New York City’s Gov Ball is back. After a long pandemic, a postponement, a change of venue, Gov Ball made a reappearance for its 10th anniversary, not at its original Governor’s Island off Manhattan, not at its usual Randall’s Island tucked between Manhattan and The Bronx but smackdown in Queens at Citi Field (home of the New York Mets). And the crowds were there to welcome them back!
Friday of a three-day festival is the day to get your festival legs – check out the layout, scout the food, find the tucked-away place where you can beat the crowds but still hear the band. And with everything new from the commute to the location to the layout, it was a struggle for festival-goers and festival planners alike. The commute is much improved – just jump on the 7 Train – rather than trudge across the Triborough Bridge which is tons of fun on Friday am but beyond draining by Saturday night.
The layout worked in its much smaller footprint and the new circular plan with all stages facing out from a common center. But setting up a festival in a parking lot meant there were a ton of curbs and poles to work around, and gone was the lush grass and wooded areas of Randall’s Island replaced by occasional patches of astroturf. Getting in was a trial and took away from the early bands who only get a half hour set. (One such band, Forgivers, was excellent.) But once the doors opened at noon, and the throngs scampered for the rail at the main stage for headliner Billie Eilish (who would play 9 hours later), it worked. After a full tour of the grounds with confusion reigning, this reviewer finally mellowed when she got to the Honda stage and Bankrol Hayden full of smiles was singing “No drama”. It was his first festival and it took that festival newbie to get this veteran to smile, lighten up, and enjoy the rest of the day.
Festivals are a chance to check out new bands, and there were plenty of up-and-comers who put on great shows. Tate McRae launched onto the stage with a full band in white and two dancers who whirled with and around her for most of her set. Highly choreographed but exceptional. Her show and the songs are worthy of checking out again. Sasha Alex Sloan lacked the stage show and dancers of many of the other sets but showcased her strong voice and songs. Her constant smile and dimples belied the “sad girl” songs.
Portugal. The Man has been at tons of festivals and played around for years but never hit the radar screen. But from the moment they brought out members of the Lenape Nation to bless the land, screened a clever intro video, took a few swigs of Jameson’s, Zach Corothers and the band did not let up. Their music swings all over the place from heavy guitar and bass riffs to upbeat rhythmic rock but is passionate and buoyant. Frontman Carouthers swings his bass and body all over the stage. They hit their stride by the second song “Creep in a T-shirt” with a bit of Nirvana’s “In Bloom” mixed in and kept it hard and great til the end. They closed with Julia Cummings of Sunflower Bean joining them for the last songs, Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream” and their hit “Feel It Still” before they asked her to join the band.
Smooth-voiced Leon Bridges and a fully-tatted Kehlani kept the crowd that was camped out for Billie Eilish entertained all afternoon. Both delivered strong sets that the crowd knew and sang along with. Kahlani had a full band attired in white who brought an edge to her upbeat and inclusive set. Most of the festival runs with two of the four stages playing at alternating times.
Rüfüs Du Sol scored one of the few slots alone and got the entire crowd pulsating to their heavy dance sound. They are a perennial festival favorite and there’s no doubt why. The lights, the show, the vibration in your chest. But the crowd was there for Billie Eilish, and a full half-hour before her set began, the field was packed and pumped up. She did not disappoint; her 22 song set delivered (quite a number of songs for one of today’s hottest acts who has only two albums).
The crowd was whipped up as she appeared at the top of the stage and descended a stage-wide ramp onto the front of the stage to “Bury a Friend”. She then proceeded to use every inch of the stage, the ramp, the runway into the crowd, the stack that held her brother Finneas on guitar and keys, and another stock that held the drummer and kit. When that could not contain her, she was launched up and over the crowd by a cherry picker. When even that was not enough, she mounted a huge line of speakers which then floated into the air above the stage while she calmly sat and performed with the airborne speakers blasting and projecting images.
The crowd knew every word and screamed as soon as they recognized the first notes. Her songs and banter were personal and political. She talked about her first Gov Ball show (on the smallest stage) and how great it was to be performing again for her fans. Over images of fire, she pronounced “If you don’t think climate change is real, you’re a fucking idiot” and launched into “My Future”. She closed with her brother Finneas joining her on guitar and walking down the ramp to “Bad Guy”, then pulling out her pigtails and finishing with “Happier Than Ever”. The crowd would have stayed all night for her, but there was no doubt they were satisfied.
