Mastodon are far and away the heaviest act at Bonnaroo. If you think Metallica can hold a handle to these guys, you are gravely mistaken.  Not to denigrate Metallica’s talent or show, but Mastodon are simply in a different league.

And thankfully, quite a departure from all the jam bands and hippie-friendly fare that populate the many stages in Manchester, Tennessee. I have been dying to see this band since I first heard their LP Leviathan. With their follow-up Blood Mountain, they made me a fan for life.

They are unafraid to transcend one of the major, self-imposed limitations of all music deemed heavy: the theme of naked, primal aggression.  Clearly embracing the rich tradition of heavy metal storytelling, Mastodon are unafraid to populate their lyrics with fantasy settings, an actual story, and decipherable lyrics all backed up by some of the most explosive prog-metal fireworks around and it’s a recipe for heavy aural nirvana.  A much needed alternative to all the testosterone-laden, meaningless breakdowns and primitive growling and songwriting that are flooding the heavy rock and metal genres today.  To me, Mastodon are at the forefront of metal, leading the movement in what can, and should, be.

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MP3: Mastodon – Aqua Dementia from Leviathan

I first heard Aimee Mann’s (Wiki) gorgeous voice in the context of Joss Whedon’s most successful TV volley, the iconic Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Her seductive and mysterious voice matched the tone of the series perfectly in her cameo. Ever since, I have kept an eye out for her, hoping to one day catch her live. She dropped by the Strathmore earlier this year, I believe, but I had previous engagements. Given my strong connection of her music to one of the most epic and affective TV series I have ever experienced, I have some high hopes for her performance at Bonnaroo even if her music isn’t the most interesting or original. Her voice alone helps transcend some of these limitations.

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MP3: Aimee Mann – Thirty-One Today

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MP3: Aimee Mann – Pavlov’s Bell

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MP3: Aimee Mann – This is How it Goes

Notice to reader: you are far from Hollywood’s portrayal of banjo players. Throw out the image of that porch-dwelling, uncultured farmer chewing on a sliver of hay.

Béla Fleck (Wiki) is an accomplished, virtuoso-level instrumentalist who I can’t wait to see with Abigail Washburn at Bonnaroo next week. Fleck is New York city native named after famed composer Béla Bartok and has played the banjo since age 15.

Forming the Flecktones in 1989, Fleck and his crew are known for “raging eclecticism,” dwelling on a multitude of genres including jazz, be-bop, bluegrass, country, classical…nearly every genre befitting an advanced instrumentalist and then some. Add in the fact that every member of the Flecktones is renowned in their own right, most notably monster bassist Victor Wooten, and you have some powerhouse music-makers.

Fleck is often attributed as a major force in changing the perception, sound and musicality of the banjo, a flag-bearer simultaneously promoting and validating his instrument of choice in non-traditional circles. With such a massive one-sheet, it’s no surprise that Fleck has become massively influential and an inspiration to innumerable instrumentalists.

I can barely stand the anticipation.

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MP3: Béla Fleck & the Flecktones – Kaleidoscope from Béla Fleck and the Flecktones Live at B.B. King’s on 2006-04-21 (April 21, 2006) @ Live Music Archive

The first in my series of planned daily artist features, highlighting artists I absolutely can’t wait to see at Bonnaroo 2008. First up, those caterwauling, reverbed-out Kentuckyian jamsters My Morning Jacket.

Look no farther than this download of the title track from their upcoming LP Evil Urges (drops 6/10):

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MP3: My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges

Need more? Check out their transcendent Black Cab Session after the jump!

Read the rest…