Goose Dusts Off Bill Withers Cover ‘Use Me’ In Cleveland

Goose stopped by the Agora Theatre in Cleveland on Thursday night. The quintet busted out a cover of the Bill Withers classic, “Use Me,” during the second set.

Goose began the concert by taking “Tumble” deep, clocking in at nearly 30-minutes. A cover of Father John Misty’s “I’m Writing A Novel” came next ahead of a nearly 15-minute excursion on “Turned Clouds,” the opener off the band’s 2016 debut studio album Moon Cabin. Following “Bob Don,” the quintet went exploring again on an expansive “Rockdale” to wrap up the five-song first set.

The band kept up the jams for the second set, launching the frame with a paring of “Echo Of A Rose” and “Into The Myst” which together spanned 33 minutes. The quintet then helmed “The Old Man’s Boat” which led into the “Use Me” cover. Goose’s Bandcamp noted that the song was last played on October 5, 2019 at road manager Jon “Coach” Lombardi’s wedding.

It appears “Use Me” was last played in public on July 17, 2017 in Fletcher, North Carolina, as per Phantasy Tour. While the song has long been in Goose’s repertoire, they have only played it a handful of times since 2014. Guitarist Rick Mitarotonda sang lead on the funky cut off the late great Bill Withers’ 1972 album, Still Bill, laced with clavinet from Peter Anspach.

Rick would deliver a fiery solo to bring “Use Me” home before a big “Dripfield,” the title track to the band’s forthcoming studio album, closed out the second set. Goose returned to encore with a cover of Devo’s “Whip It,” which saw Coach break out the rainstick, and led into “Jive Lee” to cap off the evening.

Watch Goose dust off “Use Me” below:

Setlist (via Goose Bandcamp)

Set 1: Tumble > Writing A Novel {1}, Turned Clouds, Bob Don, Rockdale

Set 2: Echo of a Rose > Into The Myst, The Old Man’s Boat > Use Me {2}, Dripfield

Encore: Whip It {3} {4} > Jive Lee {4}

Coach’s Notes:

• {1} Father John Misty
• {2} Bill Withers, LTP 10.5.19 Coach’s Wedding
• {3} Devo
• {4} Jon L on rainstick