By all accounts, 2025 is shaping up to be the Year Of The Goose.
That’s not to say that the Connecticut-based jam band’s arrow hasn’t already been pointing squarely up and to the right for quite some time now. After all, the group has been experiencing an unprecedented rise through the jam band ranks, particularly since a 2022 co-headlining tour with Phish frontman Trey Anastasio, which essentially doubled as a veritable torch-passing ceremony throughout the Northeast.
Despite some recent juggling of the group’s percussion section (Cotter Ellis replaced founding member Ben Atkind on drums in 2024 and was followed by the departure of percussionist Jeff Arevalo in early 2025) the band seems to currently be riding a creative peak with no signs of slowing down thanks to a slew of high profile appearances, including stops at BottleRock Napa Valley and Bonnaroo, in addition to their first headlining gig at New York’s infamous Madison Square Garden. The group also recently released Everything Must Go, their fourth overall studio effort since their 2014 formation, to widespread critical acclaim.
While Goose certainly has a formidable cache of original compositions, there’s also no denying that they adhere to the road-tested jam band formula of incorporating an array of cover material into their live performances. However, where they seem to break trends with the genre’s norms is their affinity for covering modern artists who are more in line with their musical influences. A quick glance at their songbook includes a plethora of material from contemporary artists such as Bon Iver, Jim James, Vampire Weekend, and Father John Misty.
With the band gearing up for Viva El Gonzo, their first ever destination-event that kicks off this weekend in San José del Cabo, Mexico, and features a ecclectic lineup with the likes of The War On Drugs, Dawes and Sierra Hull, Glide is taking a closer look at ten of our favorite Goose cover songs:
“Bloodbuzz Ohio” – The National: Recorded for their seminal 2010 release, High Violet, alt-rock behemoths The National’s brilliant use of a simple two-chord progression adds a palpable sense of drama as the narrator laments about returning home to the Buckeye State. A completely understandable sentiment for anyone who has ever visited Ohio.
Considering Goose’s somewhat indie-leaning sound, it’s no surprise they decided to tap into the songbook of one the genre’s most influential groups. Goose has delivered a mostly faithful interpretation of the original during their handful or so of live performances, with Mitarotonda doing a fine job of channeling Matt Berninger’s unique vocal presence, including this debut performance from August 2022 at Red Rocks.
“Writing A Novel” – Father John Misty: Goose has offered up an electrified version of the former Fleet Foxes’ drummer’s autobiographical drug-fueled discourse just over a dozen times since it’s 2020 debut, according to the fan-sourced Goose repository ElGoose.net.
“Shama Lama Ding Dong” – Otis Day & the Knights: Immortalized in the 1978 cult comedy classic, National Lampoon’s Animal House, “Shama Lama Ding Dong” has quickly become a fan-favorite at Goose’s live performances, with over forty performances since 2016.
“State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.)” – Jim James: This heartfelt warning about the perils of society’s overreliance on technology was initially released on the My Morning Jacket frontman’s debut solo effort, Regions of Light and Sound of God, in 2013.
Goose has primarily adhered to James’ original musical formula during their handful of performances since 2020, including this rendition from Morris, CT in September of 2020.
“Sinnerman” – Nina Simone: With roots that trace back to the turn of the century, American icon Nina Simone transformed this otherwise innocuous B-side track into a sprawling epic that extends past the ten-minute mark on her 1965 album, Pastel Blues. Teeming with the ardent fervor of a southern Methodist sermon, an environment in which Simone was raised as a child, “Sinnerman” continues to have a lasting impact on modern pop culture.
“Mas Que Nada” – Jorge Ben: Originally recorded in 1963, and later popularized by Sergio Mendes in 1966, this Brazilian samba has remained culturally relevant since its inception, with The Black Eyed Peas re-recording the song in 2006 alongside Mendes.
Since making it a regular part of their setlists following its 2018 debut, Goose has adopted Mendes’ arrangement that mostly stays true to the original recording, save for a typically scorching solo from Mitarotonda.
“Pumped Up Kicks” – Foster the People: Inspired by the concerning trend of teenage mental illness throughout the country, alt-pop darlings Foster the People released this cut on their 2010 LP Torches. While originally composed as a throwaway track by lead vocalist Mark Foster, “Pumped Up Kicks” ultimately experienced significant radio airplay and has become the group’s most commercially successful song by a wide margin.
“Look Out Cleveland” – The Band: While often thought to reference Cleveland, Ohio, it is perhaps just as likely that Robbie Robertson was inspired by the lesser know locale of Cleveland, Texas, when writing this track from The Band’s self-titled 1969 album, especially when considering the chorus’s lyrics, “Look out, Houston, there’ll be thunder on the hill.”
“Love is a Battlefield” – Pat Benatar: About once a year or so, Goose channels the eighties-dance-party vibes of one of Pat Benatar’s most popular songs, originally released on her 1983 album, Live from Earth.
“No California” – Ilsey Juber: A forlorn tale of lost-love, singer-songwriter Isley Juber’s first single from her 2023 release From the Valley paints a vivid picture of heartbreak and bittersweet memories while traversing the Golden State.
Though Goose has only performed “No California” a couple of times since its 2024 debut, it seems to be destined to fill a regular slot in their live setlists thanks to its accessible melodies and earworm chorus.
