Concert Review: Governors Ball 6.7.13 Randall's Island - Day 1

Governors Ball 6.7.13 Randall’s Island – Day 1

Words by Audra Tracy | Photos by Michel Dussack

Best laid plans are just the worst. Take Governors Ball 2013, a three day music festival hosted on a beautiful island on the East River. Fully stacked with stages, vendors, and green, green grass as far as the eye can see, it was to be every music fan’s fantasy getaway. And with one of this summer’s hottest line-ups, Randall’s Island Park was ready for a few thousand party animals to let loose from June 7th-9th.

But in a cruel twist of fate, tropical storm Andrea made a very rude – and unscheduled – appearance the very first morning of the three-day event. And those best laid plans swirled right down those NYC gutters.

Saying it poured would be the ultimate understatement – the rain was relentless. In just a few short hours time on Day 1, the green, green grass turned into thick, thick mud, and the festival stomping grounds became a place that footwear goes to die.

Bands who braved the elements on Friday included Bear Mountain, Reignwolf, Polica, Of Monsters and Men, Dinosaur Jr., Best Coast, and Local Natives. The acts admirably donned hoods and raincoats and made the best of their ill-fated time-slots, doing their part to entertain the huddled masses in attendance.

In the end, there’s really no way to sugarcoat Day 1: it was rough. Even the most prepared fans were drenched, filthy, and freezing, and high winds forced the festival’s opening night to shut down before headliners Kings of Leon even took the stage.

But as they say in the biz, ‘the show must go on’.

Check out our coverage from Day 2 and Day 3…