It’s the moment NYC music fans have been waiting for! Governors Ball has finally announced their 2015 lineup. Although I’m still trying to cure my hangover and recover from my sunburn from last year, 2015’s lineup is looking pretty solid thus far (and I gotta admit, a lot better than Coachellas).
Headliners are the same as Coachella’s in Drake and the Black Keys, with the exception of Deadmau5. I can’t lie, when Coachella announced AC/DC would be one of their headliners I was sure that they’d be heading out east but that does not seem to be the case. Either way it looks like NYC will have to be in an EDM mood when that night but don’t worry, there’s still a ton of awesome acts throughout the festival if you’re not necessarily into that.
The promoters have yet to announce who’ll be performing on what day. Last year Jenny Lewis stole everyone’s heart on the Honda Stage with her 6:00 set on day one while most attendees were still at work! You never know when the next amazing performance is going to take place and on what stage, so here’s a list of acts we think you should definitely see!
Florence & The Machine
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Okay this one kind of goes without saying. Florence has been dancing her way through the festival circuit for a few years now so most of you have probably seen the band work their magic at this point. If you haven’t experienced their one of a kind indie art rock show, with Florence Welch possibly being one of the most talented female singers in pop at the moment and is easily powerful enough to cast a spell on you.
Florence and the Machine
Lana Del Ray
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This “Brooklyn Baby” may be one of the hottest names in female pop at the moment. Throwing all stereotypes of what female pop-stardom had become going in the 2000s, this New York native through out all expectations out the with her own style of psychedelic pop-rock consisting of darker themes and honest forms of lyrical sexuality in lines like “Fucked My Way Up To The Top” and “My pussy tastes like Pepsi-Cola.” Her attitude and powerful songwriting should make for an amazing show if you’ve never seen her live.
Lana Del Rey
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
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Don’t expect any of your favorite 90s tunes from What’s The Story Morning Glory from Noel Gallagher’s other band, but you can expect great rock music from one of the 90s most authentic rock stars. Just give the band’s 2014 EP In The Heat of the Moment a listen to get an idea of the melody and hook-friendly rock tunes that made Gallagher such a successful singer/songwriter with Oasis.
Noel Gallagher
Chromeo
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We covered this band for their sold-out show at Central Park SummerStage a few months ago, and I’m certainly glad they’re back in town. Actually that night we threw all the seats out of the VIP area and turned it into an employee only dance floor. Good times. The electronic funk/new age disco duos certainly know how to throw a party with their pulsating dance beats and pop-friendly songs. Not all electronic-based artists can make their songs FM friendly, but Chromeo fit more into a throwback genre when disco was more of an extended version of rock songs that can fit into a four-minute period.
The War On Drugs
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I don’t need to repeat how amazing their 2014 album Lost In The Dream was, as it ended up on almost everyone’s Best of 2014 lists, including my own. Some of you may have seen them when they headlined Northside Fest this last summer. They’ll fit perfectly into Gov Ball’s later afternoon set when the sun is nice and hot and the alcohol buzz has firmly set in. My advice for when these guys take the stage, find a spot a little distanced from stage where you can comfortably lay down without some drunk amateur falling on you, take a hit of something really good, and just soak in the sun and modern songwriting at its very best.
The War On Drugs
Clean Bandit
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Maybe the UK’s hottest act in 2014, these guys burst onto the scene in the past year and a half with the single that all of you have heard, or at least have heard a remix of on your cardio playlist in “Rather Be.” The single even beat Adele’s record in the UK for longest time spent at #1 on the British streaming charts. I was fortunate enough to sit down and interview the band before their show at MH of Williamsburg, and for all their newfound fame, they could not have been more down to earth, if only Americans could be as fucking cool as the Brits are. Their usage of classical instrumentation with electro-pop genres has made them a hit, and while they’re be making their rounds in the festival circuit this summer, they’re definitely a band you wont want to miss out on. Just an FYI, they could easily sell out a headlining tour across Europe at the moment so how about we pay a little respect (I know most of us Americans don’t really know what that means) and give this band some of the attention they deserve.
Clean Bandit
Weird Al Yankovic
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You can say what you want about this one, but Weird Al knows how to entertain. I’ve never seen him live, but if he’s anything near as entertaining as his song arrangements are, then it should be a pretty fun show. Music’s favorite comedian gained his first #1 album on Billboard this past year, and he’s been able to remain relevant in showbiz for almost thirty years at this point. He better bring back some classic from The Food Album! I fuckin live for that shit.
Weird Al
DIIV
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DIIV had the honor of closing out Glasslands a few weeks ago. The band burst onto the scene with their 2012 album Oshin gaining a following among the indie rock scene. Sounding like a more polished version of a garage band, the Brooklyn band have a slightly more mature tone than most of the other generic sounding hipster rock bands oversaturating the shit out of Brooklyn these days. Similar to where contemporaries like Alvvays or Beach Fossils are at when it comes to finding a way to have their modern Brooklyn indie-rock sound stick out.
DIIV
Streets of Laredo
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Last time NYC saw Streets of Loredo was in October at a packed Mercury Lounge. I was there with my dude Ry-Guy and we were blown away by how fun the group from Brooklyn via New Zealand was to watch. Their brilliant mixture of indie folk and easygoing rock songs make for a modern and bitchin version of this generation’s Mama’s & The Papas with Daniel and Sarajane’s co-vocal leading a larger band of misfits.
Streets of Laredo
Royal Blood
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Royal Blood exploded in 2014, letting everyone know in the process that rock is not dead. The power-rock duo from the UK first stepped foot in the states last spring and immediately gained national attention garnering opening slots with the Foo Fighters on their upcoming tour. Their debut LP is a raucous display of raw power and emotion that pulls you in on the first note and keeps you wanting more after it’s finished. This could be one of the more rowdy sets of the weekend, so keep your head on a swivel!
Royal Blood
St. Vincent
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In 2014 St. Vincent was everyone’s darling and if you aren’t paying attention yet, you probably should. Easily making all the major publications “best of lists” for last year was no fluke as her album is gorgeous and multi-faceted. Her live show is easily one of the best we saw last year and when she decides to shred on the 6-string, watch out, as you may get your face melted. When Annie Clark steps on that Gov Ball stage I guarantee you will be captivated by her exhilarating live performance.
Gov Ball Lineup
Article by: Tom Shackleford
