While Foster the People keep the music going on the main stage, we gather for a press conference with Chuck D and the rest of Public Enemy as they discuss the journey hip-hop has taken since its inception. The collective is readying their new album “Man Plans, God Laughs,” which is slated for a Summer 2015 release. The night’s headliners, Imagine Dragons take the stage a few hours later for the first stop of their Smoke & Mirrors Tour. Vertical projector screens line the stage to create an entrancing sight for the tens of thousands of fans that wait in anticipation. When the band finally emerges, they pump out hits such as “Shots,” “I’m So Sorry” and “Demons” before spontaneously covering Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me.” Later on in the night they also cover R. Kelly’s “The World’s Greatest.” Overall, the set proves to be an energetic and mesmerizing end to the first day in Napa.
The lineup for Saturday includes alternative and rock bands such as Young the Giant, Passion Pit, Capital Cities and Robert Plant. The North Carolina based Avett Brothers deliver a fast-paced set that gets the crowd moving. Next, we meet up with Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian of Capital Cities for a photo shoot—since their successful debut album “In a Tidal Wave of Mystery” was released in 2013, the two have toured almost constantly, playing festivals such as Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and Outside Lands along the way. Later on in the night, Robert Plant effortlessly showcases not only his solo material, but also his own renditions of Led Zeppelin classics. On the JAM CELLARS stage, Passion Pit’s synthesizers finish the night off strong with the assistance of a great light show.