High-fashion hipsters were out in full swing last night to vote the first Nashville band into the Bonnaroo lineup. So, Chancellor Warhol is headed for the festival this year, though Evan P. Donohue came in second with Tyler Bryant close behind. The order of the 8 off 8th lineup was determined the night of with the bands drawing names, and Courtney Jaye was up first. Two hula dancers sashayed onstage to dress up her buoyant, Hawaiian-and-country-tinged set, which included a fun little number called “Boxed Wine.” The Kicks were up next, clad in blazers and bandanas, with some animated pop rock, hook heavy with touches of southern twang. Then Heartbeater brought their usual bleary and beautiful guitar haze to the stage, but the energy in most of their live performances wasn’t totally there.
The winner of RTB Round One made up for that with vigor and enthusiasm at full-blast as he MCed over electronic noise and thundering beats. Mercy Lounge manager Drew Mischke added to the fun just by getting onstage before each set to introduce the band (a friend said Drew reminded him of a tipsy, gesticulating version of Kevin Spacey). He introduced Evan P., who claimed his set would “destroy other bands in the air.” A cocky assertion (I think), but the first runner-up delivered with some revving, brass-infused vintage rock.
Majestico’s psych rock and a killer punk-funk set from Kink Ador was in the final stretch, and guitar prodigy Tyler Bryant finished with what seemed like a longer set than everyone else’s. There were some staunch Bryant supporters in the crowd mixed in with some gigglers; the former group was in awe of his undeniable chops while the latter was amused with his unmistakable Bieber vibe. Anyway, congratulations, Chance. – Jessica Pace