How to Do the 'Roo: Building the Perfect Bonnaroo Schedule

Saturday

12:30-1:30 p.m. - Elvis Perkins in Dearland
There's a reason there's an "in" instead of an "and" in that moniker: Perkins' parched, folky songs sound like fairy tales, and the odd, endearing space he and his group creates feels more like a film than a concert. Possessing a pained, world-weary voice and buttressing his songs with bloodshot brass band arrangements, Perkins makes the perfect hangover music, cracked and crackling front-porch songs to help ease you into your day.

1:45-2:45 p.m. - Allen Toussaint
On a bill loaded with legends, few loom larger than Toussaint. The New Orleans pianist is an R&B pioneer, an expert at his instrument and a master of his craft. As his recent Grammy performance with Lil Wayne and Alan Thicke proved, Toussaint has still got it, capable of the same breakneck high-end runs he invented 40 years ago.

3:30-5:00 p.m. - Rodrigo y Gabriela
Call it acoustic metal: this fleet-fingered Mexican duo excel at blazing-fast riffage, turning out tunes as hectic and chaotic as a band of bumblebees. It's no surprise — both are veterans of the thrash metal outfit Tierra Acida. And while the duo clearly display a great affinity for Latin music (most of their songs bear the unmistakable ruffle of flamenco), they just as eagerly embrace rock and folk, creating the kind of endless instrumental jams perfect for whiling away an afternoon.

5:15-6:30 p.m. - Of Montreal
Even if you don't care for the songs, go for the spectacle. At a recent Of Montreal show Kevin Barnes took the stage on horseback, and another one ended with him completely disrobing. In short, Of Montreal shows are unpredictable. These are elaborate, costumed affairs, the whole band sporting painted faces and, just as often, Victorian-era getups. But don't let all the pomp and circumstance fool you: far from being pretentious art rock, Of Montreal instead skew playful — like a children's book come to life.

6:00-8:00 p.m. - Wilco
From alt-country to avant-garde and back again, Wilco have proven themselves masters of multiple forms. Their live show allows them to embrace every odd corner of their catalog, allowing artier offerings like "Spiders (Kidsmoke)" to mingle with loping old standbys like "Sunken Treasure." Expect the group to draw heavily on the forthcoming Wilco (the Album), and to acquit themselves with the kind of wryness for which they've become known.

9:00 p.m.-12:30 a.m. - Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
Anyone who says they don't want to see this is lying. Springsteen's 36-year career is practically perfect, producing fewer duds than Dylan while maintaining an unmatchable level of both righteousness and relevance. And sure, saying "Springsteen is great live" is about as profound as saying "Ice cream is delicious," but, hey, you still love ice cream, right? The only question here is whether or not three and a half hours will be enough time.

1:00 a.m.-3:00 a.m. - Nine Inch Nails
Simply put: live, Nine Inch Nails are a force of nature, a big, furious animal trampling anything in its path. And even though Reznor says this touring iteration of NIN is "scaled down," it's virtually impossible to minimize the full-on angry impact of his snarling songs. It's not all pummel and scrape, though. Reznor is a master of subtlety, and even his loudest compositions are rich with detail. The group has their live show down to a science, and their impeccable combination of power and precision is not to be missed.