Governors Ball : June 18, 2011 @ Governors Island NYC

Governors Ball Music Festival on 6/18/11 was a crazy sexy beautiful experience.  Since I first saw the epic lineup including Pretty Lights, Girl Talk, Empire of the Sun, Passion Pit (DJ Set), Mac Miller, Big Boi, and People Under the Stairs, I knew I was in for one of the biggest dance parties in the Manhattan area for the summer.

The island was a very fresh space for a music festival, the ferry ride over let’s you take in your lovely scenic surroundings and then you’re separated from the mainland of stress and secluded in an island of fun.  Trippy artwork decorates the island and strange blow up mazes and creatures walked freely around to tweek out all the concert goers.  In the entry line there was even a multi-colored neon FURRY wall, in case life happened to slip you a Jeffrey throughout the day.

The DJ Set of Passion Pit was rather disappointing due to audio problems, but Mac Miller got us all grooving with his light, fun jams – in particular “Knock Knock” and “Donald Trump”.

People Under the Stairs brought the fire to the island with the energy rising as this talented rap duo, Double K and Thes One, spit rhymes that had everyone bumping and grinding to classics like “Acid Raindrops” and “San Francisco Knights”.   The laidback West Coast beats combined with a steady, smooth flow by the two MCs let the problems in our minds become ancient artifacts.  The groove transported the crowd to a warm San Fran night with clouds of smoke above the crowd curing all stress.  We let the music take over the soul, body and mind, just kicked back, relaxed and danceddddd!
Big Boi was incredible as always, getting the crowd moving and bringing chicks on stage  to his Outkast jam “I Like The Way You Move”.  Girls were grinding all over the place & shakin their booties for the crowd’s enjoyment.  It was clear to all that this dude is the man.  Ms. Jackson was obviously my favorite chune of the set.

 

Empire of the Sun was quite possibly one the trippiest experiences of my young life.  After laying on a blanket for awhile staring at the beautiful balloons that lined the sky on wires – being projected upward in a rainbow formation by some kind of Helium machine, I was ready to dance and jump around in a major way.  I was walking on a dreammmmmm and absolutely loving the insane Egyptian/Gaga-like costumes complete with headdresses and wigs that were frequently changing with every track.  The crazy lights & lasers added to the drama of the modern dancing routines and cooky vocals.  When you’re at the shore this summer and have a case of the wonderful weirds – bust out Empire of the Sun’s single “Standing on the Shore”.

Honestly I missed being a part of the Girl Talk crowd because I was too wrapped up in some arms looking at the glowing balloons (lanterns?) that were released up into the sky at sunset in a very Tangled magical way!  Girl Talk filled the air with beautiful mashups ranging from Radiohead to Lady Gaga to Ludacris and my favorite, John Lennon’s “Imagine”.  The huge crowd was singing along and I was literally tingling with happiness.

The highly anticipated new Pretty Lights setup did not disappoint.  The production was glorious, with mind-blowing new towers displaying all colors of the rainbow in the most aesthetically innovative patterns and images.  Derek performed his new remix NY State of Mind for the first time ever at Governor’s Ball, stating that he made the music just for us – the city he loves most to perform in because of the great appreciation for hip hop – and wanted to share it with us first since the Fire Marshall was cutting his performance off shorter than he’d like.  If we didn’t all have to ride that magical 8 minute fairy, excuse me, ferry ride home to Manhattan – Derek would’ve wanted to play for us all night.   I actually think I had about 3 religious experiences during his set, the most profound during his new Radiohead remix (see below).

 

Cheers to the Gov’na.  Thank goodness this is an annual event.  See you all there next year, bumpers!

 

Knock Knock – Mac Miller

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61HgC9jh_wo

I feel like a million bucks…but my money don’t really feel like I do.

 

Acid Raindrops – People Under the Stairs

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C32z9OBE3lo

For when stress burns your brain just like acid raindrops…

 

I Like The Way You Move – Outkast

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4uRZ1UYKio

There it is…an eargasm & a booty shake.

 

Standing on the Shore – Empire of the Sun

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgR5HiJlJd8

There’s something in the way I move…

 

John Lennon “Imagine” sing-a-long with Girl Talk.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUSnOWklEF4&feature=related

 

NEW Radiohead Remix – Pretty Lights Live @ Governors Ball Festival 2011

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo8HAXeVRa0

Mystical experiences of a live concert…  Pretty Lights indeed

 

PS Did you know Pretty Lights provides free downloads of all his music on their website?  We recommend you visit prettylightsmusic.com and download “PL vs. Radiohead vs. Nirvana vs NIN”.  The track is downloaded into your iTunes in seconds.  Music sounds better when it’s freely given, don’t ya think?  Thanks, Derek!

 

PPS Pretty Lights’ lighting designer just got a Twitter – follow the genius @TheLazerShark

Stay fresh.

Love,

- Jazzy Jess -