Connecticut-based Goose might be America’s next-best indie groove band. Fans who witnessed the band’s recent two nights of performances at Saratoga Center for Performing Arts (SPAC) in Saratoga Springs, New York, on September 6th and 7th are likely willing to debate any naysayers.
Goose is showcasing some incredible gusto and fresh firepower that commands attention by managing explosive growth to reach headlining status for major amphitheaters on this 19-date September tour. After a successful first appearance at SPAC in July 2023 – Goose’s largest headlining show to date (and now surpassed twice, most recently at Forest Hills Stadium on June 29th) – the band locked in back-to-back nights for this run.
Playing as close to his Burlington, VT hometown as he will get on this tour, new Goose drummer Cotter Ellis has quickly proven why he was chosen to replace Ben Atkind upon his sudden departure from the band at the end of 2023. This new beat keeper, recruited from the band Swimmer, has undeniably refined and widened the soundscape of Goose, allowing for a fuller coalescence, particularly with Trevor Weeks (bass) and Jeff Arevelo (multi-instrumentalist).
Taking the SPAC stage Friday night (9/6), led by Peter Anspach (keys), waving to the crowd and smiling through his established Groucho Marx mustache, Goose fans hollered from the lawn, balcony, and pavilion for their desired opening song. “Elizabeth” charged into view as the lights glowed and started the dance party. Released on the 2022 EP Undecided, this selection decisively set the pace for extended improvisation as guitarist Rick Mitarotonda found space to shred through the chugging rhythm.
This first set was punctuated by a wonderful, beautifully organized, and delivered “Borne.” After building up into a lovely peak, the band found the new room and rebuilt a silky groove that, within minutes, presented an entirely new personality. Here is Goose demonstrating some impressive calculated control and measuring to extend the flow for another 10 minutes when suddenly, we have one of the night’s biggest surprises.
The swift, airy groove effortlessly dipped into a more rigid tempo to reveal “Rosa Lee McFall,” a song by Charlie Monroe about a painful lost love. Still, it somehow still spread smiles across the crowd, having only been played three times by Goose.
With a quick appearance of favorite “Bob Don,” Goose next served up “Pancakes,” and sent the audience into the first set break cloaked in awe from the eye-popping light show.
This second set of night one in Saratoga is where Goose probably had their most significant space in terms of comfort. With another whole show the next day, their song choices here seemed to capitalize on the empirical sense of freedom. “Arrow” fired from the chest and explored quick-moving layers for nearly 30 minutes, sharing moments of vision that could be cited even at the end of this tour.
Next, Goose treated fans to “Everything Must Go,” the opening drum beats here led into a very flexible and, at times, delicate sound horizon. This song has been given ample stage time since its debut in 2022 and has become a fan favorite, connecting with the lyrics:
“All that you can imagine
A universe with a view
Almost like you can have it
A getaway for you”
“Jeff Engborg,” a fully instrumental offering with some heavier and funkier notes became a capstone to maybe the most vital hour of music for the weekend. Needing a breather, Goose brought us “Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis” for the first time in 254 shows. The Tom Waits cover was last performed for an audience of parked cars, during a series of 2020 pandemic drive-in style shows.
“Arcadia,” perhaps Goose’s first actual powerhouse song, once again finished a memorable set. Lastly, “Hot Love & The Lazy Poet” debuted only in April, yet here it was, nailing down the band’s captivating return to SPAC 5 months later.
It is worth noticing that Goose avoided repeating any songs from last year’s SPAC debut. The song selection and sequencing from a band that has created cherished fan favorites out of songs barely two years old are also impressive. This growing material library will continue to add another layer of interest to watch as things unfold.
Goose at SPAC pushed grooves steadily and with solid pacing, guided to thoughtful and concise deliveries of height to enormous crowd reception. Anyone able to see them on tour this fall should be able to provide measures as they track America coast to coast.
Photos by Andrew Francke
