After taking a year off from performing on New Year’s, Goose returned to Austin, Texas, for the third time in their career and for their sixth New Year’s run, which included a performance on December 31. They chose the 15,000-seat Moody Center ATX—located in the heart of the University of Texas and home to the Texas Longhorns basketball teams—to host the event. The band slam-dunked night one with a stellar mix of originals, as well as a pair of exciting covers.
The first set began with a twenty-minute “Big Modern” that featured a well-developed jam right out of the gate. Bassist Trevor Weekz was especially prominent, laying the groundwork for guitarist Rick Mitarotonda to soar early on. The jam briefly ventured into type-two territory before taking a sudden turn into “Animal.” Drummer Cotter Ellis and percussionist Jeff Arevalo slammed the beats during this energetic tune, and the band threw in the elephant sample at the end of the song for a fun twist.
The music mellowly swerved into “Dr. Darkness,” providing a much-needed break. The band then shifted gears into “Draconian Meter Maid,” a new tune written by Goose’s recently added drummer, Ellis. The music flowed into a euphonious, texture-driven jam before building back into a funk-fueled heater that led into “Silver Rising.”
The slow-burning funk returned during the first OG tune of the set, “Jive II.” It’s hard to go wrong with this staple. Multi-instrumentalist Peter Anspach decorated the sound with the clav while Arevalo nailed the gong. As fans danced with glee during this ten-minute, penultimate sequence, the band smoothly moved into a dark “Arrow.” Mitarotonda brought the set home with a prog-rock-inspired jam that ended the performance perfectly.
The band returned after a quick break and opened the set with “Hot Love & The Lazy Poet.” This feel-good new tune is not only one of their best but also one of their most-played songs in 2024. We’d love to see them extend the drum solo, but we’re thrilled they have adopted this as a staple.
The Constitution State quintet gracefully slid into the jam vehicle “Arcadia.” The jam began slowly, then ascended to new heights with layered funk that paved the way for a raging guitar solo, sending fans into the stratosphere. Weekz continued his dominance on bass throughout.
"Red Bird" followed, as lighting director Andrew Goedde drenched the crowd in red lights. This eighteen-minute version reached heights similar to "Arcadia," with plenty of notable percussive moments. Mitarotonda slayed the guitar while Anspach stacked the keys. A melodic transition emerged that led the band into War’s "Low Rider." Weekz crushed the bass line, and fans were enamored with this well-known tune.
A developed, fast-paced jam engulfed the Moody Center, taking on an EDM-inspired theme with Anspach on synth. This momentum continued into Nina Simone’s “Sinnerman,” unquestionably the jam of the night. The band was firing on all cylinders during this cover and ended the set with a bang.
Goose returned for the encore and played the encouraging “Give It Time,” sending fans home with a huge smile in anticipation of the New Year’s festivities to come. Stay tuned to gratefulweb.com for coverage of Goose NYE.
The band raised the roof at the Moody Center on the first night of their New Year’s run and continues to win over new fans with their outstanding original songs and jams. Their next performance is a three-night stand in Milwaukee, WI, on February 6–8. Tickets for night one are available via this link. They are gearing up for a three-day festival, Viva El Gonzo, featuring The War on Drugs, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Eggy, and more, in San José del Cabo, Mexico, on May 8–10. Travel packages, tickets, and additional details can be found here. Head over to their tour page for more dates in your region.
Check out more photos from the show!
Date: December 30, 2024
Venue: Moody Center ATX
Location: Austin, TX
Set One: Big Modern![1] -> Animal, Dr. Darkness, Draconian Meter Maid > Silver Rising, Jive II, Arrow
Set Two: Hot Love & The Lazy Poet > Arcadia, Red Bird > Low Rider[2] -> Sinnerman[3]
Encore: Give it Time
Coach's Notes:
[1] Unfinished.
[2] War. FTP.
[3] Nina Simone.
Set list via elgoose.net
