Kentucky-based singer-songwriter Ben Sollee sat down with us for a moment to discuss his appearances at Bonnaroo and say thank you to his fans in Louisville.

The innovative cellist began a tour of small venues before arriving in Manchester, going from city to city on bicycle. The trip covered 346 miles and included an added weight of 60 lbs. of stage equipment – a daunting task for a musician who doesn’t consider himself an uber-athlete.

“It was nearly impossible,” said Sollee, adding that fatigue kicked in by the fifth day. “Then I started eating right.”

The bike tour was a chance for him to promote a down-to-Earth approach that many touring acts today overlook, Sollee said.

“It’s gotten so engrained for us to use planes, trains and automobiles,” he said. While of the bike tour, he said, “it slows us down.”

Sollee is also promoting OxFamAmerica, a group that sponsors relief and development for American communities suffering from disaster or climate change.

His appearances at Bonnaroo, he said, would not be possible without support from his fanbase in Louisville, a city where the Lexington native attended college and to which he still pays homage.

“Just tell them thanks,” he said.

Triumph poops on the Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Triumph the Insult Comic Dog interviewed New York-based band the Yeah Yeah Yeahs for a spot that was presumably shot for the Tonight Show.

Of their music, he backhandedly complimented on the band’s ability to make such rich sounds with only two instrumentalists: “When I listen, I swear I hear three or four shitty musicians.” 

Photos by Alisha Eli / Words by Joshua Coffman