SUNDAY, JUNE 8
‘Let’s just pray the massive hip hop line up on this day doesn’t encourage Interpol to whip out the hip hop mixtape catastrophe of 2013 that is ‘Everybody on My Dick Like They Supposed to Be’
Little Names: Don’t Miss…
Wild Belle
When: 2:15-3:00
Where: Big Apple Stage
Simplified Genre: ‘Psychedelic Rock Tinged Indie Pop’ — Spotify
Interesting Online Tidbit: The band consists of a brother sister duo, Elliott and Natalie Bergman
Sounds Like: Bohemian Girl’s Love Songs, stoned Natasha Bedingfield
Selling Point: Natalie Bergman’s sultry and strong voice paired with smooth jazz saxophone provides for refreshingly sweet summer love ballads. While Bergman sings about being scorned repeatedly by a lover and unrequited love, her voice doesn’t falter like other female vocalists trying to hammer out heartache via song. She remains strong and powerful throughout, and is also topped with swirling jazz saxophone, piano and snare drum, just adding vigor to her messages. This band has a seriously impressive amount of flair.
Skaters
When: 1:30-2:15
Where: Honda Stage
Simplified Genre: Indie Rock with a Raspy Throat, East Coast and Don’t You Forget It
Interesting Online Tidbit: Drummer Noah Rubin lived in Allston and is from Newton, Massachusetts
Sounds Like: Being Young in NYC (which coincidentally is almost the name of one of their songs)
Selling Point: In attempting to narrow down the google searches when searching for the band called Skaters, you attach ‘Skaters NYC’ to the end of their name and boom – you find them. The band doesn’t hail from the city itself, but seems to be obsessed with it – their debut album ‘Manhattan’ consists of a collection of indie rock ballads dedicated to the big apple itself. It’s really no brainer that their set on Sunday is going to be something special to look out for — or at least a time to be drunk and in New York City and sing about it, because honestly what’s more fun in New York than talking about being in New York?
AlunaGeorge
When: 3:45-4:45
Where: Gotham Tent
Simplified Genre: Electronic Pop with an R&B twist
Interesting Online Tidbit: Francis Noon, now known as Aluna Francis, first began singing in an electronic music act called ‘My Toys Like Me.’
Sounds Like: Female Pop Of The Future, She kinda sounds like a child but I’m turned on?
Selling Point: We first heard Aluna’s voice on ‘White Noise’ by Disclosure, and then AlunaGeorge debuted the ever so sexy ‘Body Music.’ Hailing from London, the duo represents with fresh over the pond electronic beats, with influences from reggae, R&B and dubstep. They’re sure to put on an alluring, bumpin, but most of all unique electronic set.
Big Names: Don’t Miss…
J.Cole
When: 4:45-5:45
Where: Honda Stage
Simplified Genre :R&B / Feel Good / Panty Dropper
Interesting Online Tidbit: J.Cole first started rapping at the age of 12. When he became more serious in his rapping career, he went under the stage name of ‘Therapist.’ Seems about right – you really gonna tell me this croner’s smooth voice isn’t straight therapeutic?
Sounds Like: R.Kelly meets Kendrick Lamar. Get down to ‘Work Out’ and ‘Crooked Smile’ with the same enthusiasm that you do for ‘Ignition’ and get none of the street cred damage of jamming to the music of an artist who peed on a girl.
Selling Point: J.Cole’s honeyed vocals and sharply spoken raps are brought to whole new heights in his live performance. I saw him at Rock The Bells ‘12 and can testify that he is a true performer – J.Cole stayed on beat, on key, and even brought out a piano and vocal solo. Don’t miss out on this fun, sexy and talented performer – even if rap music isn’t your thing, I’m sure J.Cole’s charismatic songs and smooth as silk style is bound to get a booty shake out of you.
Earl Sweatshirt / Tyler, The Creator
When: Earl: 3:00 – 3:45 | Tyler: 3:45-4:45
Where:Earl: Honda Stage | Tyler: Big Apple Stage
Simplified Genre: Punk ass Little Shit Rap, Satan’s First Hip Hop Mixtape
Interesting Online Tidbit: Uh….just google them if you really want to know.
Sounds Like: Catchy, stylistic hip hop production with hand over eyes vulgar rap lyrics over it, Trouble
Selling Point: Tyler and Earl were the two members of Odd Future that lured me into the upside down crossed on the foreheads of kitten cult of Odd Future. Despite how I disagree with their lyrics and antics, as artists these two are definitely unique, skilled rappers, and their sound embodies the swagged out bloody knuckled Supreme wearing New York Skate Scene. We at Allston Pudding know that Earl Sweatshirt puts on a goddamn show, and that was just given the small space of The Middle East. What will this young rap star do with a festival ground setting? I’ve never seen Tyler but hey, he was arrested for instigating a riot during his performance at SXSW. If you are prepared to unleash some animalistic mischief in the pit (be warned that Odd Future fans are really a breed of their own in there) and that’s your definition of fun (no judging, it’s mine) then you must get your butt there. And look at those set times. Could a badass live collaboration occur? Seems pretty likely…
The Bloody Beetroots (LIVE)
When: 5:45-6:45
Where: Gotham Tent
Simplified Genre: Old School Actually Good Electronic Music
Interesting Online Tidbit: The leader of the band goes by Sir Bob Cornelius Rifo. Sir Bob Cornelius Rifo actually began his musical roots as a classically trained musician. His actual identity remains anonymous, and the only hint we’ve been given to it thus far is the ‘1977’ he has tattooed across his chest, which is the year of his birth and the year that punk rock was born.
Sounds Like: Dark rousing and exciting electronica that’s not dubstep, The soundtrack to a Skins party, Untz untz untz
Selling Point: The Bloody Beetroots are popularly known for their collaboration with Steve Aoki on the song Warp 1.9, which is one of the songs that undoubtedly got me interested in electronic music. I saw them May 2013 at Paradise and The Bloody Beetroots had the crowd jumping <i> the entire time </i> and still asking for more. And ladies and gents, that was just their dj set. This is the live, in the sparkly venom masks, real deal, and it’s going to be crazy.
Interpol
When: 8:00-9:15
Where: Big Apple Stage
Simplified Genre: Alternative Rock Gold, New York Black Ties on White Button Downs Royalty
Interesting Online Tidbit: Interpol took a wee hiatus from 2010 – 2011, after their 2010 tour with U2 encountered several complications and bassist Carlos Dengler left the band. Now they’re back, with a new album in the works. (If you think this is a lame tidbit, please refrain to the above headline pertaining to Interpol’s hip hop mixtape. You can stream it here if you’re adventurous and have unconditional love for Interpol like me, in all other cases please don’t. I mean there is a track with Talib Kweli but it’s really not worth it and that’s saying something.)
Sounds Like: Drinking rum in a black leather jacket at 4am on an autumn night in Brooklyn overlooking the skyline, Music that makes you cry over your ex and view your relationship with a film noir lens
Selling Point: Interpol is fantastic and the epitome of cool. Seriously, if the bass plucking intro of ‘Obstacle 1’ doesn’t give you goosebumps with it’s mysteriousness, there’s something wrong with you. Or maybe not you, but your mystery radar is all off. These alt-rock gods are touring for the first time since 2010 and kicking off their tour with Gov Ball. And finally, they are New York natives and lovers themselves themselves, known for booking shows humbly referred to as “their own backyard” New York, so you know they’re gonna do it up right. They’re the soundtrack to every ridiculously and inexplicably cool New York moment you’ve had. They’re that faded black vintage leather jacket in Soho, the cigarette dangling from disheveled hipsters lips in Brooklyn, they’re all the cool that Manhattan wishes to be. SEE THEM.
Stay tuned to Allston Pudding for more Governors Ball 2014 coverage.