May 24, 2014
In 2011, Governor’s Island in New York City hosted a new one-day electronica festival, dubbed Governors Ball (QRO ‘11 recap). In 2012, the festival moved from south of Manhattan to northeast of it, but stayed on an island at Randall’s and kept the name, while expanding to a second day, making it one day electronic, one day indie (QRO ’12 recap). In 2013, Governors stayed put but seriously expanded, not just to three days but to a killer line-up across the weekend – and was hit with a torrential storm the first day that left Randall’s a sea of mud for the second & third (QRO ’13 recap).
But the Ball has bounced back up again, returning to Randall’s Island (presumably with a much better drainage system…), with another amazing line-up. Governors Ball 2014 can go toe-to-toe with any festival on the continent (QRO Festival Guide) – and this one is located in the greatest city in the world, just a short walk/shuttle ride from the greatest island in the world! Trade in your tent for your MetroCard, pray for no rain, and head out to Governors Ball, Friday-to-Sunday, June 7th to 9th:
FRIDAY, JUNE 6th
| GovBallNYC Stage OutKast, 9:15 PM – 11:00 PM You know OutKast. Oh yes, you know OutKast. André ‘André 3000’ Benjamin and Antwan ‘Big Boi’ Patton basically brought the Hotlanta sound to break up the East Coast vs. West Coast hip-hop duopoly. Speakerboxx/The Love Below and especially ubiquitous single “Hey Ya!” were all over the airwaves (and introduced a post-film, pre-Instagram generation to the Polaroid picture). After soundtracking Idlewild in 2006, the duo went on an indefinite hiatus (QRO photos of Big Boi solo at a festival), only to make the biggest reunion of 2014. They’re playing seemingly every festival out there, including Governors Ball (QRO photos at a festival). |
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| Phoenix, 6:50 PM – 8:15 PM There are a precious few bands out there who you can’t understand anyone not loving, and one of them is Phoenix (QRO live review). The Versailles outfit (QRO interview – that’s oddly where all the French indie acts come from…) built and built their indie-pop songcraft throughout this century/millennium (including getting a song on the Lost In Translation soundtrack – and singer Thomas Mars would later marry the director, Sofia Coppola), with greater and greater international success (QRO live review), but broke through into the tops (QRO live review) with 2009’s Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (QRO review), which saw them win such acclaims as the Grammy for Best Alternative Album – and QRO’s #1 Album of 2009. It’s been a tough wait for the band (QRO photos) to return, but return they have (QRO spotlight on), and in full force, from last year’s Bankrupt! (QRO review) and big shows (QRO live review) to headlining festivals from California’s Coachella to Catalonia’s Primavera Sound to fellow-Francophone Osheaga (QRO photos at Osheaga) to now all-American Governors Ball (QRO photos outdoors). |
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| Julian Casablancas, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM When The Strokes broke out of the Lower East Side in 2001 and basically launched the alternative music revival, fronting the band was singer Julian Casablancas. When The Strokes began to feel like old hat later in the decade, they went into hiatus & solo projects. Casablancas released the lame electronic Phrazes For the Young (QRO review) to decent commercial success, but eventually found his way back to The Strokes for 2011’s Angles (QRO review) and last year’s Comedown Machine (QRO review). But that record looks to be The Strokes last for a while again, as Casablancas is already looking to a new project, Julian Casablancas + The Voidz, though the live word at SXSW wasn’t great (QRO recap). |
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| Janelle Monae, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM The Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter (QRO photos at a festival) nicely crosses between the urban and alternative genres, from signing to Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Bad Boy Record to opening on tour with of Montreal (QRO live review with of Montreal). She has since risen to amazing heights (QRO photos) with last year’s The Electric Lady, from festivals (QRO photos at a festival) to guest singing on mega-hit single “We Are Young” by fun. and even becoming a face for CoverGirl (QRO photos at a festival). |
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| Jason Isbell, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM Still probably best known for his work in Drive-By Truckers (QRO album review, post-Isbell), since driving off in 2008 Isbell (QRO photos at a festival) has been focused on his solo work (QRO photos solo at a festival), most recently with last year’s Southeastern. |
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| Also: HAERTS, 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM – QRO photos at a festival |
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| Big Apple Stage TV On the Radio, 8:00 PM – 9:15 PM One of the bands that put Brooklyn not only on the indie-map, but also at the top of it, is the borough’s TV On the Radio (QRO live review outdoors in Brooklyn). 2004’s debut Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes introduced their complex-yet-accessible indie-tech-punk-rock, 2006’s Return to Cookie Mountain proved it was no fluke, and 2008’s Dear Science (QRO review) saw the band launched into the top tier of alternative music (QRO live review). The group took something of a break after that, as members such as Tunde Adebimpe, David Andrew Sitek, and Kyp Malone did various side/solo projects, but returned last year (QRO photos at a festival) with Nine Types of Light (QRO review). Nine Types was a return in quality as well as success for the band (QRO photos at a festival), though they unfortunately lost bassist Gerard Smith to cancer in 2011, but have kept on magnificently (QRO photos outdoors in Brooklyn in 2011). |
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| Neko Case, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM While she first got notice as the main lady of indie-rock collective The New Pornographers (QRO live review), Neko Case (QRO photos outdoors) has also crafted her own solo career (even had her voice on an episode of Adult Swim’s Aqua Teen Hunger Force…). Her last new release was way back in 2009 with Middle Cyclone (QRO review), but she comes to Governors Ball (QRO photos at a festival) behind the acclaimed The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You (QRO review) and wonderful live show (QRO live review) – plus ‘winning the internet’ on Comedy Central’s @Midnight! |
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| B∆stille, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM Dan Smith expanded his solo project into a full band, B∆stille (QRO photos at a festival), who have become the second British synth ∆ct to find overnight success in recent years (after alt-J, a.k.a. ∆ – QRO live review). |
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| Kurt Vile & The Violators, 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM Even amongst all the lo-fi guitar-punks out there, Kurt Vile (QRO photos at a festival) has made a name for himself. The former member of The War On Drugs (QRO live review), Kurt Vile has since formed his own ensemble with his Violators, and contributed to/opened for alt-punk guitar god J Mascis (of Governors Ball ‘13 performer Dinosaur Jr. – QRO live review) on his solo record, Several Shades of Why (QRO review), and subsequent tour (plus Dinosaur Jr.’s You’re Living All Over Me show in NYC). However, he’s since evolved into a frontman of his own (QRO live review) with last year’s Wakin On a Pretty Daze, including at festivals (QRO photos at a festival). Also: Drowners, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM |
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| Honda Stage Damon Albarn, 9:15 PM – 10:30 PM Has anyone been involved in as many interesting, diverse, and successful music projects as Damon Albarn? To a certain generation, he’ll always be first and foremost the lead singer of Blur (QRO photos at a festival), the most successful Brit-pop band of the nineties. But many others know him from his work as the virtual frontman for the “virtual band” Gorillaz, where Albarn and a rotating cast of contributors provide the sound behind a cartoon behind from Tank Girl creator Jamie Hewlett, most recently with 2011’s The Fall (QRO review). Oh, and there’s also been The Good, The Bad & The Queen (QRO album review), soundtrack work like Monkey : Journey To the West (QRO review), and more. Yet in 2014 Albarn’s found yet another new project: Damon Albarn, putting out his own solo record, Everyday Robots (QRO review), and his own tour (QRO photos at a festival). |
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| Damian ‘Jr. Gong’ Marley, 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM The youngest son of reggae legend Bob Marley, Damien ‘Jr. Gong’ Marley has been making music since he was thirteen. He’s had some interesting team-ups, like with Nas for Distant Relatives (QRO photos at a festival), and Mick Jagger & more as SuperHeavy, but comes to Governors Ball all on his own. |
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| Jenny Lewis, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM If you like alternative music in the twenty-first century, chances are you already know Jenny Lewis (QRO photos). The former child star came to the music scene co-fronting Los Angeles’ Rilo Kiley (QRO album review) in the prior decade (QRO photos), before going solo with Rabbit Fur Coat and 2008’s Acid Tongue (QRO review). In 2010 she teamed up with boyfriend Jonathan Rice as Jenny & Johnny (QRO photos at a festival) for I’m Having Fun Now (QRO review). Last year, she reprised one of her many guest vocalist roles (others have included with Elvis Costello & Conor Oberst – QRO live review together) on the reunion tour of indietronica all-stars Postal Service (QRO photos – with Benjamin Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie) behind the tenth anniversary edition of the ultra-acclaimed Give Up (QRO review). For Governors Ball, however, she comes to shine all on her own (QRO photos solo at a festival), in the run-up to next month’s The Voyager. |
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| The 1975, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM Manchester’s The 1975 (QRO photos at a festival) turned heads with their Sex EP in 2012, even though it wasn’t very good (QRO review), and have kept that up with last year’s self-titled debut full-length. |
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| Run the Jewels, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM El-P blew up the Brooklyn rap scene with last year’s Cancer 4 Cure (QRO review of release party), and brought about his team-up with Killer Mike (QRO photos at a festival) for 2012’s ‘Into the Wild’ tour. Mike & P have deepened that connection, working together as Run the Jewels (QRO photos at a festival). |
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| Little Comets, 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM From Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Little Comets (QRO photos at a festival) jumped right to the majors with 2011’s In Search of Elusive Little Comets & their ‘kitchen sink indie’. |
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| Gotham Tent Grimes, 8:15 PM – 9:15 PM Scandinavian singer/songstresses have been getting very hot, from Lykke Li (QRO album review) openers of hers like Oh Land (QRO album review) and now Grimes (QRO photos opening for Lykke Li) – though Grimes, a.k.a. Claire Boucher (QRO photos at a festival), is actually from Vancouver. Still, her ethereal indie-pop on Visions (QRO review) certainly hews to the Scando-sound (QRO live review), and she’s just as pretty and charming as any Nordic (QRO photos at a festival). |
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| La Roux, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM In 2011, Anglo electro-pop duo Eleanor Kate Jackson & Ben Langmaid, a.k.a. La Roux (QRO photos at a festival), won Best Electronic/Dance Album at the Grammys, capping off a great run since the release of their self-titled debut. The pair are finally gonna release their follow-up this July, so look for new La Roux (QRO photos at a festival) as well as old La Roux. |
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| Washed Out, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM Slowly percolating up has been the new ‘chillwave’ movement, whose sound is about as defined as that term, but one of those artists is Ernest Greene (QRO interview) who moved his work out of the bedroom (where he recorded Life of Leisure EP – QRO review) and onto the live stage (QRO live review) as Washed Out (QRO spotlight on), as well as recruiting a full band (QRO photos at a festival) for 2011’s Within and Without (QRO review) and last year’s Paracosm (QRO review). |
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| Also: Ratking, 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM – QRO photos at a festival Little Daylight, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM The Chain Gang of 1974, 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM – QRO spotlight on |
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SATURDAY, JUNE 7th
| GovBallNYC Stage Jack White, 9:30 PM – 11:00 PM The most famous artist in indie-rock, probably the most famous rock ‘n’ roller to emerge in a generation, you already know Jack White’s story (QRO photos) – married & broke-up with drummer Meg White, then formed The White Stripes (QRO live review) with her (pseudo-pretending to be brother-and-sister), massive success as a new generation of rock ‘n’ roll broke out at the start of this century/millennium, Meg’s meltdown, Jack’s work in other bands like The Raconteurs & The Dead Weather (QRO album review), The White Stripes’ final confirmed break up in 2011, and Jack White’s solo, with 2012’s Blunderbuss (QRO review) and now Lazaretto, out the Tuesday after Governors Ball. White’s been on everything from The Simpsons to The Colbert Report (QRO Music on Late Night TV), founded his own label, Third Man Records (that includes America’s favorite pundit as an artist), and Blunderbuss hit #1 on the charts – so don’t expect to get anywhere near the stage unless you camp out there the night before (but hopefully he’ll play for longer in NYC than he did at his notorious Radio City Music Hall appearance in 2012 – QRO live review)… |
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| The Strokes, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM Back in 2001, The Strokes’ Is This It and “Hard To Explain” basically launched the alternative music revival, starting in Lower East Side before going to Brooklyn, Canada, Sweden, and everywhere else (not to mention drummer Fabrizio Moretti dating Drew Barrymore). However, follow-ups Room On Fire and First Impressions of Earth were way too similar to what the band had broken through with, while countless indie acts had taken advantage of the opening & the internet to make The Strokes feel like old hat, and fans say, “Is This It?”. Various members did their own thing, such as solo records from guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr. (QRO solo photos at a festival) and singer Julian Casablancas (see above), but didn’t light the world on fire (QRO review of Casablancas solo record), and Barrymore & Moretti broke up, leaving the band something of a forgotten caricature (or, as The Onion so excellently put it in a side headline, ‘Guy from The Strokes accused of looking like guy from The Strokes’). But maybe that’s what the band needed – no follow-up or solo record could live up to Is This It, and there was enough time that them getting back together for 2011’s Angles (QRO review) practically counted as the first ‘twenty-first century reunion’ (on the lines of the popular eighties & nineties alt-reunions – we need a name for the last decade…). However, last year saw them release Comedown Machine (QRO review), which has seemed like a ‘last record’, from the chosen name to the band not doing any promotion to it being the final one on their RCA contract. Casablancas, Hammond, and others are already looking to solo projects again, so this might be your last chance to catch The Strokes in a while/ever – and it’s a hometown show. |
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| Broken Bells, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM In the middle of the last decade, two of the biggest breakout artists were The Shins (QRO live review), thanks to being featured on the Garden State soundtrack, and Danger Mouse, thanks being part of Gnarls Barkley & multiple producer/contributor credits (The Rapture, The Good, The Bad & The Queen, Beck). The Shins followed up with Wincing the Night Away (QRO review), Gnarls Barkley with The Odd Couple, but then silence – until 2010, when main Shin James Mercer teamed up with Danger Mouse as Broken Bells. Unfortunately, their self-titled debut (QRO review) was rather underwhelming, albeit from high expectations, and Mercer returned to The Shins for Port of Morrow (QRO review), while Danger Mouse returned to producer (like Portugal. The Man’s Evil Friends – QRO review). But Broken Bells have returned this year, with the interesting, retro-futuristic After the Disco (QRO review). Their live show was too dark – literally not enough lighting (QRO photos at a festival), but hopefully that, at least, can be fixed by playing during the day, under the Big Apple sun. |
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| Lucius, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM The New York Times described Lucius as “The next Feist” (QRO live review) – even if you don’t believe everything The Grey Lady says, be sure to check them out (QRO photos at a festival). |
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| Also: PAPA, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM – QRO photos Hunter Hunted, 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM |
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| Big Apple Stage Spoon, 8:15 PM – 9:30 PM As The Tick would shout, “Spoon!!!” Austin’s Spoon (QRO live review outdoors) has been turning heads in the indie-sphere for a while with their trademark indie-rock, but with 2007’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (QRO review) & 2010’s Transference (QRO review), the group (QRO photos at a festival) has launched into the stratosphere, including headlining at New York’s own ultra-upscale Radio City Music Hall (QRO live review). A festival veteran (QRO photos at a festival), including headlining fests (QRO photos headlining a festival), they come to Governors Ball (QRO photos at a festival the prior weekend) behind word of a new album this year. Three cheers for “The Underdog” (QRO video)! |
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| The Naked and Famous, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM From east of the Tasman Sea comes The Naked and Famous (QRO photos outdoors). The New Zealand act (QRO photos) turned heads in 2011 (QRO photos in 2011) with debut Passive Me, Aggressive You, and haven’t looked back (QRO photos). Last year saw strong follow-up In Rolling Waves (QRO review) getting them a big following stateside (QRO live review). |
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| Fitz & The Tantrums, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM While acts like Brooklyn’s Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (QRO live review) revive the soul sound, Los Angeles’ Fitz & The Tantrums (QRO photos) are reinventing it with an indie-pop twist (QRO photos at a festival) – and their own amazing live show (QRO live review). |
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| Tanlines, 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM Percussionist Jesse Cohen & singer/guitarist Eric Emm form Brooklyn electronic duo Tanlines (QRO live review), who traffic in a mix of atmospherics and world (QRO photos at a festival). |
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| Also: Diarrhea Planet, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM – QRO mp3 review |
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| Honda Stage Skrillex, 9:30 PM – 11:00 PM Originally frontman for L.A. post-hardcore outfit From First to Last, Sonny Moore – a.k.a. Skrillex (QRO photos) – has since reinvented himself as the electro-house/dubstep DJ (QRO photos), headlining all sorts of festivals (QRO photos headlining a festival) and even been impersonated on Saturday Night Live. |
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| Childish Gambino, 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM The world is littered with rappers trying their hand at acting, and actors trying their hand at rapping (to say nothing of sports stars trying both) – with usually poor results. Standing out from that crowd is Childish Gambino (QRO photos), a.k.a. Donald Glover (QRO photos at a festival) of NBC’s great (but sadly just cancelled) Community. Joel McHale ain’t the only one with a second job – but will Danny Pudi (QRO photo) or Alison Brie (QRO live review) be there? |
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| Disclosure, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM British electronic duo Disclosure (QRO photos at a festival) spin beats at Governors Ball (QRO photos at a festival the prior weekend). |
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| Classixx, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM Los Angeles DJ duo Michael David & Tyler Blake (QRO photos at a Los Angeles festival) – a.k.a. Classixx (QRO photos at a festival) – come to NYC (QRO photos in NYC). |
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| RJD2, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM Producer/DJ/performer Ramble John ‘RJ’ Krohn, or RJD2 (QRO photos), comes Governors Ball (QRO photos at a festival). While he got his start in instrumentals & production, 2007’s The Third Hand (QRO review) saw him stretch out into a full-fledged act of his own including singing, and has kept it going with 2010’s The Colossus (QRO review) and last year’s More Is Than Isn’t. |
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| Catfish & The Bottlemen, 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM North Wales’ young Catfish & The Bottlemen are playing seemingly a million festivals this summer, but one of the earliest is at Governors Ball. |
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| Gotham Tent Sleigh Bells, 8:15 PM – 9:30 PM Somewhere between noise and pop lies Brooklyn’s Sleigh Bells (QRO photos at a festival). The duo of Derek E. Miller & Alexis Krauss (QRO photos) all of a sudden became the hottest thing out there with debut Treats, including touring with M.I.A. (QRO photos) – and they’ve kept up the heat (QRO live review) in 2012 with Reign of Terror (QRO review), last year’s Bitter Rivals, and their bigger-and-bigger headline dates (QRO live review). |
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| The Glitch Mob, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM Electronic outfit The Glitch Mob aren’t just button-pushers, but integrate their laptops & MIDIs into their live show, making them suitable for the club or the festival. They come to Governors Ball behind this year’s charting Love Death Immortality (QRO review). |
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| Chance the Rapper, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM Two mixtapes, 2012’s 10 Day and last year’s Acid Rap, have launched Chicago’s Chance the Rapper (QRO photos at a festival) into the big time (his Chicago-sponsored South-by-Southwest showcase was shut down due to massive overcrowding – QRO recap). |
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| Deafheaven, 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM Deafheaven expand on the black metal sound with elements of post-metal and even shoegaze. Also: The Internet, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM |
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SUNDAY, JUNE 8th
| GovBallNYC Stage Vampire Weekend, 9:15 PM – 10:45 PM Overnight successes the world over should take a lesson from Vampire Weekend (QRO photos at a festival). The band went from opening for the likes of White Rabbits (QRO live review, when Vampire Weekend opened) and Tokyo Police Club (QRO live review, when Vampire Weekend opened) in 2007 to massive success after they opened the following year with their self-titled debut. This, of course, earned them (QRO live review) legions of haters, often focusing on their preppy look & history, though others just grew enraged at the music from ‘the whitest band’ (according to stuffwhitepeoplelike blog) being called ‘afro-pop’, and the comparisons with Paul Simon’s iconic Graceland (QRO deluxe edition review). They wisely slipped from view for a while, but returned to Jeff Curtin’s (QRO interview) Tree Fort Studios, faced up to the haters & the sophomore jinx to put out Contra (QRO review) in 2009, and reached #1 in the charts (only the twelfth independently-released record to do so in the last twenty years). They’ve since grown comfortable as headliners (QRO photos headlining a festival) and playing the big stage, even played Down Under (QRO live review in New Zealand). Vampire Weekend headline Governors Ball (QRO photos at a festival) behind last year’s Modern Vampires of the City (QRO review). |
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| Foster the People, 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM Los Angeles’ Foster the People (QRO photos at a festival) came out of nowhere in 2010 with viral hit “Pumped Up Kicks”, followed that up with the Top Ten debut Torches (QRO review). Their listener- and dancer-friendly electronic sounds aren’t exactly revelatory, but are sure to set the crowd on fire (QRO live review). They come to Governors Ball (QRO photos at a festival) behind this year’s release of Torches follow-up, Supermodel (QRO review). |
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| The Head and The Heart, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM Fairly recently, things have been seriously booming for The Head and The Heart (QRO live review). The Seattle alt-folk/pop band (QRO photos outdoors) was signed by Sub Pop (QRO photos outdoors), named their city’s best new band by Seattle Weekly, opened for everybody from Dave Matthews (QRO live review) to Death Cab for Cutie (QRO album review). They’ve since graduated to headlining status (QRO live review) behind last year’s sweet Let’s Be Still (QRO review) – though their crowds won’t (QRO photos at a festival). |
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| Frank Turner, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM While Frank Turner (QRO photos) began his life in music as singer for the post-hardcore act Million Dead, since that band’s break-up in 2005, the Bahrain-born, Britain-raised artists has turned to political indie-folk (QRO photos at a festival). He’s not a stranger to big stages, however (QRO photos at a festival), having opened up for Green Day (QRO album review) at stadium shows in the U.K. Also: BLEACHERS, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM Meg Myers, 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM |
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| Big Apple Stage Interpol, 8:00 PM – 9:15 PM When the Lower East Side music scene broke out at the beginning of this century/millennium, one of the biggest breakouts was neo-New Wave outfit Interpol (QRO live review) with Turn On the Bright Lights and Antics. Unfortunately, 2007 major label debut Our Love To Admire (QRO review) was a serious disappointment, leading to a hiatus (where singer/guitarist Paul Banks did his own solo thing as Julian Plenti – QRO European tour review). But 2010’s return to Matador Records Interpol (QRO review) was a return to form, and so was their live show (QRO photos), even on the festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival). Of course, the following year saw another hiatus (with Paul Banks going solo again, this time under his own name – QRO album review), but the band has returned once more, working on a new album and playing Governors Ball. |
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| The Kills, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM Before garage-rock blew up in the States a few years ago, Britain was at the center of a neo-garage/blues boom all its own – and one of the best was duo The Kills (QRO photos) and Midnight Boom. Rock frontlady extraordinaire Allison ‘VV’ Mosshart took some time off from partner Jamie ‘Hotel’ Hince after Midnight to pair up with that guy from that other male-female neo-garage/blues ‘The’ duo, Jack White, as The Dead Weather (QRO album review). But The Kills returned in 2011 (QRO photos outdoors at a festival) with Blood Pressures (QRO review) & songs like “You Don’t Own the Road” (QRO video), and still have the killer live show (QRO live review), especially outdoors (QRO live review outdoors). |
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| Tyler, the Creator, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM Governors Ball flirts with awesomeness and danger by booking the infamous Tyler, the Creator. In addition to fronting the ultra-chaotic Odd Future (QRO live review) collective, he’s released two solo studio albums of his own, 2012’s Goblin (QRO review) and last year’s Wolf (QRO review). Oh, and he’s currently on bail after being charged with inciting a riot at South-by-Southwest last week & being arrested at the airport… |
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| Wild Belle, 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM Brother-sister outfit Wild Belle (QRO spotlight on) grew up in Chicago but moved out to – where else? – Brooklyn (QRO photos in NYC). Big brother Elliot Bergmann formed NOMO, but has since teamed up with little sis Natalie (QRO photos). They (QRO interview) made serious waves with hit indie-reggae single “Keep You” (QRO video), getting signed to Columbia for their debut last year, Isles (QRO review) and hitting the festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival) for a second summer in a row (QRO photos at a 2013 festival). |
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| Half Moon Run, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM Montreal’s young trio Half Moon Run (QRO photos) come to Governors Ball after last year’s American release of their debut Dark Eyes (QRO review), which included touring cross-country with Toronto’s Metric (QRO live review with Half Moon Run). |
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| Honda Stage Axwell Ingrosso, 9:30 PM – 11:00 PM Two-thirds of Swedish House Mafia, Axwell & Sebastian Ingrosso, team-up as Axwell Ingrosso, and their first-ever show is at Governors Ball!. |
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| James Blake, 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM If you didn’t live in London, you might never have heard of dubstep, so you probably would have been surprised when people started talking about ‘post-dubstep’, in the form of highly-hyped Brit James Blake (QRO live review). But the former singer of (actual) dubstep outfit Mount Kimbie (QRO photos at a festival) has been making massive waves with his self-titled debut (QRO review) and Overgrown, so see for yourself what all the fuss is about (QRO photos at a big venue). |
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| J. Cole, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM North Carolina’s J. Cole got notice very quick with his first mixtape, The Come Up, signing to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label. Two more mixtapes, The Warm Up and Friday Night Lights followed before 2011 debut Cole World: The Sideline Story, which came out at #1 (even if he did lose the Best New Artist Grammy to Bon Iver, prompting the “Who the fuck is ‘Bunny Bear’?” meme…). Last year saw sophomore release Born Sinner, which debuted at ‘only’ #2, but of course rose to #1, so catch this top-selling artist. |
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| Earl Sweatshirt, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM The massive hip-hop collective Odd Future (QRO live review) keeps giving – there’s frontman Tyler, the Creator (see above), R&B star Frank Ocean, and now Earl Sweatshirt (QRO photos at a festival), who’s also worked with the likes of Flying Lotus (QRO live review), in Lotus’ Sealab 2021-inspired alter-ego, Captain Murphy. |
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| Also: SKATERS, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM – QRO spotlight on Cris Cab, 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM |
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| Gotham Tent Empire of the Sun, 8:15 PM – 9:15 PM Australia has been doing very well in the international electro-dance scene, such as The Midnight Juggernauts (QRO spotlight on), Miami Horror (QRO spotlight on), and The Presets (QRO spotlight on), and one of the biggest is Luke Steele & Nick Littlemore (QRO photos) – a.k.a. Empire of the Sun (QRO photos at a festival), who burst out in 2008 with Walking On a Dream and “We Are the People”, and come to Governors Ball for a second time (QRO photos at Governors ’11). |
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| The Bloody Beetroots, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM Italy’s dance-punk project The Bloody Beetroots come to Governors Ball for a live set in the Gotham Tent. |
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| Also: AlunaGeorge, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM – QRO photos at a festival Banks, 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM – QRO photos Cayucas, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM – QRO photos at a festival Ben Cameron, 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM |
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After-parties
Thursday, June 5th
Kurt Vile & The Violators, Steve Gunn @ Brooklyn Bowl, 9:00 PM
Disclosure (DJ set), Kaytranada, Jubilee, Bodhi @ Output, 10:00 PM
Friday, June 6th
Majical Clousz, Dutch E Germ @ The Studio at Webster Hall, 10:00 PM
James Blake (DJ set), Airhead, Dan Foat, MR Assister @ Output, 11:00 PM
Washed Out, Wunder Wunder, Alex Lemonade (DJ set) @ Brooklyn Bowl, 11:30 PM
AlunaGeorge @ Irving Plaza, 11:30 PM
Saturday, June 7th
OWLSA featuring Skrillex, Branchez, Yoci @ Webster Hall, 10:00 PM
The Chain Gang of 1974, Black Taxi, The Most Definitely (DJ set) @ Knitting Factory, 11:00 PM
Earlwolf (Tyler, the Creator & Earl Sweatshirt), The Internet @ Irving Plaza, 11:30 PM
Classixx, Baio, Hoodlum @ Brooklyn Bowl, 11:30 PM
Cayucas, Little Comets @ Glasslands, 11:30 PM
Sunday, June 8th
Diarrhea Planet, Total Slacker, Lyl Up @ Glasslands, 8:30 PM
Damon Albarn @ Irving Plaza, 9:30 PM
For festival website, go here: http://governorsballmusicfestival.com/
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