the long haul to vote.

I really don't know many of the acts, but right now I'm pulling for The Features, Protomen, and HotPipes.

Posted On: Wednesday, Mar. 18 2009 @ 1:56PM

donny says:

how did these bands get chosen to play????? in my opinion not many of these bands fit the Bonnaroo style. nashville should really branch out it's style.

Posted On: Tuesday, Mar. 31 2009 @ 3:22PM

Anonymous says:

The Nift should have been on this....

Posted On: Wednesday, Apr. 1 2009 @ 8:38PM

steven says:

Mikes Pawn shop rocked the Mercy Lounge Monday night! They are way onto something... They caught me off guard. Rock on pawn shoppers!!

Posted On: Wednesday, Apr. 8 2009 @ 11:21PM

Geena says:

Mikes Pawn Shop is taking the m'fing cake. No questions asked. You other bands might as well not show up, and if u do, come shakin in your boots cuz these dudes don't mess around. if u havent seen em live, u haven't lived. MIKES PAWN SHOP FOREVER

Posted On: Thursday, Apr. 9 2009 @ 4:16PM

Ty says:

Mike's pawn shop is so different and fresh, they're going to be the next big thing to blow up out of nashville along with kings of leon, paramore, and cage the elephant. I'll see them at Bonaroo. Long Live the Pawn Shoppers!!!!!!!!!

Posted On: Saturday, Apr. 11 2009 @ 9:48PM