The third and final day of the 5th annual Governors Ball was by far the strongest. The weather was perfect, the schedule was exciting and all of the logistics were finally in synch.
Young Guns: Sunday afternoon gave a prominent slot to two up and coming rock acts: Tame Impala and Royal Blood. The latter is a drum and bass duo from the UK whose influence by acts like Led Zeppelin and The White Stripes was obvious but have a defined sound entirely their own. Tame Impala are poised to break out in a big way following their third full length release later this Summer and their set on the main stage proved they’re up to the task. The Beatles famously recorded Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band at Abby Road Studios while Pink Floyd were working on The Piper at the Gates of Dawn in the same building. Nobody is suggesting Tame Impala is the next Pink Floyd or Beatles but if a black hole had hypothetically materialized on Abby Road back in 1967, Tame Impala sounds a lot like the mashed up swirl that would come out the other side.
The King Presides: “Weird Al” Yankovic is the unquestioned King of Musical Comedy and with respect to both Bjork and My Morning Jacket, he put on the single best performance of the entire weekend. Medleys of hits kicked things off before he ran through all of his most popular songs while in costume. “Amish Paradise” had Al rocking the beard and black hat. Yankovic came out looking morbidly obese for “Fat,” and at one point he even rode a Segway around the stage. In addition to his humor, Yankovic is a woefully underappreciated accordion player with a vocal range that knows no limits. Given the vast variety of songs and styles he covers in a set, the success of his backup band spoke to their versatility and technical precision. Every single act on the bill walks the line between recording artist and live performer, but not a single one of them is the consummate showman that “Weird Al” is.
Verdict: Like the past four years prior, Governors Ball was an awesome time for all. Logistical problems early on were smoothed out as sound improved, extra toilets were brought in, and more metal pathways were laid across the muddy fields. The tough thing for an urban festival in the tri-state area is that when booking acts, they have to cater towards the sophisticated live music enthusiasts while also providing a healthy draw for the mainstream demographic who don’t spend their time actively seeking out new favorite artists. Acts like Drake and Lana Del Ray got the droves of teenagers to spend their graduation money on passes, but roping in Bjork, My Morning Jacket and Ryan Adams still gave the event significant street cred amongst more sophisticated listeners. It makes for a lineup and an audience that lacks that singular identity you’ll find at an event like Gathering of the Vibes or Electric Forrest, but it sells the event out, and allows them to produce a top-notch event year after year. Here’s looking to GovBall2016.
One Response
Hello,
I am looking for a picture a photographer took of me kissing my girlfriend on the cheek at Governor’s Ball during Tame Impala’s performance. I was wearing a grey vest and a blue bandana. As I am not sure which photographer took the picture, I am contacting multiple photographers who took pictures at the festival. If you took the picture, or know anyone who photographed at the Tame Impala show at Governor’s Ball, it would mean a lot to me if you could provide me with some info.
Thank you,
Austin DeCaro