Goose descended on Saratoga Springs, NY, for a two-night stand at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, which is surrounded by lush greenery and a sprawling state park that includes hot springs. The band was sufficiently warmed up after playing in Holmdel, NJ, and Boston, MA, earlier in the week. The Connecticut-based indie groove quintet certainly crushed night one with several rarely played covers and an original, all within their home stomping grounds.
Show number six hundred sixty-four began much like many Goose shows do, with a smiling Peter Anspach welcoming the crowd. The bubbly 'Elizabeth,' sung by multi-instrumentalist Anspach, kicked off the evening's festivities. This first tune clocked in at around twelve minutes and hit a few peaks as the jam wound down. 'Atlas,' a cover by The Wood Brothers, followed and morphed into a slow-burning, jazzy funk jam. Anspach's work on the organ meshed nicely with standout percussion from Jeff Arevalo.
Setlist staple 'Turned Clouds' elevated the funk vibes considerably. Drummer Cotter Ellis was on point as he drove the jam. The melodic 'Bourne' followed, marking the first time the tune was played during the Fall Tour. A seventeen-minute jam ensued, with Mitarotonda unfurling tension and release on the guitar. The band eventually moved into an ambient groove together, layering more subtle jamming on top. Bassist Trevor Weekz glued the synth and guitar together while dropping a few bass bombs of his own. A skilled transition flowed into a bluegrass-inspired 'Rosa Lee McFall' by the Monroe Brothers. Played for only the third time ever, the tune was last heard on June 27, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio.
The darker 'Bob Don' was up next and served as the perfect springboard into 'Pancakes.' The band descended into another blissful jam, reminiscent of 'Bourne.' Mitarotonda took the helm to end the set with a face-melting jam that brought smiles to many faces. As the band left the stage, a fan remarked that there 'were no bathroom break songs in that set.' She couldn't have been more accurate in her description.
After a very short break, the band returned with more heat in the form of a twenty-five-minute 'Arrow.' The funk gave way to a darker, synth-heavy jam dominated by both Ellis and Arevalo. Lighting Director Andrew Goedde and his team colored the iconic ceiling with lighting that enhanced the sequence. This was one of the best jams we've heard so far this tour. Mitarotonda brought the music back into 'Arrow' for a raging conclusion.
'Everything Must Go' proceeded into another twenty-minute jam that featured more cleverly placed synth dancing around the electric guitar. Weekz once again elevated the jam with his bass playing. The deliciously funky tune 'Jeff Engborg' followed, having last been played at the Brooklyn Bowl Vegas on October 1, 2023. This instrumental song is incidentally named after an incredibly talented musician from Connecticut who has been friends with the band for years. Anspach layered in the clavinet, while Ellis nailed the intricate drum beats. Mitarotonda added his Midas touch to end this ripping tune that we wish they'd play more often. Anspach gave his friend a shout-out at the conclusion.
The band dove into the archives and played 'Christmas Card From A Hooker in Minneapolis' for the first time since October 3, 2020, in Swanzey, NH. For context, this was a drive-in show during the COVID-19 pandemic. It's crazy to think how much has changed for the band since that time. Goose masterfully switched gears into the heavy hitter 'Arcadia' and ended the set with a vibrant jam.
The show wasn't quite over yet, as Goose returned to play 'Hot Love & The Lazy Poet.' This is easily our favorite new debut of 2024, and we can only hope the band continues to give this stellar tune more setlist love.
Goose is delivering fall tour fire, and the good news is they've just gotten started. Up next are shows in Charlottesville, NC, on September 9th and Chicago, IL, on September 11-13. The first night of the Chicago run isn't sold out yet, and tickets are available here. The other aforementioned shows are sold out. Head over to the band's tour page for more dates in your region.
Check out more photos from the show! Also view our prior coverage of Goose Fall tour in Holmdel, NJ.
Set One: Elizabeth, Atlas1, Turned Clouds, Borne -> Rosa Lee McFall2, Bob Don, Pancakes
Set Two: Arrow, Everything Must Go, Jeff Engborg, Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis3 > Arcadia
Encore: Hot Love & The Lazy Poet
Coach's Notes:
[1] The Wood Brothers.
[2] Monroe Brothers.
[3] Tom Waits.
Set list via elgoose.net
