2023 Govenor's Ball Review
Is it still worth all the hassle?
Originally, I was supposed to only to the Friday date of Gov Ball but thanks for unforeseen circumstances I got to go on Sunday as well! This is my second year going to Gov Ball. The first time was in 2021 when it was in the Citi Field parking lot. Keep reading to hear all of the things I liked and all of the things that definitely need to change next year. I will be reviewing the entire experience not just the acts so you can see if you would want to go for next year or just festivals in general! Alight, let’s get into it.
P.S. I will be reviewing The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes this week so be on the lookout for that!
The Venue
One thing I did like was that this year it actually felt like a real festival. It was in Corona Park in Flushing, Queens. The grass and trees made it feel much more like a real festival and not a state county fair. The 2021 Gov Ball was a mess for that reason alone. It was hot as hell and the concrete did not help the heat. This year there were plenty of places to cool off in the shade throughout the park. As expected the worst part was definitely entering and leaving the festival. However, nothing was longer than the walk into the festival on the first day. IDK what it was but I felt like I was walking forever. The only thing that I didn’t like was that in certain areas there was a lot of dirt so when everyone was walking around there was like clouds of dust in the air and it was not cute.
Security
The worst part of this entire festival was the security. I am not sure if Joe and Kamala’s secret service came out and scared the shit out of them but they were acting like this was the fucking Inauguration. First they took my (weed) vape. Which I didn’t understand because its a fucking park but okay. Shout out to this girl Tamar who saw how distressed we were about them taking our vapes and literally rolled us a J and gave us some weed. I’m convinced you were an angel sent to us and I will never forget that.
Then when we were trying to leave the 21+ lounge they were being so anal about us leaving with drinks as if we cant go buy drinks that were in the food court area???? They also told me to smile when I was walking in which is so annoying and sexist. They also made a comment about me having a water bottle which is quite literally just allowed. I also heard that they confiscated some girls old ass digital camera because it is an “audio/video recording device.” My brothers in Christ, iPhones are audio and video recording devices so are you going to take those too? That rule is for people who aren’t media and are bringing whole ass tripods and cameras with detachable lenses NOT 2007 Nikon cameras. They were just doing entirely too much the entire time and I did not understand why. Especially since compared to other festivals honestly the mischievous energy at this one was pretty tame.
The Food
I would say that the food was pretty standard for a normal festival. As expected, it was expensive as hell. On Friday I got some BBQ jackfruit nachos that were mid. On Sunday I got pizza and “Big” mozzarella sticks (Big Mozz changed their Mozzarella sticks and you aren’t slick.) Both were overpriced but worth it for how full I felt afterwards. We also went around and got some free things from the vendors. We got a Free Hagen Das butter cookie cone that was honestly so good ( I got strawberry.) I would love if they came in a non-dairy flavor as well. We got free M&Ms and Hot Honey UTZ chips that were so good. All were great and helped keep me going throughout the day. My advice for any festival is to eat before you go and to expect to spend at least $20 on each meal that you get because that is the average price of everything. Also bring a water bottle because there is free water everywhere and what the fuck I look like spending $10 for lemonade? BFFR.
The Crowd
Much like some other concerts I’ve gone to recently, the crowd was mostly white annoying teenagers. There was a 21+ lounge that we went into on Friday and when I tell you it was bare. It was insane. It was like 5pm which is prime festival hours. The kids simply outnumbered the adults. The crowds for each of the shows were honestly fine. Nothing too annoying. I only got super close for HAIM so generally there really wasn’t any like pushing or anything. If anyone was in my way, most times I could just move over and still see. I wore sneakers every day and I am 5’4 and I would say I could see the artist for every show I saw. That was really nice and unexpected. Last time since it was in the parking lot and it was all on one level you couldn’t really see if you were closer to the stage ironically. The park had naturally different levels so it made it easier to move around and get a good spot.
The Acts
Haim
I bought a ticket to Gov Ball because when HAIM sold out MSG last year I got Covid (for the first and only time) and had to miss their show. That was literally the worst day of the year last year and one of the worst ones of my life if i’m being real. I spent so much fucking money and didn’t get any of it back. I would say that I am glad I went to this show but I do wish it was longer.
The scheduler for Gov Ball honestly fucked HAIM over because Ice Spice was at the same time as their set and most people went to her show. It was 6:30 and there was like no one there. I went early to get a good spot anyways but we could have been like 2nd row if we wanted to be. We got a cute spot near the middle railing and made eye contact with Alana a couple of times1. They started their set 12 minutes late which was probably to give the girls time to come and fill out the crowd more. However, because they did that, we didn’t get to hear Don’t Wanna or 3am which was a bummer. Don’t Wanna is like top 3 song on WIMPIII for me. Don’t ask me to actually rank them I can’t.
All of that being said the show was incredible as always. All 3 of them are single and idk what Ariel did but he pissed Danielle the fuck off because she was saying “fuck no” and other off handed things during the show. Mama was mad!!! That’s okay! Danielle all you gotta tell me is the time and place and I will fuck him up for you do not worry.
My favorite song to hear was Gasoline. Alana and Este were having some funny banter about who was the favorite and Danielle comes in after a while and is like “well I think it’s time for the middle child to say something.” and starts drumming and then she says “because this is my favorite fucking song of the entire set.” After Gasoline she comes back to the mic and says that she doesn’t even have to say anything and she’s the favorite. Which is true! Let the record show that my actual favorite member (if I had to pick) is Este.
My other favorite was Summer Girl. I personally would classify the bridge of this song as rapping. Therefore, Danielle Haim is my favorite rapper lol. I could go on and on about these bitches but all I have to say is that I hope that they add more songs from Something To Tell you because the stans want it!! Not just me! I talked to another Haim stan that I met and they said the same thing before I did!!! Stop paying that album dust girls! Please! Other than that I loved it and will continue to see these girls any time they come to NYC. They also mentioned that they want to move here and if they do move here then I will consider postponing my inevitable move from NYC so I can be best friends with them.
Lizzo
Listen, I’m gonna keep it real. I honestly would have been good with leaving after HAIM. Anything after them (including Sunday) was just added value in my eyes. Lizzo was exactly what I expected her to be. The funniest part was when she played Rumors and then had a face time of Cardi B that was out of sync with the audio the entire time. I literally had tears in my eyes that was so funny. Funny as in a mess because that was so bad girl. She also had this visual that made her look like George Lopez at the end of Sharkboy and Lavagirl IYKYK.
Her voice was amazing as always and had great energy, stage design, and live arrangements of her songs! It’s just……….the songs themselves. Lizzo’s music has gotten more……………………………………..for a certain audience. I just know that audience just isn’t me. I miss the Lizzo that made Phone (only having phone as an interlude is a crime), Fitness, Coconut Oil, etc. I really didn’t want to do my hair toss and check my nails again. Her set was cute but I sat down during her Everybody is Gay song and we left during About Damn Time. I love you Lizzo but I just don’t care about this album sorry girl. I tried. You’ll get me next time! I also have to say the first time I saw HAIM in 2018 at Radio City Lizzo was the opener and now its flipped and idk how I feel about that.
Maude Latour
If you know Maude she is a cute little indie white girl and her set was fun! She had a respectable crowd and most people were engaged! I really like her songs and I loved her outfit. I would describe her music as if Lorde had a little bit of a higher voice and dressed like a Gen Z girl. Like she went to NYU and has this one song Walk Backwards that was a hit in the H&M I used to work at. That’s not even shade Zara Larsson also had some H&M hits and y’all know I love her. I would recommend her music though she’s cute! She’s also Bi so heyyyy sister!
PinkPantheress
Y’all know I give nicknames to people. I was calling her Pinky all day lmfao. I do have to say that she was on the main Gov Ball stage and her crowd was bigger than Lizzos and it was 3pm. Most of the daytime sets usually don’t have that many people. I was joking at every set that whoever I was seeing was Beyoncé but she really was Beyoncé. I said that and some white boy turns around and is like “yes she is the Beyoncé of our generation!” and I had to correct him really quick because Beyoncé is the Beyoncé of our generation but his heart was in the right place.
Anyway I love Pinky and her set was so fun! The big question that everyone was wondering was if she was going to bring out Ice Spice and she did not. I don’t know what Ice Spice was doing, but she said she tried to get Willow to come so I assume she also tried to get Ice Spice. I was also wondering how she was going to fill a 45 min set when her essentials playlist on apple music is 29 minutes. But somehow she did it! She had her purse with her but she did sat it down at some point and that made me nervous but she assured us that it was just at the DJ booth. She did mention that it was really hot and I think that her entire early 2000s look would be complete if she had a little fan like I had all weekend. I love Pinky and am so happy that she has rose to fame so quickly. I truly thought she was going to be an underground artist for so long but nope Selena had other plans.
Lil Nas X
Truthfully, I was going to be fine if I missed Lil Nas X’s show because I was really worried about getting a good spot for Kendrick Lamar. However, I did end up seeing most of his set and it was honestly pretty good! He did have some technical difficulties at the beginning of his first song (Montero (Call me by your name)) and he mentioned that he was having a terrible day and that he wanted to go home. He is human so I understand him being off his game. However, I do appreciate that he still continued with the show because not all the girls do that! It is pride after all! That being said given all the circumstances I did feel like he did the best he could! He had 2 costume changes that I saw and I loved both of them. His dancers really carried the show and were sooooooo good and so attractive. He also was dancinggggg!! I was so proud of him. I could tell he was really working on it! I saw him one other time at the 2019 VMAs when he did Panini and I just remembered that he had technical difficulties then too….We did end up leaving before we heard Industry Baby but I’ll live. The crowd was really big for him and even as people were leaving to get ready for Kendrick it was still really big. Hopefully I will see Lil Nas X on a day where he’s feeling better.
Kendrick Lamar
I was sooooooooo excited to see Kendrick Lamar!!! Kendrick Lamar is definitely my favorite male rapper. He feels like an uncle to me. I am not sure if that’s because one of my uncles names is Kendrick but whatever. I have never tried to buy tickets to one of his concerts though because of the sheer amount of white people that attend them. It is truly so off putting. However, I can confirm that EYE did not see any white people saying the N word but I am sure there were some doing it closer to the stage. I always wonder what white people connect to in his music. Like I know why me and other black people connect with his music but for these teenage white kids i’m like do you really understand the complexities and nuances in the songs that you’re singing???
We were kind of towards the back but we could see him and the stage pretty well. I was mostly excited to hear DNA, King Kunta, alright, moneytrees, Loyalty, and surprisingly family ties. Family ties grew on me this weekend as I was prepping for this concert. The first time I listened to it I didnt like it. He did end up brining out Baby Keem who I am pretty sure has just been touring with him. The entire concert was incredible and went by so fast. Even for the songs on Mr. Morale I was enjoying myself and will definitely be revisiting that album because live the songs went off.
I really loved his different backdrops and his dancers were cracking me up. I’m not sure if they meant to all look like Steve Lacy but I couldn’t stop thinking that during the set. It was truly incredible and was worth the stress of being around all those white people. Me and a couple black people made eye contact during a few songs and it was those little moments that really satisfied me. I do think that the energy would have been different if it was a mostly black crowd. I’m not sure if it was because we were towards the back but the energy seemed lower than I was expecting. I feel like if it was mostly black people the energy would have been on 110% the entire time. That being being said I am extremely grateful that I got to see the GOAT at least once in my life.
Overall
Overall, I would say that I had fun! Besides the security being annoying I think it could have gone a lot worse. Leaving each night wasn’t even that bad just very crowded. I brought this little collapsible seat thing each day and she was really the GOAT of the entire weekend. I could sit down literally whenever I want and it was the best coming back on the Subway when it was crowded and there were no seats. One of the best $30 I spent in a while.
The festival was over before 10 each night which I appreciated as someone who works 9-5. Lizzo and Kendrick both started early I think. I was worried about the distance between stages but even that wasn’t as bad as I was expecting. My main thing was the amount of kids. I know they would never make it 21+ but I would personally love that. It really just made me feel old. Like the kids that left after Kendrick did Humble. There was literally like a line of 30 teenagers that formed a line and left during Kendrick and I couldn’t help but think it was a field trip or something.
I think Gov Ball just made me feel old as fuck and idk I really feel like I am getting to old for this shit! and i’m in my early 20s! Like idk something about it was just weird lol. Sunday was definitely the busiest day. OH and the weirdest thing was that they sent out an email to all Friday ticket holders and said that all Friday ticket holders could now come on Saturday for FREE. That told me everything I needed to know about how many people bought tickets for Saturday……..I did hear that Odesza was good though. I only would have gone to see SYD, Amber Mark, and Rina Sawayama but I was simply too tired from Friday to do that. We’ll see what the lineup looks like next year to see if i’m going again but overall I would give Gov ball 23’ a toot!
At least that’s what I am choosing to believe
obsessed with the collapsible chair, i saw a lady on twitter with one at the beyonce concert in the shape of a purse so security let her bring it in 😭