Canadian indie rock collective Broken Social Scene closed out their 2022 North American tour with two sold out nights at Webster Hall in New York City. Near the end of the final show, the band surprised fans by inviting Tracey Ullman and Meryl Streep on stage to sing “Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl.” The show was a huge hit with fans both nights, and the last-minute addition was the cherry on top.
Jasmyn opened both nights with soothing yet passionate beats and vocals.
Jasmyn Performing at Webster Hall, photograph by David Reichmann
From the moment Broken Social Scene walked onstage until the last moment of the show, the floor was shaking and fans were gleefully sweating and screaming through to the end. The band’s fan interactions are always a treat, and bandmate Kevin Drew took some time to snap a few selfies on a fan’s phone each night.
Indie legends Sharon Van Etten, Angel Olsen, and Julien Baker joined together for The Wild Hearts Tour, a mostly outdoor-focused concert series. Angel and Sharon released the cathartic and joyful song, “Like I Used To” together last year, to critical acclaim. Julien Baker’s latest album, Little Oblivions also received widespread praise when it was released last year. Given the triple-headliner lineup on The Wild Hearts Tour, it quickly became one of the most highly anticipated acts in the indie music scene. After hitting roughly 20 stops in the United States, the tour concluded with two incredible nights at Central Park SummerStage during the weekend of August 21, with support from Quinn Christopherson.
Sharon Van Etten performing at Central Park SummerStage, photography by David Reichmann
The final night at Central Park’s SummerStage began with light cloud cover and mild heat. Fans lounged on picnic blankets and enjoyed the afternoon sun with a beer or a snack. Quinn Christopherson opened the show with driving guitar progressions and passionate vocals. His set also included a handful of tear-jerking and quieter moments. The crowd was well warmed up by the time Quinn’s set finished, and the onstage crew turned over for Julien’s set in what seemed like just a few minutes.
Quinn Christopherson performing at Central Park SummerStage, photography by David Reichmann
Julien Baker took the stage as the sun began to dip and the air cooled. The crowd swelled as she began playing her hard rock set. Julien leapt up and down the stage, flipped her hair, and held her guitar above her head at moments. She also sprinkled in a number of quiet and sorrowful moments throughout her set, displaying the great range her musical catalog is known for. Julien thanked the audience and joked with them occasionally between songs. She mentioned how special this tour had been. As her set neared an hour in length as the sun entered into golden hour, she thanked the crowd one last time before walking off to great applause.
Julien Baker performing at Central Park SummerStage, photography by David Reichmann
Angel Olsen’s set began at the very last moments of daylight. The stage lights took over as the atmosphere in the venue turned stark and dramatic. She walked onstage under a glowing orange spotlight and thanked the crowd. She played a number of tracks from her latest full-length record, Big Time as well as a number of deep cuts and fan favorites. She ended her set with the rousing lead single, “All The Good Times.” Angel thanked the audience one last time, told them how special this tour had been, and walked off as the crowd’s excitement peaked in anticipation of the final set of the evening and the tour.
Angel Olsen performing at Central Park SummerStage, photography by David Reichmann
Sharon Van Etten took the stage as the final headliner in The Wild Hearts Tour. Her latest album, We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong, was released earlier this year and was a smash hit. Her performance featured intimidating and powerful vocalizations and dancing. She frequently singled out audience members to lock eyes with and single directly towards. Sharon’s dynamic movements and passionate vocals created an all-encompassing stage presence which took over the crowd.
Sharon Van Etten performing at Central Park SummerStage for The Wild Hearts Tour, photography by David Reichmann
Sharon paused occasionally between songs to share sentimental moments with the audience. She said towards the end of her set, “I came up in New York City,” and mentioned how great it was to be able to end this tour “where it all started.” She talked briefly about the 40 or so people working on the tour, the hardships of touring in a post-pandemic world, and urged the New York City crowd to embrace kindness and acceptance. She also shared a few anecdotes of her first times meeting Julien, Angel, and later Quinn. “These people have become my family…Thank you so much for coming out.”
Sharon closed out her main set with her hit track “Seventeen.” She walked off stage briefly, only to return a few moments to answer the cheers demanding an encore. She began her encore with a solo rendition of “Darkish.” For the final track of her set, Sharon invited Angel Olsen onstage to perform their sensational single, “Like I Used To.” She talked about writing this track of Angel, saying how she had been a fan of hers and wanted to work on something together. Then she invited Julien, her bandmates, and Angel’s bandmates to join Sharon onstage for the final song of The Wild Hearts Tour. Sharon thanked the crowd one last time and the band played as the artists slowly walked off.
Now concluded, The Wild Hearts Tour was surely a one-of-a-kind event. You can follow Sharon Van Etten’s ongoing world tour here, and listen to her music here. Angel Olsen’s tour has a few remaining stops in the US before she heads overseas, and her catalog can be found here. Julien Baker has one upcoming show scheduled for November in Atlanta, and her catalog can be found here. Quinn Christopherson’s music can be streamed here.
Chicago indie rock band, Beach Bunny, played two spectacular shows at Brooklyn Steel the weekend of August 7, 2022. The dates had originally been scheduled for May, but were postponed due to Covid. Initially a solo project by Lili Trifilio, Beach Bunny came into popularity when the song “Prom Queen” went viral on TikTok in 2019. The song has since gained more than a quarter billion streams, and Lili now tours with her four-person band. Ky Voss and Sidney Gish opened for Beach Bunny both nights.
Beach Bunny plays Brooklyn Steel, photograph by David Reichmann
Multi-instrumentalist Ky Voss opened the shows with synth-pop beats, moody lyrics, and a textured industrial sound. Her third full-length record, “The After,” released earlier this year. During her set, Ky mentioned she had lived in New York for a year or so, but this was her first time performing in New York. The crowd basked in her performance, the pristine lighting, and the crisp sound Brooklyn Steel is most known for. She thanked Beach Bunny for having her, and left after an excellent set to wild applause.
Ky Voss opens for Beach Bunny, photograph by David Reichmann
Sidney Gish took the stage next, quipping with the crowd as she tuned her guitar and got settled on stage. Her performance was unaccompanied, but she used layers of looping pedals to fill the room with acoustic guitar riffs and drum loops. Sidney’s trademark charm and wit were present at all times. She joked between tracks, thanked Beach Bunny, and praised Ky Voss’s set. She played a number of hits from her catalog, including some tracks off her breakout record, “No Dogs Allowed.” After closing her set, she thanked the audience and left the stage to a burst of applause.
Sidney Gish opens for Beach Bunny, photograph by David Reichmann
Anticipation rose among the crowd as they waited for the headlining set. The venue was abuzz with energy as the house lights dimmed. Suddenly the stage was backlit by shining beams of blue and white light. After a brief pause, Beach Bunny walked onstage to massive applause. They opened their intense 90-minute set with “Oxygen,” the first single off their latest record, “Emotional Creature,” which was released in July 2022.
Sidney Gish plays Brooklyn Steel, photograph by David Reichmann
After the second track, Lili told the crowd to crouch down and spring up when they started the next track, “Six Weeks.” By the time Beach Bunny finished the third track, the crowd had been worked into a frenzy by drummer Jon Alvarado’s driving beats, guitarist Matt Henkels’s energetic riffs, bassist Anthony Vaccaro’s pumping bass lines, and frontwoman Lili Trifilio’s catchy fan-favorite lyrics. Several times throughout the show, Lili encouraged fans to open up mosh pits, crowdsurf, jump, and dance. At one point, Lili even drew a tattoo on a fan’s homemade sign. She joked, “This is too much pressure!” to laughter and applause.
Beach Bunny’s setlist included a number of hit tracks like “Good Girls (Don’t Get Used),” “Sports,” and their breakout viral singles, “Prom Queen” and “Cloud 9.” Towards the end of the band’s set, Lili told the audience, “I wrote this song about New York,” before playing “Fire Escape.”
Beach Bunny jumps onstage at Brooklyn Steel, photograph by David Reichmann
They closed out the show by instructing the crowd to separate down the middle, and rush together at the start of their final track, “Painkiller.” The crowd gleefully obliged, and sang along every word as they moshed and jumped until the last notes played. Beach Bunny took their bows, thanked the audience, and walked offstage to one final swell of cheers.
Beach Bunny is slated to play several more shows in the US before heading overseas for their tour. You can listen to their catalog here. Listen to Ky Voss here and Sidney Gish here.
Crowd surfing during Beach Bunny’s set at Brooklyn Steel, photograph by David ReichmannPhotography by David ReichmannBeach Bunny parts Brooklyn Steel crowd for final song, photograph by David Reichmann
Following the release of her latest full-length studio album, “Laurel Hell,” beloved indie musician Mitski returned to New York City the weekend of July 22, 2022 for two sold out nights at Radio City Music Hall. Originally scheduled for March, these and a few other tour dates were postponed due to COVID. Canadian indie folk band the Weather Station opened for Mitski both nights at Radio City.
Mitski performs at Radio City Music Hall, Photography by David Reichmann
The Weather Station mentioned “This show is by far the biggest venue we’ve ever played,” and thanked Mitski for bringing them along. Their signature soothing tones and melodies rang through the historic Manhattan hall. The crowd ate it up, anticipation for Mitski’s set rising as the energy in the room increased by the minute.
The Weather Station performs at Radio City Music Hall, opening for Mitski, Photography by David Reichmann
Mitski’s set began with her hit single, “Love Me More,” a pounding rhythmic anthem of desperation and desire. The crowd screamed as the first notes played, and screamed again when the track concluded.
Mitski at Radio City Music Hall, Photography by David Reichmann
Mitski’s hypnotic and intense dances were inspired by Butoh, a form of Japanese dance theater, and featured exaggerated motions and physical storytelling through dance. The stories of her songs came alive in her dances, especially with her second song of the night, “Working for the Knife.” The Butoh influence also made an appearance in the song’s music video.
Mitski performs “Working for the Knife” at Radio City Music Hall, Photography by David Reichmann
“Working for the Knife” was the first preceding single leading up to the release of “Laurel Hell.” This also marked her first major release since 2018, when she had taken a hiatus following the release of her last full-length album, “Be the Cowboy.” The album would go on to be a huge hit, but in interviews at the time Mitski had expressed discomfort with the massive mainstream attention the album had received, and she announced her hiatus from music at a concert at Central Park in 2019. “Working for the Knife” addresses these issues directly, illustrating the struggle between her artistic desire to create and the overwhelming demands of the music industry and capitalist work culture in general. The song is a hard-hitting and thoughtful meditation on the struggles of artists to stay creative and productive, and her vivid and evocative dance choreography captures just that.
Mitski waves hands with crowd at Radio City, Photography by David Reichmann
Despite saying very little to the audience throughout the evening, Mitski did open up about her experience as a New Yorker towards the end of the show. “I wrote a lot of these songs in New York,” she said. “I was unhappy here. It was so hard. And realized it didn’t have to be so hard, so I moved. But every time I come back, I realize, ‘God damn it, I miss it.’” She added, “You don’t have to be unhappy. You can change it.”
Her massive 23-track setlist included many hits and deep cuts from her six-album catalog. Fans sang along at every opportunity and danced through every moment. Standout tracks included “Washing Machine Heart,” “Nobody,” “Should’ve Been Me,” and “The Only Heartbreaker.” For her encore, she performed “A Pearl,” and left the stage with a bow. The crowd cheered wildly and screamed their love for her. Mitski’s Laurel Hell Tour continues, and you can buy tickets for remaining dates here. Her catalog is available to stream here. And you can listen to the Weather Station here.
Acclaimed indie star Lucy Dacus played Central Park’s SummerStage in New York City as part of the final leg of her ongoing Home Video Tour on Thursday July 21, 2022. She played with support from indie rock band, Hop Along. Lucy last headlined New York in November of 2021 for three sold-out shows at Brooklyn Steel, following the release of her critically acclaimed third studio album, Home Video.
Lucy Dacus at Central Park with bubbles, Photograph by David Reichmann
Dacus also recently joined Phoebe Bridgers onstage at Forest Hills Stadium in June. Known for her lyrical depth and often heartbreaking narratives, Lucy Dacus has become a phenomenon in the indie scene. Her return to New York comes hot on the heels of her Spotify Singles release just a few days before, which included a cover of Cher’s “Believe.”
The day began with sweltering New York City heat and humidity, scattered thunderstorms, and heavy showers in the early afternoon. Fans who had lined up in the early morning endured some rain and heat, but were rewarded with spots near the front of the barricades. As the venue filled up, the crowd’s anticipation rose, frequently cheering at random intervals whenever they felt the need to express their excitement. Security and event staff worked hard to distribute bottled water and spray mist over the crowd to cool them down, which drew yet more cheers.
Event staff misting audience at SummerStage, Photograph by David Reichmann
Hop Along opened the evening, playing their energetic rock set as the sun lowered and the shadows of Central Park lengthened. The heat didn’t seem to slow their performance down, and the night gradually grew less hot as they played. The band played several tracks from their three-album catalog and a cover of Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.”
Hop Along walked off the stage to enthralled applause as golden hour approached. The crowd reveled in the cooling shade as the sun lowered and Lucy’s set approached.
With the last few moments of sunset at hand, Lucy Dacus took the stage to a booming chorus of cheers. In addition to her regular ensemble band, most of the set was accompanied by strings. Lucy mentioned that her older records included tracks with strings, and she was excited to bring them to the show.
Lucy Dacus with her full band and Strings Section playing at Central Park, Photograph by David Reichmann
Lucy’s set had a false start when a crowd member required brief medical attention. She stopped the song and patiently waited. She praised the crowd for giving space for staff to help out and playfully posed for the photographers. After getting a thumbs up from the crowd, she got right back into it, and restarted the opening song.
Lucy Dacus posing for the cameras at Central Park, Photograph by David Reichmann
Lucy Dacus with a burst of bubbles, Photograph by David Reichmann
Lucy’s massive 17-song set included many more fan favorites and charting tracks, such as “I Don’t Wanna Be Funny Anymore” and “Brando.” Several times throughout her set, the air filled with bubbles to punctuate a chorus or hook, which drew huge applause each time. The most diehard fans packed at the front of the audience were showered in bubbles and screaming with joy.
Before Lucy played “Kissing Lessons” she cheerfully asked the audience, “I’ve been surveying, and I was wondering – who here is gay?” The crowd responded with a huge cheer. She laughed and replied, “This is our newest and probably gayest track.”
“Yesterday we put out two songs,” Lucy told the crowd. She then played her Spotify Singles cover of Cher’s “Believe.” “What a bop,” she quipped, to laughter and applause.
String Section for Lucy Dacus on couches, Photograph by David Reichmann
Lucy introduced the last track of her set by saying “Don’t you realize what a big deal this is? It’s so cool.” She thanked each member of her band, including the strings section, and thanked the audience. She closed the set with fan favorite, “Night Shift,” from her acclaimed sophomore record. “Thank you New York City, y’all are the best.” She disappeared backstage for a few moments, and then reappeared to another great wave of cheers. Before beginning her encore, Lucy mentioned that her father was in the audience. “Whenever he’s at one of my shows, I have to play this song.” She then played her cover of Bruce Springstein’s “Dancing in the Dark.”
Lucy’s bandmates took their bows and walked off to cheers, but Lucy remained on stage unaccompanied, a singular spotlight illuminating her. “Last time I was here was in 2019, opening for Mitski,” she told the crowd, remarking on how special it felt to return to Central Park as a headliner. “I’m going to play an unreleased song I wrote yesterday,” she said. “This is just for me. Pretend the show is over.” She then asked the crowd not to record this song. “I like to play new music at my shows, so please don’t record this.” Lucy punctuated her emotional performance by playing this final song unaccompanied under a beam of light, to an absolutely silent audience. They listened intently. The song will surely become a fan favorite upon release, but until then we won’t spoil the surprise by revealing any details.
Lucy Dacus playing an unreleased track solo, Photograph by David Reichmann
“I will remember this forever, thank you so so much. Until next time.” She walked off the stage to a crying, cheering, and screaming crowd in Central Park. The house lights came on and the crowd walked off, scattering through New York back into the warm summer night. Lucy’s catalog can be streamed here, and you can follow her ongoing North American tour here. Hop Along’s catalog can be streamed here as well. Check out our full show gallery by David Reichmann below.
Phoebe Bridgers played three nights in Brooklyn and Queens the week of June 14, 2022 to conclude the US leg of her Reunion Tour with support from Muna. The first two sold out shows at the Lena Horne Bandshell at Prospect Park in Brooklyn saw fans camping out overnight to grab a spot as close to the front as possible. The final show of her North American tour was at Forest Hill Stadium on June 16, which she called, “the biggest show I’ve ever played.”
Phoebe Bridgers playing Prospect Park, Photograph by David Reichmann
When the Prospect Park dates first went on sale earlier this year, the two shows sold out almost immediately. Phoebe quickly announced a third date at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, teasing a secret “special guest” to be announced the day of show. Fans speculated wildly for weeks leading up to the event, and it was finally revealed as Boygenius alum and friend of Phoebe, Lucy Dacus. Lucy and her band came out after opener Muna’s set.
Lucy Dacus playing Forest Hills Stadium, Photograph by David Reichmann
For the first two dates at Prospect Park, some fans lined up as early as 4:30AM and camped out overnight to secure their spot. Prospect Park was the perfect setting for a relaxing afternoon (or entire day, for some) in the park. The line wrapped around the block and wove its way through the park. The scene featured fans reading, eating lunches, and relaxing with friends on picnic blankets.
Fans waiting in line at Prospect Park, Photograph by David Reichmann
Phoebe Bridgers fans are known for their intense dedication to her music, with some of her most diehard of fans reportedly passing out at several points during her shows due to overwhelming excitement. Many in attendance adorned Phoebe Bridgers tees, tote bags, handmade signs, and tattoos, showing their devotion to the multiple Grammy Award nominated artist. Although waiting hours for an event can sometimes devolve into an impatient and tense scene, this queue featured only smiles and eager anticipation for what promised to be an unforgettable experience.
Fans waiting in line at Prospect Park, Photograph by David Reichmann
Having been only the second act signed to Phoebe’s label, Saddest Factory Records, in early 2019, Muna quickly rose in popularity before being announced as the supporting act for Phoebe’s 2022 Reunion Tour. Muna’s lyrics and public statements quickly led to their become a symbol of queer acceptance. The members of the band publicly identify as queer, and their songs explicitly handle themes of acceptanece and inclusiveness in the queer community. Both Muna and Phoebe have become strong and vocal allies for LGBTQ+ rights movements. The band wished fans a happy Pride Month several times. Fans waved rainbow flags and screamed every time she mentioned gay, trans, or queer rights issues.
Muna playing at Prospect Park, Photograph by David Reichmann
Muna opened each of the three nights with a powerhouse set, their signature uplifting beats, and an entranced audience who sang along with every track. Some fan favorites included, “Number One Fan” and “I Know a Place.” Katie mentioned Muna would be releasing a new album, releasing the week following the show, and they included a song from the album in their set.
Muna playing at Prospect Park, Photograph by David Reichmann
Throughout Muna’s set each night, Phoebe could be spotted beside the stage dancing and beaming as Muna worked the audience into an elated state. Each night they ended their set by inviting Phoebe onstage to join them for their single, “Silk Chiffon.” The audience seemed to have been waiting for this, and frontwoman Katie Gavin even joked, “I think you know what song this is.” The audience danced, sang, and screamed each word.
Muna and Phoebe Bridgers singing “Silk Chiffon” at Prospect Park, Photograph by David Reichmann
Phoebe had teased a secret special guest for the final night of her US tour at Forest Hills Stadium. Although rumors had spread regarding which artist would be featured, Lucy Dacus was announced as the guest on the day of the show. She and her full band came onstage after Muna’s set to play a packed setlist including top tracks, “Brando,” “Night Shift,” and “Hot & Heavy,” which was recently featured as a music video at Tribeca Film Festival.
Lucy Dacus playing at Forest Hills Stadium, Photograph by David Reichmann
Lucy shed some tears during her performance of “Thumbs,” a tragic and sorrowful song telling the story of observing a lover’s interaction with an estranged father. The song features difficult themes, and many in the audience wiped tears and sobbed as she played. The entire crowd screamed the lyric, “You don’t owe him shit” as the verse played. Lucy joked at the end of the song, “Wow, we’re crying already. It’s been a while since this has happened.” The crowd not only chuckled, but their cheers surged in loving support of Lucy. Phoebe observed Lucy’s set from the sidestage, smiling, crying, and laughing along with the audience.
Phoebe Bridgers observing from sidestage at Forest Hills Stadium, Photograph by David Reichmann
Lucy invited Phoebe and Muna onstage with their bandmates for a singalong rendition of “Going Going Gone.” Throughout the song, Phoebe held onto and danced with her pug Maxine. Some fans held handmade signs made out just for Maxine, and several pointed and cheered specifically for the dog. Maxine certainly had her day in the spotlight.
Lucy Dacus playing “Going Going Gone” with Phoebe Bridgers at Forest Hills Stadium, Photograph by David Reichmann
Phoebe took the stage each night to immense applause. The instant her silhouette began to shine through the backlight, the crowd starting cheering and screaming in delight. Phoebe’s staging, lighting, and set-lists for each of the three nights featured pristine production and popup-storybook-themed visuals to match the story and progression of each track.
Phoebe Bridgers taking the stage at Prospect Park, Photograph by David Reichmann
At a few points on the first and third nights, one or two crowd members experienced brief medical emergencies. Phoebe immediately paused the show, called for EMTs to assist, and waited until she got a thumbs up from those affected before continuing the show. She also paused several times each night between songs to instruct staff to pass out water bottles, asking, “Does anyone need water? Can we pass around a case of water for anyone who needs it?”
During her Forest Hills Stadium show Phoebe told the crowd, “this is officially the biggest show I’ve ever played.” Because this was the last show on her US tour, she thanked her crew from a printed list. She joked that the list was “arranged by astrological sign.” She went through each sign, occasionally joking about which signs were most common among her crew, and thanked every member of her crew by name, including her truck drivers, managers, techs, and her dog’s nanny.
Phoebe Bridgers thanking her crew at Forest Hills Stadium, Photograph by David Reichmann
She ended each night with an encore performance of a fan request. On the second night at Prospect Park, she ended the show with a solo acoustic rendition of Boygenius track, “Me and My Dog.”
Phoebe Bridgers at Prospect Park silhouetted by moon, Photograph by David Reichmann
At the Forest Hills Stadium show, Lucy joined Phoebe onstage to play “Graceland Too” and ”I Know the End.” During the latter song, Phoebe encouraged fans to “lose their voices” if they can, during the climax of the song. Phoebe, Lucy, and the entire stadium screamed at the top of their lungs to cap off Phoebe’s epic set. She thanked the crowd, Lucy, and Muna, and walked offstage to thunderous applause.
Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus playing “I Know the End” at Forest Hills Stadium, Photograph by David Reichmann
After a brief break, she came back onstage for her encore. Unaccompanied by her bandmates, Phoebe played a solo acoustic rendition of “Waiting Room.” She told the crowd, “I wrote this as a teenager. I used to think it was corny, but now I feel like it’s just sincere.” The crowd cheered and listened intently to what would be the final performance for Phoebe’s incredible US tour and three night run in New York.
Phoebe Bridgers playing at Prospect Park, Photograph by David Reichmann
Phoebe’s World tour is now underway, starting with dates in the UK and Europe. Her critically acclaimed full-length record, “Punisher,” celebrated two years since its release the following day of the Forest Hills show. You can listen to Phoebe Bridgers’ catalog here, as well as Lucy Dacus’s music here. Muna’s new album will be available to stream here upon its release on June 24, 2022. Check out our full gallery below.
Muna and Phoebe Bridgers singing “Silk Chiffon” at Prospect ParkLucy Dacus playing surprise set at Forest Hills Stadiu,Lucy Dacus singing Going Going Gone with Phoebe Bridgers and MunaPhoebe Bridgers with dog Maxine singing with Lucy DacusPhoebe Bridgers sidestage watching Lucy Dacus performFans waiting in line at Prospect ParkFans queueing up at Forest Hills StadiumPhoebe Bridgers MerchandiseFans holding signsFans dancing at sunsetFans interacting with artistPhoebe walking onstage at Prospect ParkPhotography by David Reichmann
Celebrating its 11th anniversary, Governors Ball Music Festival took over Flushing, Queens for the weekend of June 10-12, 2022. Returning to Citi Field for a second year, the lineup featured headliners Kid Cudi, Halsey, and J. Cole, as well as a slew of other talented acts across three stages. NYS Music contributors David Reichmann and Joseph Buscarello were on the grounds covering the three day event. Full festival coverage and photo gallery below.
Governors Ball in a Nutshell – Iconic Festival Returns to Citi Field
Each year fans are treated to performances by some of the biggest names in music. The 2021 Festival was headlined by Billie Eilish, A$AP Rocky, and Post Malone while other notable acts from included, Rüfüs Du Sol, Future Islands, J Balvin, Megan Thee Stallion, Phoebe Bridgers, and Carly Rae Jepsen. Before the pandemic, Governors Ball was always held on Randall’s Island. It was moved to Citi Field for the first time last year, following 2020’s pandemic-related cancellation. The new festival location offers fans easier accessibility via mass transit; a welcome change for those familiar with traveling to and from the old location.
This year’s production boasted a three-stage setup in the parking lot of Citi Field, dozens of local food and drink vendors, smaller experiential booths, lounge areas, and a space for intimate acoustic sets from artists on the bill. Governors Ball has always highlighted diverse local food vendors that represent the melting pot of New York City. NYC born and family-owned Doughnuttery was at the festival this year serving their iconic, coarsely sugared mini doughnuts and cold brew coffee.
Performances encompassed a wide range of genres across the festival’s three stages, some highlights including: Black Pumas, Jack Harlow, Channel Tres, Flume, Joji, Chelsea Cutler, Playboi Carti, Clairo, Japanese Breakfast and 100 Gecs.
This year’s festival started strong, with a warm and sunny Friday leading up to Grammy Award-winning headliner Kid Cudi’s main stage performance. Fans traveled from both near and far to come to the festival, with one fan telling staff contributor David Reichmann, “I came in from Chicago for the weekend today! I asked around, ‘What’s there to do for a weekend in New York City?’ I saw a post about the festival and bought my ticket!” Other fans came from throughout the Tristate Area and beyond, representing the typical “melting pot” experience New York is known for. The first day ran smoothly, and fans enjoyed dozens of their favorite artists during this action packed weekend event.
Crowd at Governors Ball at Citi Field, Photograph by David Reichmann
Earlier in the day on Friday, the mainstage was dominated by indie rock. Plastic Picnic opened the day, followed by Julia Wolf, New York City native Samia, and Beabadoobee with her indie pop stylings. Over on the GoPuff Stage, punk bands Ultra Q and Aly & AJ kicked off the day before the stage transitioned over to hip-hop and EDM with Channel Tres, Skepta, and Louis The Child. Experimental rap dominated the Bacardí Stage with Coi Leray, Paris Texas and JPEGMAFIA.
About a week before the festival began, Migos announced they would no longer perform and were replaced by Lil’ Wayne. Only a few hours before his set, the festival announced that Weezy would not make it due to “flight delays” and would be replaced by Harlem native A$AP Ferg. Joking with the crowd during his set, A$AP Ferg said he was on his couch when Governors Ball called, asking him to save the day. He did not miss a beat, delivering a fiery performance to a packed crowd eagerly awaiting Kid Cudi.
Black Pumas are a soul and psychedelic rock band from Austin, Texas. The group found immediate, worldwide success with their self-titled debut EP released back in 2019. The band has since won three Grammys, including ‘Best New Artist’ in 2020, and ‘Best Rock Album’ in 2022. Only a couple days after their mainstage set at Governors Ball, the group are heading out on a lengthy European tour. Barely a minute into their show, frontman Eric Burton leapt from the very tall stage into the pit, posed for the cameras, and walked the center aisle while singing and greeting fans from the front all the way to the back of the crowd. The future is extremely bright for Black Pumas, whose sophomore record will be one of the most highly anticipated rock albums when it comes to be.
The Bacardi Stage hosted Between Friends, Paris Texas, and Coi Leray before JPEGMAFIA went on to deliver a powerful set. The crowd went wild for each track in his set, and he interacted with them frequently. He joked before playing his song, “BALD!” that he sees “lots of beautiful heads of hair,” but “this one is for the bald” people in the audience. New York founded electronic duo The Knocks delivered the next hour of music before Jack Harlow closed out that day for the stage with massive pyrotechnics.
Jack Harlow at Governors Ball, Photograph by David Reichmann
Channel Tres Continues Meteoric Rise
Hip-hop and house music have a long history of coming together to create dance floor anthems spanning different generations. Channel Tres leverages that relationship and creates a hard-hitting yet cool and laid back sound. Thunderous bass and house beats provide the backdrop for his equable vocal delivery, all while dancing flanked by a crew of backup dancers. Channel Tres has collaborated on songs with the likes of JPEGMAFIA, Tyler, The Creator, Tinashe, and Robyn all while climbing the ranks and becoming more and more popular with each new song he releases.
As the daylight began to fade leading up Kid Cudi’s mainstage set, fans at the Gopuff Stage were treated to a special sunset. The sky glowed red, pink, and orange over the festival as Louis the Child played and fans reveled in both the increasing prominence of the light show and the gorgeous sunset. Fans still enjoyed a few more hours of music even after night fell, but this picturesque sunset came as the perfect way to punctuate a great first day of Governors Ball Music Festival 2022.
Louis The Child Sunset Set, Governors Ball. Photo by Joseph Buscarello
Kid Cudi Plays Classic Hits, A New Single, And A Live Debut
Although there were plenty of great acts spread across the three stages, diehard Kid Cudi fans waited by the mainstage for nearly the entire day, to secure a spot as close to the front as possible. With frequent hydration reminders displayed between sets on the stage screens, security and paramedics onsite worked constantly to distribute free water throughout the festival grounds, focusing on fans who were stuck waiting at the very front of the crowds. Kid Cudi closed out the first night with a powerhouse performance of tracks spanning his expansive Grammy Award Winning, seven-album catalog. His set featured a number of hit singles, deep cuts, pyrotechnic fireballs, and waves of emotion from his devoted fans in attendance.
Kid Cudi has just announced the premiere date for his new Netflix animated series Entergalactic. The show follows the story of a young artist (voiced by Cudi) as he finds love and success in New York City. He also played the new single “Do What I Want,” which saw its official release earlier that day and serves as the lead single for the album accompanying the series. Entergalactic premieres on Netflix later this year on September 30th; no official release date for the album has been set.
His setlist included fan favorite tracks, “Memories (David Guetta cover),” “Mr. Rager,” and “Surfin’.” Cudi brought out King Chip (a.k.a. Chip Tha Rapper) mid-set to join him for a performance of their track, “Just What I Am.” Cudi also treated fans to the live debut of his Travis Scott collaboration “THE SCOTTS.” Kid Cudi closed out the first night of the festival by playing, “Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare) – Steve Aoki Remix.” You can Listen to his latest single here.
Kid Cudi walked off-stage to a thunderous applause and a fully-satiated fanbase. Now that Governors Ball takes place in the heart of Flushing, fans were able to exit the grounds and hop on the subways, buses and ride shares that awaited them. Local food trucks and vendors were eagerly awaiting the departing crowd, offering an authentic array of the rich Latin food from the neighborhood.
Saturday – Halsey Can’t Resist Playing “Running Up That Hill,” Debuts New Single
The second day of the festival started strong, with another sunny day and some weather reports of minor scattered showers and thunderstorms. Festival staff were on alert in the event of a sudden storm, to maintain crowd safety and all costs, but thankfully only a few light raindrops dared to rain on the festival goers. And the second day went off without a hitch, with numerous excellent acts leading up to Halsey’s incredible and jaw-dropping headlining performance.
The Mainstage featured standout acts, Benee, Tove Lo, and Still Woozy. Tove Lo wished the audience a happy Pride Month during her set, and played a number of her hit tracks, including “Bikini Porn” and “Habits (Stay High)”
There is little NBA legend Shaquille O’Neil is not involved in after retiring from basketball. The CEO of Papa John’s and ubiquitous spokesperson has cultivated a second life and a cult following as a dubstep producer and DJ. DJ Diesel just released “Welcome To The Playhouse,” a collaboration with EDM giant Steve Aoiki, and is curating (and headlining) two weekends of Shaq’s Bass All Stars which features surging names in the underground bass music scene.
It’s hard for a 7 foot NBA hall of famer not to cast a big presence in everyday life, but behind the decks at Governors Ball, DJ Diesel took on an even larger persona with his hard hitting musical style and frequent cries of “where’s my mosh pit” into the microphone. Drawing one of the largest crowds of the weekend on the second stage, DJ Diesel dropped a wide palate of crowd pleasing favorites and underground bangers. Jerseys from the Lakers, Heat, and Magic littered the crowd, and many were brought onto stage for Shaq to sign and return to his fans.
Roddy Ricch had been scheduled to perform on Saturday, but apparently was forced to cancel at the last minute. A few minutes before he was scheduled to begin his set, a message displayed on the screens alerting the crowd of the cancellation. There was a momentary upset among the crowd, but they picked up from their spots and went on to enjoy the other upcoming sets, Joji, Ashnikko, and Flume. Flume put on an amazing set, with stunning visuals and lighting as the sun went down. Towards the latter half of his set, he brought Tove Lo onstage to join him for a song. The crowd loved it.
Halsey took the stage to a packed crowd of fans who had waited for hours to get the best possible spot. During her set, she mentioned having attended Governors Ball 8 years ago, on the day she signed her record label deal. She told the audience how much of an impact that moment had on her life, signing the deal with her Governors Ball wristband on.
Halsey debuted a new single, “So Good” towards the end of her set. As she began to wrap up, she thanked the crowd again and began a cover of the trending Kate Bush song, “Running Up That Hill.” The song recently made it to the top of the charts for the first time in decades thanks to its inclusion in Netflix’s fourth season of Stranger Things. At the end of the song, she laughed and said, “I couldn’t resist.”
She ended the set with her powerhouse single, “I Am Not a Woman, I’m a God.” Fans once again exited the festival in an excited buzz, talking with friends about the long and full day of performances. With the second festival day over, only one more day remained. And fans would have to savor it. Weather reports looked mixed, and there was no telling whether New York would have clear skies or daylong thunderstorms for Sunday. Fans would just have to wait until the morning to find out.
Sunday – J. Cole and Playboi Carti Close Out Governors Ball with a Bang
Despite some ominous weather reports and a passing storm overnight, fans enjoyed mostly sunny weather and moderate heat for the festival’s final day. J. Cole and Playboi Carti were set to close out the festival, with fans in eager anticipation of what was to come on the last day of 2022’s Governors Ball Music Festival. Although many fans complained of sore feet, lack of sleep, or responsibilities they had been shirking all weekend, they all did so with gleeful smiles and laughs.
Clairo’s mainstage set featured some technical issues with her microphone, but she played it off very well with her charming laugh and smile, to huge applause from the audience. The rest of her set went off smoothly, with fans packed to the front of the barricades, singing along for every song. She apologized to fans for the technical difficulties as she exited the stage, but the audience didn’t seem to mind, cheering and thanking her for the moving set.
Clairo checking her mic at Governors Ball, Photograph by David Reichmann
JID Takes One for the Team, Breaks Wrist Onstage
Atlanta-born rapper JID filled a mid-day slot on the main stage on Sunday. At this point in the day, fans were packing into the main stage grounds to claim their spot for J. Cole. JID is a relative newcomer to the scene, releasing his debut LP The Never Story back in 2017, but the fans who were there to see him were quite familiar with his music and rapped along with him throughout his set. Towards the end of his set, he brought out Kenny Mason for an energetic performance of fan-favorite “Stick.” Unfortunately, JID fell and fractured his wrist while moshing onstage during his performance, but continued on despite the minor injury. It wasn’t made clear the extent of the injury until he was brought onstage for a guest spot during J. Cole’s performance where he admitted he “went too hard, don’t be like me!”
JID also treated the Governors Ball crowd to the live debut of his just released new single, “29 Freestyle.” JID’s flow is as cohesive and vibrant as ever on the new song, which is being teased as a lead up to a new album, The Forever Story. The single and music video were officially released Friday, June 17th.
Japanese Breakfast Returns to Citi Field – the “Scene of the Crime”
Twice-Grammy-Nominated artist and New York Times Bestselling author of Crying in H Mart, Michelle Zauner and her band performed to a dedicated audience of her most hardcore fans. Japanese Breakfast had played Governors Ball once before, and a huge crowd of adoring fans came to their set to cheer and sing along through nearly every song. “I didn’t know if you would all come today,” Michelle told the crowd, “but you came through, New York. As you always do.”
Japanese Breakfast at Governors Ball, Photograph by David Reichmann
Michelle threw out the first pitch at Citi Field just a few weeks prior. She joked, “We’re from Philly […] I know I am returning to the scene of the crime, where I threw out the first pitch here for the Mets.” Japanese breakfast recently featured on SNL as the final music guest of the year for season 47. They also released a two-song EP for Spotify Singles this year, featuring a cover of Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love” and an acoustic rendition of Japanese Breakfasts’ hit single, “Be Sweet.” During their set, a newly-turned fan was overheard saying, “Wow, they’re amazing. This is amazing, I have to check them out later.”
Japanese Breakfast at Governors Ball, Photograph by David Reichmann
Playboi Carti Moves the Earth
Playing opposite J. Cole on the GoPuff Stage, Playboi Carti brought his signature staging and rap style and offered a fiery closing to the weekend. Some fans lamented having to choose between the J. Cole and Playboi Carti, but both acts drew impressively large crowds. Playboi Carti spent a good portion of the show rapping from atop a tall pyramid while a singular guitar player patrolled the stage. Featuring constant pyrotechnics and a rabid, near heavy metal-like performance, the set was one of the most chaotic and in-your-face moments of the weekend. Carti’s fans were raging, causing a noticeable bounce in the parking lot of Citi Field while screaming along to the lyrics.
J. Cole took the mainstage for the final performance of the festival’s 2022 year. He came out swinging, starting the opening track, “95 South” from his latest LP, “The Off Season” without wasting a second to introduce himself or greet the crowd, which he only took the time to do before moving into his next song, “Amari.” The crowd let out massive cheers and their dancing literally shook the ground beneath their feet throughout the set. He also included classic tracks “G.O.M.D.,” “Wet Dreamz,” and “No Role Modelz” in his expansive setlist.
J. Cole took on a more wistful tone between songs, pausing for a moment to listen to the sound of a nearby passing 7 train. He then talked about living in Queens writing songs “just down the street from here,” listening to the sounds of the trains while looking out his window. He thanked the audience and said, “New York is like a second home to me.”
J. Cole and JID at Governors Ball, Photograph by David Reichmann
JID and Kenny Mason joined J. Cole on stage to perform “Stick.” Before they started, JID told the crowd, “I want you to be safe out there.” He held up his hand, wrapped in bandages, and said, “I broke my hand earlier during my set because I was raging too hard. Don’t be like me.” He asked the crowd if they felt comfortable with some mosh pits, and told any fans who weren’t comfortable or interested to move back from the pits before they began. “I see fun. I see mosh pits. I see safety.” He held up his hand one more time, “Listen, I’m serious, don’t be like me. Have fun.” The crowd obliged, and a massive wave of movement took over the excited crowd. The three artists flew around the stage.
J. Cole at Governors Ball with JID and Kenny Mason, Photograph by David Reichmann
J. Cole played a few more songs before walking off to an instrumental version of “Hunger on Hillside.” He thanked the audience once more as he walked off. As the fun of the weekend came to a close, fans shuffled off from Citi Field in a happy daze of exhaustion and excitement. They told stories of their day to each other as they found their way to the buses, cars, trains, and bikes that would see them home. Although each fan had their own unique experience, with their own mix of artists and activities, they all shared in this singular one moment that was Governors Ball Music Festival 2022.
Another year of the Governors Ball music Festival has come and gone. Fans were treated to dozens of massive acts who may not typically share a stage together, and were – hopefully – exposed to plenty of new styles, genres, and artists as a result. Governors Ball has and always will be a definitive New York experience, and although New York concert-goers may have to wait another year for the upcoming 12th installment of the festival in 2023, music fans in the Tristate area will have plenty of great options until then. Summer concerts and festivals continue strong in New York City, with Rolling Loud Music Festival, Central Park’s Summerstage Concert Series, and Celebrate Brooklyn’s Summer Concert Series just to name a few.
You can listen to all artists mentioned wherever music is streamed, and see the full photo Gallery featuring coverage from David Reichmann and Joseph Buscarello below.
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Future Islands played a sold-out three night run at Brooklyn Steel over June 2-4, with support from legendary funk-rock band, ESG. Fans were treated to the driving beats, energetic sets, and the nonstop thrills that have made Future Islands a breakout success.
Future Islands at Brooklyn Steel, Photographed by David Reichmann
Opening for Future Islands, ESG brought the exact energy to their funk-rock set you would expect from a band opening for the famously-animated Future Islands. ESG interacted with the crowd with laughter and enthusiasm. At one point bassist Nicole stopped the show and excitedly asked the crowd, “Is your mom as cool as our mom?” pointing to her mother and frontwoman, Renee Scroggins. The crowd raved throughout their sets, with palpable energy rising as they closed out each night’s set.
Future Islands took the stage each night to wild applause. Frontman Samuel Herring briefly thanked the opening band before declaring, “I’m not going to do too much talking. Let’s shut up and do it.” Samuel brought his trademark highly-animated style of performance that made the band a viral sensation following their network television debut of “Seasons (Waiting on You)” on David Letterman, which would go on to become the most viewed YouTube video in Letterman’s history. The entire crowd was jumping off the floor before the band’s second song concluded. Covered in a thick layer of sweat within minutes, Samuel joked, “It’s getting slippery up here!”
Future Islands at Brooklyn Steel, Photographed by David Reichmann
After Future Island’s third song finished (traditionally when photographers must exit the press pit), Samuel fist bumped a few of the photographers for their enthusiastic capturing of his performance. A rare show of class, as photographers are usually ignored by the talent. But in that brief moment, Sammuel showed a clear respect to the whole crew involved in bringing the show to life. He took every opportunity to interact with the crowd and photographers, leading to a dynamic and powerful show that was a joy to both attend and cover.
Each track on their setlist featured Samuel jumping, crouching, and contorting himself with operatic movement. Their set included several fan favorites, including “Peach,” “Plastic Beach,” “Balance,” “Like the Moon,” and their latest single, “King of Sweden.”
“We are meant to experience these things and remember them,” Samuel told the crowd before introducing “Lighthouse” with the story of the song’s inspiration. He told a heartfelt story of a friend who had lifted him from a dark time, and how he always thinks of them when performing this song.
Future Islands at Brooklyn Steel, Photographed by David Reichmann
Samuel performed high kicks, full body stage dives, locked his piercing eyes with several audience members, and put what seemed like 110% of his efforts into every second of the show. The band played with the same energy, pushing driving beats and deep synths. Each band mate brought something unique to the table. As far as frontmen go, some artists steal the show and some artists are the show — Samuel Herring is undoubtedly a frontman who is the show. And he performs as much for the back row as the front.
Future Islands at Brooklyn Steel, Photographed by David Reichmann
Before introducing their breakout hit, “Seasons (Waiting On You),” Samuel told the crowd, “This song is for people waiting on that special someone, I hope that someone is next to you tonight… if they’re not here that’s okay too. Don’t you waste too much time, now!” The crowd cheered and danced as the song played, reveling in Samuel’s all-out performance.
They closed the first night with “Little Dreamer.” Samuel told a tear jerking story of an old love and a specific room this song always brings him back to. He invited the crowd to remember painful moments throughout their lives, and never forget the most difficult times. “This is a dream. We’ve worked so hard for years to be here. This is a song we’ve been singing for 13 years.”
Future Islands at Brooklyn Steel, Photographed by David Reichmann
Future Islands’ sold out, three night run featured incredible setlists, touching and personal anecdotes from frontman Sammuel Herring, and ESG as the perfect opening act.
Future Islands is scheduled to play one more North American tour date in July, before embarking on their European tour in August. You can listen to Future Islands’ latest single and album here. You can also check out ESG’s music here.
Future Islands and ESG at Brooklyn Steel, Photographed by David Reichmann
Spoon finally played their twice-delayed Hammerstein Ballroom show on Friday, May 6 with support from Margaret Glaspy. Fans came in shaking off their umbrellas and raincoats, damp from the rainy Friday night, but buzzing as the venue filled up.
Spoon at Hammerstein Ballroom, photographed by David Reichmann
The lights dimmed before Margaret Glaspy took the stage to cheers and smiles. Fans listened, enraptured, as she played through her set.
Margaret Glaspy at Hammerstein Ballroom, photographed by David Reichmann
Spoon played an energetic and jam-packed 16 song setlist. Their set included some personal and fan favorites, “The Underdog” and “I Turn My Camera On” as well as several tracks off their latest album, “Lucifer on the Sofa.” They ended their main set with “Wild.” They left the stage, the lights dimmed again, and the crowd cheered for more.
Spoon at Hammerstein Ballroom, photographed by David Reichmann
The lights finally came back on, and Spoon started their encore with a cover of John Lennon’s “Isolation.” Then they played “The Mystery Zone.” Next they brought Margaret Glaspy on stage for a cover of Richard & Linda Thompson’s “I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight.”
Finally, Wolf Parade’s Dan Boekner joined Spoon onstage to a boom of cheers and applause for a cover of Wolf Parade’s “Modern World.” He helped Spoon conclude the night with “Rent I Pay.” They thanked the audience and exited to cheers.
https://youtu.be/IodZaCWs_V4
Spoon & Dan Boekner, video: Ironchefwong on YouTube
Follow Spoon’s ongoing tour and listen to their latest album, Lucifer on the Sofa. Check out Margaret Glaspy’s music and listen to Wolf Parade here.
Indigo De Souza played two sold out nights at Music Hall of Williamsburg last week on Thursday, April 21 and Sunday, April 24. Originally scheduled for January, the shows were postponed due to the pandemic surging in New York City at the time. She played with support from Friendship and Horse Jumper of Love.
Indigo De Souza at Music Hall of Williamsburg, photographed by David Reichmann
You can listen to Indigo De Souza’s latest full-length LP here, and follow Indigo’s ongoing North American Tour here. She will return to New York during her upcoming fall tour. You can listen to Horse Jumper of Love‘s music here and Friendship’s music here.
