Saturday 10:45 a.m. | Plans change; expectations met

A wire sculpture lets Bonnaroo 2009 attendees know their experience is out of this world and part of another. (Staff photo by Rachel Johnson)

The sun is shining, my legs are sore and the Boss is coming tonight.

Yesterday was nothing less than I anticipated even if I was running on less than three hours sleep. Ani Difranco kept the crowd on their feet and sang a little song she wrote about the President and it was positive!

I must admit after a long day in the sun, little sleep and lots of walking around from stage to stage absorbing the spirit of the festival, I needed a short nap.

I found a semi-dry patch of dirt and laid down while bouncing my toes to Difranco. I knew a long night was in store and I probably didn't drink enough water.

So after a quick rest, we headed to see the Beastie Boys. They threw down and so did the crowd. It was one mass of head-shaking, lyric-shouting energy.

On the way to the bathroom, I stumbled across David Byrne on Which Stage and was immediately drawn into his unique groove. He brings exuberant energy and infuses his audience through the artistic movement of dancers on stage. Unfamiliar with his sound, I found myself drawn in and moving right along with the groove and missed the end of the Beastie Boys show.

No worries though -- I knew the show I waited 9 years to see was coming up at 11 p.m. and I was uber-excited. Ever since 2000, when I journeyed to Hershey Park, Pa., I have wanted one thing: To see another Phish show. When, in late 2008, they announced their reunion I knew somehow, somewhere I would see them in 2009 -- at the time I never dreamed it would be at Bonnaroo.

Now there are many who call themselves Phish-heads, go on tour, wear butterfly wings, cover their clothing in glow sticks, memorize and record every set list from every show and can predict exactly which songs will play: I am not one. I simply enjoy the feel-good vibe that makes my spirit soar and my feet move.

As many times as I have memorized songs from my favorite albums, nothing compares to the often 10 minute or longer jam that ensues from a live Phish show. More than anything, I wanted to hear one song: "Wading in the Velvet Sea." And I got that wish. Beautiful.

As the Phish show came to a close sometime after 2 a.m., my body screamed "Go to bed!" I canned my late night plans to see "Girl Talk" and trudged the 20 minutes back to my campsite, where I promptly began to snore.

This morning I feel like a new person. Well, a stinky new person caked in a layer of dirt! Tonight the Boss is coming and I am stoked. Bruce Springsteen has sung me through many perils in my life.

Must run now: The surprise addition of Jimmy Buffett gets cranked up in less than an hour.

Editor's note: The Aiken Standard's Rachel Johnson will be reporting back from Bonnaroo 2009 in words, pictures and video throughout the weekend. For the quickest word on her reports, follow her on Twitter at rjohnson_as.