ICM: Girl Talk

Why in the name of the Summer Solstice was Tag Team’s “Whoomp, There It Is,” the Cranberries, “Dreams,” and Peter Bjorn and John’s “Let’s Call It Off,” being played within the same set at Bonnaroo? Why was every soul in the overcrowded “Other Tent” screaming their lungs out to Kelly Clarkson’s “Since You’ve Been Gone?” Why was there a skinny DJ onstage in his underwear screaming orders at the crowd? Better yet, why was the crowd listening? Was this the sign of the Apocalypse?

No, no, no, it was the work of that rascally mash-up mad scientist, Girl Talk. The Pittsburgh native, born Greg Gillis, throws a party like no other. Imagine (or remember) how fun it would be (or was) to get hammered at a middle school dance party, because that is basically what Girl Talk’s set is like. Rockin’ only a Mac, Gillis stewed A.D.D. cuts ranging from the aforementioned artists to T.I. to the Band to Hot Chip to Nirvana. No joke. Fans were shaking their asses on stage. Hippies were doing the robot. Newcomers were slapping themselves for ignorance. I was swinging my T-Shirt over my head. It was hypnotic mayhem. I mean, at one point, everyone was so spellbound by Gillis’ melodic experiments that he stopped and ordered the tent to “stop looking at the f***ing stage, turn to the person beside you and f***ing dance.”

Yes, sir, Mr. Girl Talk, sir. You are officially the king of Late Night Bonnaroo.