Gov Ball: Rain and Shine
Before the Doors:
As I arrived at the Box Office on Friday at 11 am, I didn’t know what to expect. Thankfully, it took less than 30 minutes to secure my ticket, and I made it just in time for the doors to open! I got into the GA line all three days since it was the closest. Sadly, I did have to part ways with my new Owala while going through security since I was told that metal water bottles aren’t allowed into the festival grounds. Importantly, I did check the website afterwards only to find that this wasn’t true. I also saw many people carrying their Owalas and Hydroflasks into the venue. Nevertheless, the rest of the process was rapid due to the new wristband system in place of online ticketing, so I didn’t have to worry about having access to the internet!
Friday:
Making my way inside, I went right towards the sponsor sets for 7-Eleven and Cabot Creamery. Just like last year, Slurpee Street was there with free drinks and life-saving fans that I had to acquire before they ran out. The Cabot Cruiser kept me fed each day with their mini grilled cheese sandwiches that I grabbed each time I passed, even getting a free pin and lip balm in the process! I then started to make my way over to the VIP section to check out their amenities before the sets started. The best part of the VIP area was the proximity to both stages, which you could reach in a five-minute walk, saving me from picking and choosing between sets. Everything you could need from merch to food vendors was offered inside. After grabbing some fries from Shake Shack, I made my way over to the main stage for School of Rock Queens! Luckily, there were only a handful of people there, so I shot right to the barricade! Knowing that Lorde would later be passing by the crowd as per her tour, I chose the side rails for the best opportunity. I took the time to talk to the attendees waiting alongside me and found that a good portion of them had planned to be there all day just for Lorde. WHATMORE was the next act and brought the much-needed energy for the early-day attendees, with the GA crowd matching the hype as Jackson August jumped into the crowd to sing alongside them. As an avid listener, I was thoroughly impressed seeing them live for the first time and excited for their much-deserved placement on the Gov Ball lineup.
The VIP crowd doubled for the next performer, Audrey Hobert, whom I’ve had the pleasure of knowing from Malcolm Todd and Gracie Abrams for years now. Audrey had been hyping this performance up for the past few weeks as her first-ever festival show, and she did not disappoint. Even in a shortened set from her usual, she gave a heartfelt and electric performance that the crowd adored. Keeping all the eccentricities from her solo tour, she started off larger than life in her trenchcoat and ladder while making use of every part of the stage and her trampoline. The sun was now at its worst, and no massive fan could’ve prepared me for the 90-degree weather I was experiencing—I actually ended up passing out for a moment. Thankfully, the people around me gave me space, and I was able to grab more water from the security stationed next to me. Audrey did a wonderful job of handling the crowd, as I wasn’t the only one unable to take the weather, and she made sure to indicate to the paramedics those who needed help. I bounced right back after taking a one-song break to enjoy the rest of Audrey’s performance, knowing I’d be switching to the Snapchat stage in a moment. After making friends with the Lorde fans around me to ensure my spot would be secured through my absence, I made my way over to the seated section closest to the stage to watch the rest of King Princess and The Dare. With the help of the side screens, I was able to see everything while relaxing in the shade. I also met a group of Columbia students who were there just for Pierce the Veil, dressed head to toe in their merch! I made my way back to the main stage once Mariah the Scientist began her set, and I was able to get back to my spot with ease! I was unable to see her last year because of the rain, so I had a year’s worth of excitement built up for her set. From the choreography to her immaculate voice, I had the time of my life vibing with the crowd, especially to my personal favorite song, “2 You”. You could tell Katseye was coming next as hordes of children came all out of nowhere to see them perform. Every fifth person had a child on their shoulder, ready to record the entire performance. As a casual fan, I let a few kids go ahead of me to have the time of their lives as they danced and sang along to every beat. I was pleasantly surprised by Katseye and became a bigger fan through this show.
After a long and hot day of waiting, it was finally time for Lorde Ball, and as someone who missed seeing her in NYC twice, I was ready to finally yell out every lyric she’s ever written. We cried, we screamed, and I even got the chance to hold her hand as she walked down the aisle towards us. During “David,” the GA crowd was given a massive “I Don’t Belong To Anyone” banner that covered lines of people. From “Royals” to a rare performance of “Girl, so confusing,” the show was a perfect time capsule of her musical journey. Leaving the venue felt surreal, knowing that I had two more incredible days left at Gov Ball.
Saturday:
After grabbing a quick drink at the Dunkin stand, though I planned to come back later for the freebies, I headed over to the main stage for Radio Free Alice, who have been on my radar since they opened for Geese’s international tour. Their post-punk sound and danceable energy were infectious to the crowd. Wisp also delivered an incredible, underrated performance, a personal favorite of the day, with her melodic song “Pandora”. She combines a moody and spectral atmosphere rooted in the vibe of shoegaze that I recommend anyone check out if they’re into dream pop! I could only listen in the distance to 2Hollis’s set, knowing I’d have to make my way to Jane Remover’s set before the rest of the like-minded crowd, though I made sure to stay for his hit song “poster boy”. Outside of the campers for Stray Kids, the GA crowd made sure to jump and shout alongside him. Along the way to Jane, I hit up the Coca-Cola Roller Ring for a free Coke as well as the Electrolit booth to stock up on some packets for tomorrow’s heat. At The Grove, I chose the GA side this time, since I wanted to mosh with the crowd, and VIP only had a fraction of the people. We were all collectively there for her and Snow Strippers, and although I was scared for the crowd at first, it was a complete blast. I got to meet famous YouTube music critic and long-time Jane Remover fan Anthony Fantano in the crowd, which was a highlight I didn’t expect!
Right before Snow Strippers, I got a notification from Festiverse that due to the impending thunderstorm, everything would need to end by 7:30. Now that my plans of seeing Blood Orange and Kali Uchis were impossible, I made my way back to the main stage. On the way, I talked with some attendees who tipped me off on grabbing a free NUTRUL electric fan simply by posting it on my social media! After making my way through the crowd, I found the perfect spot to see both the catwalk and stage, knowing Stray Kids would be all over. Although I haven’t kept up with their most recent music, I used to be a massive “Stay” fan in grade school, so I was excited to tap back in. I quickly made friends with those around me and received free bracelets and photos of the members that reminded me of why I loved this community so much. With this being the band’s first performance in a year, most of the crowd had flown in from other states and countries to see them. Watching them felt like I was transported back to 2020, still somehow knowing the lyrics and choreography, especially to “God’s Menu”. I may have gone overboard taking photos, eventually having to battle my iPhone storage limit. I decided to start heading out at 7:20 in order to beat both the storm and hordes of people. Although I was disappointed that my day got cut short due to the weather, it was the safest option.
Sunday:
I had been praying every single day until the schedule was released that Slayyyter, Geese and Dominic Fike’s sets wouldn’t overlap. To my relief, they came out with the best main stage lineup possible. In my excitement, I may have gone overboard in getting to the gate at 8 am. However, it was a blessing in disguise as I made friends with three other students next to me. We all shared our previous tales of Gov Ball experiences and discovered that we had the same plan of spending the day at the main stage. Once the doors opened, the sprint to the main stage was pandemonium by all measures. I tried to get to the GA barricade, although the stage was hard to see because of the catwalk height. Knowing I’d have a better view at VIP, I had to bid farewell to my newfound friends and make my way over once again. On the way, I ran into Dominic Digesu from Geese and wished him good luck on the show later! Evening Elephants were the first act of the day as a last-minute addition, and although this was my first listen of their work, I thoroughly enjoyed their music and the lead singer’s notable charisma. Although my view of the stage was perfect from VIP, GA was favored immensely by the singers utilizing the catwalk, who tended to sing over to their side instead. By the time Lexa Gates was finished performing, the crowd quadrupled in size for the self-titled “Worst Girl in America,” with flopping bunny ears appearing all around as a nod to the album. I was able to catch one of the free Slayyyter flags being thrown into the crowd, which ended up serving as a cover during the rain that soon followed. Slayyyter radiated complete star energy, and the crowd agreed, giving her the flowers she’s been working hard to achieve for years.
Once the set was over, I ran over to explore the rest of the booths and grabbed free food and makeup wipes from the DoorDash lounge and won free keychains from the F’real Shake Shop. I made it back just in time for Holly Humberstone, whose voice sounds just as good, if not better, live! It was enchanting to finally listen to songs from her newly released album, Cruel World. At 4:45, Geese made their way to the stage, and their set was nothing short of perfect. Surprisingly, Cameron Winter utilized the catwalk for his off-beat shenanigans, such as chucking a plushie into the crowd, which only made the crowd want more. Other highlights include the Pink Floyd “Interstellar Overdrive” cover that I was quick to acknowledge as a lifelong fan, and the ongoing live-show lore in “Trinidad” where the mentioned husband carries the expanding title of a poor, hard-working, from Connecticut, internal organs not working well, burner of lead. There were about four different mosh pits that I made sure to join in for as a beautiful end to their set. The day was already a 10/10, and it only got better when a photographer handed me the setlist!
Dominic Fike was the next artist whom I’ve been waiting years to see. Although I consider myself a diehard fan, I was blown out of the water by the group of girls next to me who had camped out all day for him. In common Dominic fashion, he challenged everyone in the crowd to square up with him if they ever saw him out in the city. From stripping across the entire stage to hearing his unreleased song “AI,” Dominic cemented himself as a must-see. Meanwhile, Jennie began her set at the Snapchat stage, and I decided to run over to catch the rest. I saw her perform all my favorite songs as well as her feature on “Dracula”. Knowing I had an almost 2-hour commute back, I decided to check off my favorite Gov Ball activity off the list by getting a free shirt from the Rock & Recycle stand in exchange for a bag of trash that I filled from the grounds. I enjoyed ASAP Rocky from a distance (thank you mega-screens), not knowing at the time that I was only a few feet away from Rihanna. Heading out of the festival, I can certainly say this was my favorite Gov Ball by far, from the lineup to my collection of freebies. There was a genre and niche for everyone that made listening to newer artists even more like a fresh discovery. Although I was exorbitantly tired from spending my entire weekend in the sun and dust, I truly wouldn’t trade this experience for anything, and I’m only more excited to go next year as well!
Five Recommendations for Next Year:
- Hard set rules on what is allowed inside to avoid last-minute changes
- A locker/coatcheck area to leave banned items before entering the festival grounds
- Livestream of the performances!!!!
- Bring back the interactive map from 2025 on Festiverse
- A poncho/rain protection mini-shop for the unprepared