The rising and perhaps unstoppable indie jam rock artist Goose delivered a pair of incredible shows for their tenth annual Goosemas run at the famed Hampton Coliseum, aka the Mothership, in Hampton, Va. The festivities began on December 8, 2023, as the band descended into planets of fire and mirrors. This included pyrotechnics, mirrors, an elevated lighting experience, and plenty of well-placed, first-time-played covers. The space theme was a departure from the Christmas-themed gathering in the past and gave a clear message that Goosemas will grow to be a lot more than just a holiday-themed December show.
Goosemas took place at Hampton Coliseum, which has hosted a number of well-accomplished musicians in the past, along with presenting a stellar twenty-one shows by the Grateful Dead. Musicians such as Elvis Presley, Madonna, Metallica, and Led Zeppelin have also graced this legendary building.
The festivities began with a short "Space" themed movie that premiered prior to the event, establishing the concept behind the shows. A narration was also played at the beginning of each set to indicate where the fans, aka travelers, were at that moment.
Prior to the first set, the crowd was teeming with individuals dressed as Santa and in space suits. The stage was full of mirrors and reflective scenery. The energy was popping as the narration played and the crowd learned they were traveling to a mirrored planet. The band emerged from the fog in custom space suits to play the appropriate "Earthling or Alien?" A funky jam proceeded care of bassist Trevor Weekz, who eventually directed the band into "All I Need." This version started out slow and kicked up the tempo after the first chorus. Fast "All I Need" was what the fans needed on this unknown mirrored planet.
The mirrors began to flow into the music as the band continued the funky tones by playing "Mirrors" by Justin Timberlake. This twenty-three-minute jam was Fuego, and worth a second listen as guitarist Rick Mitarotonda guides the travelers with his face-melting jams. A twenty-one-minute "Tumble" followed, along with a similar cadence to "All I Need," where the song started mellow and switched to regular speed in the composed section.
The set was not quite over just yet, as the band ended the set on an inspired note with the first time played "Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson. The band's work on the mirrored planet was complete, and a break was needed.
The Connecticut-based quintet returned as a narration described the next destination: a planet of fire. There was no shortage of pyrotechnics during this set, which appropriately began with Jimi Hendrix's "Fire." Did we mention this was yet another first-time played song? Plumes of fire shot up behind the band during the chorus of this famous tune.
"Creatures," the jam of the night, followed and took the fans on a dark journey through this fiery planet. Drummer Ben Atkind and percussionist Jeff Arevalo drove the dark beats as lighting director Andrew Goedde and his team brilliantly illuminated the ceiling. This transitioned into (dawn), from the Schenangan's Nite Club release.
The fire burned brightly once again as the band moved into the edgy Kings of Leon's "Sex On Fire." A bouncy "Butter Rum" proceeded. The funk returned during an unfinished, seventeen minute "Arrow," that saw plenty of moves by keyboardist Peter Anspach on the clav. This segued into a flaming hot "Burning Down the House" by the Talking Heads, and was last played on May 20, 2017. To say that the fans were treated to a special show was truly an understatement.
The band walked off stage, and returned for an encore that kept the fire burning brightly. This began with an elevated "So Ready" that transitioned into it's sister tune "Slow Ready" during the jam. These tunes are the same song played in two different ways, which meant a tasty treat for the long time fans. The band didn't stop there, and ended this absolute heater with nothing other than a flaming "Hot Tea."
To say that our heart was full after this show is an understatement. Please stay tuned for more coverage of Goosemas 10.
Check out more photos from the show!
Set 1: Earthling or Alien?, All I Need[1], Mirrors[2], Tumble[3], Man in the Mirror[4]
Set 2: Fire[5], Creatures > (dawn), Sex On Fire[6], Butter Rum, Arrow[7] > Burning Down the House[8]
Encore: So Ready > Slow Ready[9] > Hot Tea
Notes:
[1] Began as slow, melodic version and switched to “fast” version after the first chorus.
[2] Justin Timberlake. FTP.
[3] Vibey Tumble. Played with regular Tumble composed section and jam.
[4] Michael Jackson. FTP.
[5] Jimi Hendrix. FTP.
[6] Kings of Leon. FTP.
[7] Unfinished.
[8] Talking Heads.
[9] Jam only.
