Flying Lotus Delivers Electrifying Set at Governors Ball 2015 [EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS]
Flying Lotus increased the heart beats of many on Randall's Island in New York City Sunday evening (June 8) when the all-around music man from Los Angeles showcased his West Coast style at Governors Ball, delivering one hell of a show.
Dressed in black and wearing a squid-like mask that made him look a bit like Dr. John A. Zoidberg from Futurama (but with more swag), Flying Lotus greeted and hype up the crowd onstage before getting on the 1s and 2s.
The producer, born Steven Ellison, was fearless during his set, featuring tracks from his album, You're Dead!, bouncing trap and dark bass-heavy beats that rumbled so hard out of the speakers that internal organs seemed to vibrate. He also threw in a few old funk melodies but made sure to lace them with his signature dark twists. He also played a remix of Drake's "Know Yourself" and "Wesley's Theory," a song he helped produced on Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly album.
The stage setup looked more elaborate than what usually rests behind the average rapper's hip-hop set. Two screens displayed images of neon lasers, geometric shapes and maniacal faces of Flying Lotus, which added to the trippy nature of his music selection. And just in case the audience forgot who was serving up the tunes onstage, he made sure to display his name across a sheer sheet as a reminder. His sounds were so intoxicating that there were moments when it seemed he wasn't commanding the stage but rather an unknown force. However, he made sure to make his presence known by having a little chat with the crowd before continuing with the rest of his performance.
"I've been locked in a cave for weeks," the DJ admitted toward the end of his set. "This s--- is nerve-wracking, man. I'm just a dude up here. So thank you for coming out."
Perhaps one of the only things that concertgoers were hoping for was a surprise guest -- possibly Kendrick Lamar. He was set to perform at Hot 97's Summer Jam in New Jersey on Sunday evening but stopped by Mayer Hawthorne's set earlier that day at Governors Ball to perform their collaboration, "Crime." Since the rapper was already on Randall's Island, there was speculation that he would rock "Eyes Above" or "Never Catch Me" with Lotus.
Despite the absence of special guests, Flying Lotus proved that he could handle his own onstage. For those who needed to shake off all of the stress from the prior week on Sunday night, listening to his sonic vibes was the best remedy.