June 5 was a big day for New York City — and not just because of the Knicks’ narrow one-point victory over the San Antonio Spurs. That particular Friday also marked the energetic kickoff to the Governors Ball festival in Queens.
**Audrey Hobert**
Audrey Hobert, best friend and co-writer to Gracie Abrams, performed on a festival stage for the first time. Hobert is known for her quirky stage persona, so her fans were unsurprised by her signature long trenchcoat paired with stilts — in fact, the fans were more riled up by the anticipation of her singing tracks off her 2025 debut album “Who’s the Clown?,” including “Bowling alley” and “Sex and the city.”
Hobert perfectly built up momentum for her closing, where she generated her own breeze by bouncing on a trampoline in the midday heat and singing her smash hit “Sue me.” Her colorful, infectious stage presence — complete with a vivid stage design and constant outfit changes — kept the crowd on their toes and made for a genuinely unique set.
**Del Water Gap**
Later at the same GovBallNYC Stage, Samuel Holden Jaffe — known under his stage name Del Water Gap — leapt onto a screaming crowd, opening with “Small Town Joan of Arc.” He proved his musicianship through impressive vocal runs in his outros, and fluid transitions between electric guitar for upbeat songs and acoustic for more intimate moments. Comic-book-style visuals on the big screen complemented his relentless energy, and his gray, business-like suit contrasted sharply with the purple eye shadow smeared across his eyes. Amid the jumping and sprints across the stage, Del Water Gap admitted his mistake in wearing wool attire in 90-degree weather; still, he kept the jacket on for most of the set. He sentimentally noted that the last time he played Gov Ball was four years ago, and that he was grateful his crowd had grown since. Like many Gov Ball artists, this was a hometown show; he performed “High Tops” as a nod to his younger years in the East Village.
Near the end of his set, Del Water Gap played “How To Live” off his newest album “Chasing The Chimera” and explained that the record explores the tension between fame and mental health. After an emotional outro, he closed with a crowd sing-along and a run into the pit during his hit “Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat.”
**The Dare**
By 4 p.m., the sun was still blazing for The Dare’s set. The artist, known for his raunchy lyrics, seemed unaccustomed to performing in the daylight, making awkward references to the early nature of the set. He performed in his classic black suit, skinny tie, and sunglasses, flailing across the stage and dramatically dropping to his knees at moments immediately and abruptly launched into the frenetic pace his shows are known for. There were little breaks — except for, of course, dance breaks. The Dare, as always, leaned into the chaos of it all, at one point climbing atop a speaker stack to survey the crowd before resuming his usual sporadic dance movements. He wasn’t alone in this manic energy — his band also remained lively while sticking to their respective marks on stage.
Hits like “Sex,” “Perfume,” and “You’re Invited,” energized the crowd, bolstered by bursts of smoke and loud synth. Between his many dance breaks and a microphone mishap, he shared his relief at playing a show in a city so central to his identity. The Dare slowed things down for his cover of The Sound’s “I Can’t Escape Myself,” and reinvigorated the crowd by playing a snippet of Charli xcx’s “Guess” remix featuring Billie Eilish. Finally, as with most nights out at the club, things had to come to an end. The Dare closed out his set with his much anticipated hit, “Girls,” which initially propelled him to fame. It’s safe to say both The Dare and his crowd had a good time.
—Staff Writer Julia J. Downey can be reached at [\[email protected\]](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#adc7d8c1c4cc83c9c2dac3c8d4edd9c5c8cedfc4c0dec2c383cec2c0).