What Do New York’s Prospective Governors Think of Governors Ball?

This weekend is New York City’s premiere political gala, The Governors Ball, an event in which tens of thousands of the state’s voting constituents gather on Randalls Island to discuss the day’s hot political issues, like the best way to sneak drugs past security and whether or not The Strokes are lame now. But since the Molly Party hasn’t managed to get recognized in the state of New York yet and the Turn Up Party is currently facing internal squabbles with the Turn Down For What Party, it will be important for the festival goers to look elsewhere for actual governors at Governors Ball. We decided to call up the 2014 candidates for governor in the festival’s home state of New York to find out about their music taste and what kind of ball they would throw if they were governor. These were their responses:

Photo via Facebook

Candidate: Rob Astorino

Political party: Republican

Favorite band: Brooks & Dunn

Favorite album: AC/DC – Back in Black

First concert: Rush at Madison Square Garden (most recent concert was Kings of Leon)

What act on the Governors’ Ball lineup would you most want to see perform? Bastille

If you were governor, what type of ball would you throw? Big Tent Ball, BYOMusic

Photo via Facebook

Candidate: Howie Hawkins

Political party: Green

Favorite band: The Temptations

Favorite album: Marvin Gaye – What’s Goin’ On

First concert: The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Santana at the Fillmore West

What act on the Governors’ Ball lineup would you most want to see perform? Outkast, Jack White

If you were governor, what type of ball would you throw? “I would throw a Jubilee Ball to celebrate canceling the debt of students and predatory mortgages. People could bring their loan papers to shred into confetti and write their balloon payments on actual balloons. We’ll end prohibition of cannabis, so people can celebrate as they see fit. It’d be a zero waste event. No water bottles. Hydration station water fountains, composting. Food served would be sourced from within 300 miles of the Jubilee Ball. Beer would be served in the Ommegang Brewery Beer Garden. The performers we would invite would include Arcade Fire, Immortal Technique, Chuck D, Ozomatli, Rebel Diaz, Erykah Badu, Kathleen Hannah and the Julie Ruin, Ani DiFranco, Las Cafeteras, Eddie Vedder, Nirvana with Krist Novoselic and Joan Jett, Natalie Merchant, Tom Morello, Rubblebucket Orchestra, Thunderbody, Sophistafunk, Taina Asili y la Banda Rebelde, Pussy Riot, and the Rude Mechanical Orchestra.”

Photo via Facebook

Candidate: Michael McDermott

Political party: Libertarian

Favorite band: The Doors, “not that I was very thrilled with the drug culture that came along with it.”

Favorite album: Ultimate Spinach – Ultimate Spinach, “[It was] probably the first time I had actually kissed a girl, and that music was playing… I like The Beatles’ White Album, I like a lot of Billy Joel, Harry Chapin… I have very eclectic taste in music.”

First concert: Jefferson Airplane and Grace Slick at Stonybrook University, “there was a lot of protesting going on… probably 1970”

What act on the Governors’ Ball lineup would you most want to see perform? [Doesn’t recognize any of them] “I’m for all of them so far. I’m not a big fan of rap… some of it I like, but not much. That’s probably my least favorite type of music, is rap. I like Eminem, though.”

If you were governor, what type of ball would you throw? “When I think of a ball, I think of the Cinderella and Prince Charming type thing where everybody comes dressed in fine clothes… It would have to have to be something to celebrate something. I dont know if the governor has a lot to celebrate about, but I would like to include people that would be interested in making some changes… You can have a lot of fun and make changes. If it was a TV show, I’d say let’s have a ‘governors’ roast.’”

Photo via Facebook

Candidate: Andrew Cuomo (incumbent)

Political party: Democrat

Favorite band: Jon Bon Jovi, according to a 2011 interview with the New York Daily News

Favorite album: Could not be reached for comment (but once he posted a Billy Joel ticket giveaway on Facebook using the album cover for Billy Joel’s Greatest Hits Volume I and Volume II)

First concert: Could not be reached for comment (but his most recent concert as of the 2011 NYDN interview was also Jon Bon Jovi)

What act on the Governors’ Ball lineup would you most want to see perform? Could not be reached for comment

If you were governor, what type of ball would you throw? Could not be reached for comment (person answering the phone: “Our press team is very busy”)

Kyle Kramer wants you to get out and vote. He’s on Twitter – @KyleKramer

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