Goose Welcomes Bahamas At 1st Show In Canada

Goose finally made their Canadian debut on Monday night with the band’s first of two sold-out concerts at History in Toronto. The show featured a guest appearance from Canadian artist Bahamas (Afie Jurvanen) who led the quartet through his song “Trick To Happy” late in the first set.

Goose — guitarist Rick Mitarotonda, keyboardist/guitarist Peter Anspach, bassist Trevor Weekz and drummer Cotter Ellis — fittingly began their first ever concert in the Great White North with “Yeti.” The song features the lyric “Canadian border” which received a huge cheer from the capacity crowd.

The high-energy opener was followed by the Mitarotonda-sung “Mr. Action” and an expansive “Elizabeth” featuring a strong peak. Goose then delivered the contemplative “Your Ocean” and took fan-favorite “Earthling or Alien?” deep for nearly 20 minutes. Next came a cover of Bruce Hornsby & The Range’s 1986 hit “The Way It Is.”

Peter Anspach addressed the audience before Jurvanen emerged. “We’re bringing out a special guest. One of my favorite artists. We’re so blessed to be in his home country. Everybody give it up for Afie from Bahamas,” Anspach said. “It’s my honor,” Jurvanen responded.

Afie Jurvanen, who performs and records under the Bahamas moniker, was born and raised in Toronto. Jurvanen handled lead vocals and played guitar on the Goose debut of “Trick To Happy,” a song featured on the 2020 Bahamas album Sad Hunk. “That man’s music has gotten me through a lot of hard times and it’s also been there when it’s also a great day,” Anspach added as Jurvanen departed the stage. Goose treated fans to a well-jammed “Tumble” to close the set.

The improvisational highlight of Monday’s concert was the wild “Pancakes” that opened the second set. Goose explored multiple jam spaces over +25-minutes ahead of a fade into “A Western Sun.” The seamless segment continued with “Interlude II,” a slow and unfinished “All I Need” and the beloved “Wysteria Lane” before the quartet concluded “Pancakes.” Goose tacked on a set-closing “Slow Ready” for good measure and ended the night with a “Thatch” encore.

Goose returns to History tonight to end their two-night stand in Toronto. Webcasts of Goose’s complete winter tour can be viewed exclusively by nugs.net All Access subscribers.

Watch pro-shot video of Goose’s “Yeti” opener and fan-captured footage of the full first set below:

Official Audio (via nugs.net)

Setlist (via ElGoose.net)

Set One: Yeti, Mr. Action, Elizabeth, Your Ocean, Earthling or Alien? > The Way It Is, Trick To Happy [1], Tumble

Set Two: Pancakes > A Western Sun -> Interlude II > All I Need [2] > Wysteria Lane -> Pancakes, Slow Ready

Encore: Thatch

Notes:

• [1] Bahamas. FTP. with Afie Jurvanen on guitar and vocals.
• [2] Slow, melodic version. Unfinished.