Bonnaroo Band of the Day: Car Seat Headrest

As we’ve been doing for the past several years now, we’re making it our mission to help you get acquainted with many of our favorites acts from from Bonnaroo‘s impressive 2017 lineup. As we dig through the entire schedule, we’ll highlight a spread of performers spanning across genres and stages, big and small, new and old, to bring you some of the most interesting, lesser-known, or most highly-reccomened among this year’s crop of artists. Though we’ll be jumping around, we’re loosely working our way through by day, and we’ll also be bringing you some special features and longer guides along the way, to help you plan your weekend before the fest. While these previews won’t span every performer, and might omit some more obvious must-see acts, we hope they’ll serve as a way to help you navigate Bonnaroo’s gargantuan lineup, and to make the most of your busy weekend on the farm!

Grab your tickets right here if you haven’t already, and keep reading to learn more about our Bonnaroo Band of the Day…

LEARN

A true DIY success story, Car Seat Headrest began in 2010 as a musical vehicle for eclectic artist Will Toledo, then 17, in his native Leesburg, VA, named literally for the back of the family car where Toledo holed up to record vocals for his early, fiercely independent efforts. Initially a thoroughly solo effort, Will embraced Bandcamp as a distribution platform to release a staggering 11 albums over just three years, developing a devoted cult following without the help of a label or representation, and eventually earning the attention of Matador Records, who signed the project in 2015.

After moving to Seattle and recruiting a proper group of backing players, transforming Car Seat Headrest into a full band, Toledo and co. dug into the back catalogue to craft fleshed out, reworked versions of prior CSR material to serve as a label introduction with 2015’s Teens of Style. Last year’s Teens of Denial, Car Seat Headrest’s 13th album overall, is the group’s first totally new collection of full band material, and thanks to buzzy tracks like “Vincent” and “Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales,” has helped helped the band reach an even wider audience, fast approaching household name status. With a very personal, smart, and insightful lyrical prowess and a dynamic, inventive indie rock style, Car Seat Headrest are one of the most exciting rock group to pop up in recent memory, and with an engaging, stellar live show to boot, they’re at must-see at Bonnaroo.

LISTEN | “America (Never Been)”