words & photos by Mike Golembo (with Hozier photos courtesy of Governor’s Ball)

Hozier by Roger Ho (for Governor’s Ball)

The final day of Governor's Ball had finally arrived and it was my most anticipated one of the weekend. The day was notably headlined by Hozier, but it was also filled with so many acts I’ve adored for years and new ones that have been on my list to catch– Sunday was a frenzy to see as many sets as I could in a singular day. The early afternoon sets started in a flurry with a few high energy acts that included Militarie Gun, Joey Valance and Brae, and Frost Children.

Militarie Gun

Militarie Gun, from Los Angeles, is an alternative rock band with a punk edge that was able to really light up the early crowd on the Kiehl’s Stage. Performing songs new and old such as ‘Kick’ and ‘Ain’t No Flowers’, Militarie Gun immediately got me headbanging though the part of the set I was able to catch. The band has many qualities similar to the popular punk band Turnstile– the scream heavy vocals and ripping electric guitar definitely had me rearing to go for the rest of the day.

Militarie Gun by Mike Golembo

Joey Valance and Brae

Next, I went to the Gov Ball stage to see the duo of Joey Valance and Brae– who were a mystery to me on the lineup for Sunday. It turned out to be quite the experience, as the two Pennsylvania boys had main stage jumping. The only way I can describe their style is a touch of Beastie Boys with a bit more explicit lyrics and LMFAO type beats. Seemingly, the whole crowd knew the words to ‘THE BADDEST’, in which the chorus goes “Who’s the baddest bitch in this club!? / I’m the baddest bitch in this club!?” It was certainly a pleasantly surprising and fun set!

Joey Valance and Brae by Mike Golembo

Frost Children

Last not least, I got to catch Frost Children– another one of the adrenaline-pumping acts of the early afternoon. This sibling duo performed genre-bending music that mixes EDM, emo-pop, and heavy synth-bass rhythms. At one point, it really did feel like an EDM rave with some fist pumping and jumping around. They played a few of their most popular songs, with some prominent features like ‘Shake It Like A (ft. Danny Brown)’, and ‘Mona Lisa (ft. Porter Robinson)’. Despite me being fully unfamiliar with the artist, it was another surprising set that left me with a massive grin as I hurried on to the next set.

Frost Children by Mike Golembo

Raye

One of the few sets that I made sure to see in full, was the set of rising British singer Raye. Backed by a small orchestra, the singer-songwriter put on a performance that displayed her incredible vocal range, genuine personality, and overall show(wo)manship. Dancing barefoot in an elegant evening gown, Raye went through a catalog of her hits through the duration of the hour-long set. She opened with ‘Oscar Winning Tears’ that left the crowd breathless (and her) after the prolonged final note. Halfway through the set, she and the band mixed up the tempo that turned the main stage to a German club with a heavy bass and dance rendition of her viral song ‘Prada’ and 070 Shake supported track, ‘Escapism’. Raye was very engaged with the crowd throughout, shouting out people’s signs, providing context to the setlist, and at one point showing a sign of self-awareness by calling herself ‘dramatic like this next song’ before going into it. She’s an artist and performer in every sense of the word, and I can’t wait to see her on the next tour she does.

Raye by Mike Golembo

Clairo

Admittedly, Clairo is not in my wheelhouse of music genre that I listen to regularly, but I knew that her presence at Gov Ball was going to have people talking, so I had to catch at least some of her set. As she and her bandmates arrived on stage, set up like a living room, and they gathered on the couch, sipping wine, before taking their marks at their instruments, it began to rain quite heavily. This ethereal moment felt like a perfect supplement for the “sad-girl” indie pop music that Clairo is adored for. She performed fan favorites (I would know, because the crowd was singing every word) like ‘Amoeba’, ‘Bags’, and ‘Flaming Hot Cheetos’, with her lowkey and soft voice that pairs well with the emotional subject matter of her lyrics. While the crowd was large, the performance felt intimate , and I think that’s why so many people connect with her music— it was very well done.

As it got later in the day, my anticipation was rising as three of my favorite bands/artists were playing overlapping sets on three different stages.

Clairo by Mike Golembo

Montell Fish/Mt.Joy

Due to unfortunate timing, I was only able to witness 20 minutes of Montell Fish and subsequently, Mt. Joy, but it was joyful (pun intended) nonetheless. Montell Fish is an R&B singer I’ve been a fan of since listening to his 2022, with his album JAMIE. The moments I was lucky enough to see of his set were even better than I expected. Donning a shiny crystallized crab shaped microphone holder, Fish performed with a deep seeded passion and sultry voice, a collection of songs from his well established discography. Some of my favorites included ‘Who Did You Touch’ off of his most recent album CHARLOTTE, and standouts ‘Talk 2 Me’ and ‘Darling’ from JAMIE. Occasionally playing the piano while singing, he displayed a full array of his talents and I can’t wait to see him on his next tour for a full show. Unfortunately, I had to cut my time short at Montell Fish to go see a band I’ve been following since 2018 when I saw them playing to small crowds at SXSW and were just starting out— Mt. Joy.

Montell Fish by Mike Golembo

MT. JOY

Now a powerhouse in the alternative-folk genre, Mt. Joy was the predecessor to the headliner for Sunday on the main stage. While playing fan faves like ‘Astrovan’ and ‘Julia’ was certainly a hit, the band surprised the crowd by bringing out singer Gigi Perez to perform a ‘In The Middle’ from their newest album Hope We Have Fun. What stood out to me seeing them perform for the first time since 2018, is that they sound just as good now as they did back then, just with a much bigger audience. Their sound and songs are timeless and I was so happy to be able to see them even for a bit of their set.

Mt. Joy by Mike Golembo

Glass Animals

This weekend, I made sure I gave myself plenty of time to catch the entirety of an all-time favorite band of mine, Glass Animals. For the third time in less than a calendar year, I got to experience the energy, the joy, and the magnificence of a Glass Animals concert. I made my way to the barricade and jumped and danced and sang along with the rest of the crowd as Glass Animals took us on a journey through the electro-indie dance pop songs of their long and extended catalog. The setlist included numerous hits like ‘A Tear in Space’, ‘Youth’, ‘Pork Soda’ and of course ‘Heatwaves’. The pinnacle however was when Dave, the lead singer, went into the crowd and stood on the barricade to perform ‘Gooey’, their first major single all the way back from 2014, and let me tell you– people went insane. Dave’s electricity and stage presence elevates every one of their shows to where you’re guaranteed to have a good time even if you may not be familiar with their music. Once again, Glass Animals left me absolutely elated post show.

Glass Animals by Mike Golembo

HOZIER

The closer and final headliner for Gov Ball 2025 was Irish singer-songwriter Hozier. Opening with ‘Nobody’s Soldier’ and closing with the mega-hit ‘Take Me To Church’, Hozier showcased why he’s still regarded as a giant of folk-rock music. His lyrics are poetic, his voice (despite him being sick) was crisp and tantalizing, and his outspokenness on human rights and world issues has allowed him to grow beyond just one viral single. The visuals on the screen behind him during ‘Eat Your Young’, showed imagery of the wealth accumulated by greedy oligarchs and at one point during the set he commented on the situation in Israel and Palestine. It's clear Hozier is not afraid to stand for what he believes in, and he uses his talent and art to state his beliefs. At one point during the set he performed on a B-side stage that put him right in the middle of the crowd that swooned and swayed with him during a rendition of ‘Cherry Wine’ and ‘Unknown/Nth’. The tone and mood that Hozier provided was a fitting end to this year’s festival as we try to navigate through this uncertain world.