IN CONCERT: GOVERNOR’S BALL 2026 (Day 2 - June 6th)
written by Beau Croxton and Mike Golembo.
photography by Mike Golembo (with photos of 2Hollis courtesy of Gov Ball)
Wet Leg by Mike Golembo
After a solid first day and a Knicks win in Game 2, Gov Ball-ers led into the festival on Saturday with enthusiasm and summer-ready energy. The second day lineup was highlighted by a potent stretch in the afternoon/ early evening. There had been a bit of fear about storming potential for Saturday, but all signs throughout Saturday morning suggested that things should be totally fine for the festival with only a 25% chance of rain….more on that later.
2HOLLIS
The consistent murmur and anticipation of Saturday’s K-Pop headliner made it hard for an artist to break through on the Gov Ball Stage (main stage). However, the enigmatic 2hollis didn’t let that stop him from coming out with an energy that captivated and hyped up the crowd through a sweaty mid-day set.
Born Hollis Parker Frazier-Herndon, 2hollis fuses elements of industrial techno, hyperpop, and heavy digital distortion, creating sounds and beats I don’t think I’ve ever heard before. At points he was singing, at points he was rapping, and at points he was just screaming, but I couldn’t help but jump and mosh with the rest of the crowd. 2Hollis commanded the audience with an intense, almost primal stage presence that matched the chaotic energy of his chaotic beats. The bass-heavy production rattled the festival grounds, while his raw vocals pierced through the aggressive electronic layers. What made this such a unique performance was the absence of any stage production. This was a man alone with hardly any visuals, pyro, or band. Just a tall, blonde, shirtless, mascara-laden guy who jumped and summersaulted throughout the main stage for 45 minutes as the thousands around him moshed to the music he performed. Truly, one of the most hyped acts of Gov Ball 2026 did not disappoint.
Mike Golembo
2Hollis by JN Silva
2Hollis by Charles Reagan
WET LEG
For Day 2, I made the decision to save a couple bucks by taking a subway ride instead of an uber. Unfortunately, trains were seriously delayed and it took nearly 2 solid hours. By the grace of god, (and due to my brisk pace of booking it from the subway) I made it to the festival just in time to hit the bathroom and run up front for Wet Leg. It was my first Wet Leg set, so I was truly excited, especially because I loved moisturizer so much. My focus on Day 2 was on the highly potent stretch of late afternoon and evenings sets– and Wet Leg put on a hell of a set that was an immediate festival highlight.
The band came out shrouded in a cloud of smoke, and the music exploded before you could clearly see them. The group launched directly into their pumped-up anthem “Catch These Fists”, which serves as the ultimate opener in their new era. Since their debut, lead singer/guitarist Rhian Teasdale has really blossomed into one of the most captivating front-persons in indie rock– she flexed her muscles and brought pure bravado, complete with pink hair and catchy deadpan vocals. When they launched into my favorite moisturizer song, “liquidize”, festival goers were swaying, smiling and shaking their hips to the band’s upbeat and contagious indie rock; the vibes were incredibly high on this beautiful sunny afternoon. Similarly, “davina mccall” was so beautiful and well received– it felt like a serenade for the soul in the hot summer sun. Toward the song's peak, a gust of breeze came through and soothed the crowd, acting as a perfect metaphor for the breezy feeling of the tune.
Wet Leg by Mike Golembo
In an exciting change of pace– the band launched into a noisy bass-fuzz interlude that led into a ripping rendition of “pillow talk”, which landed a bit closer to Queens Of The Stone Age. Singer Rhian Teasdale took a break from her pure confidence to have a humble and gracious moment with the crowd. The band was so thrilled to be playing in New York, and Teasdale said “New York is our favorite place to play when we come to America…New York always holds a special place in our heart when we go on tour”.
The highlight of the whole set came in the form of the last two songs. Wet Leg’s initial viral claim to fame hit “Chaise Longue” received epic sing-alongs, but crowd participation was even louder during their anthem “mangetout”. Fans boisterously shouted “get lost forever!" along, as the lyrics reveled in the rejection of unwanted attention– it was purely fun. My first Wet Leg set was a perfect one, complete with sunshine and a beautiful setting in the park. It was almost too perfect, on what seemed to be the most beautiful Saturday possible…
Beau Croxton
Wet Leg by Mike Golembo
Unfortunately, a severe storm warning would cancel a slew of highly anticipated sets directed after Wet Leg finished: Kali Uchis and Amyl & the Sniffers were canceled entirely. While Blood Orange had to be canceled for Saturday as well, luckily he was gracious enough (and available enough) to play a rescheduled set on Sunday for Day 3.
Stray Kids
A rain-shortened day two of Gov Ball wasn’t going to stop the headliners from giving those camped out for hours on end from delivering for their fans. Stray Kids, the mega K-Pop group brought their energy to Flushing Meadows (although a bit earlier than expected) to the tens of thousands screaming lunatics of all ages. The eight member group (though missing one due to injury) showed out why they were headline worthy for this year’s festival.
Opening with a punchy run of hits like "TOPLINE" and "S-Class", they powered through a dense, 18-song setlist spanning their discography. The production was massive, featuring sharp choreography, vibrant costume changes, and dramatic fireworks. Despite the blistering New York heat and noticeable exhaustion, the members maintained a playful, high-energy connection with the immense crowd of dedicated fans. It was a confident, polished (as expected) performance that stood out as one of the more surprisingly fun sets of the weekend.
Mike Golembo
Stray Kids by Mike Golembo
Check out our full gallery below !
FULL GALLERY
(Click to expand to fullscreen+ slideshow)
Photos by Mike Golembo— @instalembo
except for photos of 2Hollis by Charles Reagan and JN Silva
In order of appearance:
Wet Leg | 2Hollis | Major Lazer | Stray Kids
(Click images for fullscreen / slideshow
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