NYC's 2024 Governors Ball Day Two Recap: Rock's (Definitely) Not Dead

The second day of the 2024 Governors Ball in New York City proved to be a rockin' (and poppin' and rappin') good Saturday -- and Music Times was there for every minute. Here are a few of the highlights from yesterday's performances and on-grounds activities as reported by our on-the-ground eyewitness.

Rock 'n' Roll Isn't Dead

Governors Ball Day 2 was rife with rock 'n' roll acts. From the Thing to the Killers, the genre was strewn across the day's schedule. NYC-based groups the Thing, the Telescreens and Quarters of Change stole the show during the morning's sets. Even when tasked with the hefty task of revving up the main stage audience for a long day ahead, the Telescreens and Quarters of Change had the crowd headbanging. On the GoPuff stage, the Thing, led by frontman Zane Acor in a pair of '70s-era sunglasses, began the day with earth-shattering power chords and fiery drums.

The Killers' performance at the end of the night drew the people of Gov Ball to the main stage, undoubtedly to hear cult classics like "Mr. Brightside" and "Somebody Told Me." While the group did hit these key points, the songs in between were just as riveting, holding the crowd in a chokehold even if they didn't know the lyrics. "We happen to be some of the greatest purveyors of rock 'n' roll," joked lead singer Brandon Flowers.

Sexyy Red for President

"MAKE AMERICA SEXYY AGAIN," read a large red "MAGA-style" hat on the GoPuff stage. Late on Saturday afternoon, a crowd had gathered to pledge their allegiance to the president of Sexxy nation, Sexyy Red. A DJ took his sweet time to hype up the crowd before Sexyy appeared to the cheers of many. Fans in the audience held signs cheering on the rapper, with one reading "SEXYY 4 PRESIDENT." For lack of more eloquent words, Sexyy Red threw ass like a trained professional. As she danced about the stage, the crowd exploded into cheers. She played newer songs off of In Sexyy With Trust along with her viral hits like "Pound Town" and "Bow Bow Bow (F My Baby Dad}."

Pop Girlies Rule the Main Stage

On Gov's Ball main stage, Sabrina Carpenter mesmerized the audience with hits like "Espresso," "Feather" and her cheeky outro, "Nonsense." Her charismatic personality and playful tunes electrified the crowd, bringing the refreshing energy of candy-coated pop music. Soon after the budding pop princess departed, a pop legend took the stage: Carly Rae Jepsen. With 18 million listeners, Jepsen is more than a secret cult classic; but in the deep world of pop music, she's not just a hitmaker, she's a legendary figure. Hearing classics like "I Really Like You" and "Run Away With You" was a surreal experience for this particular pop fan and Music Times writer. The audience's explosive singing of Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" and Carpenter's "Espresso" solidified that the women of pop music were the true owners of the main stage -- move over, boys.

The Killers Bring a Fan on Stage

The Killers followed the lead of the previous night's headliner, Post Malone, when they allowed a fan to join their set. In the audience, the same young man who requested to play the guitar with Posty the night before, also asked to play the drums for the Killers. The fan, Anthony, held a sign asking the band to let him play, as it was his grandmother's 73rd birthday. (Frontman Flowers said that it was also his birthday, but the rockstar was fibbing. He will turn 43 on June 21.)

Anthony took to the stage, talking to Flowers off-mic before he sat down and began to play the drums. The crowd was more receptive to his drumming than his guitar playing, perhaps because his time on stage was shorter and less show-y than the previous night's. Only time will tell if Anthony himself will be playing Gov Ball one day.

The 2024 Governors Ball took place June 7-9 at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in New York City. Stay tuned for our recap of Day Three's highlights!

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Governors Ball Music Festival