David Shaw & Neal Francis Among Goose’s Guests In New Orleans

Goose wrapped up a two-night headlining run at the Daze Between New Orleans event at Faubourg Brewery on Wednesday. The Connecticut jam quintet’s finale at the festival taking place between Jazz Fest weekends saw them welcoming David Shaw of NOLA’s own The Revivalists, keyboardist Neal Francis and more.

Goose launched the first with “California Magic.” The strutting, bluesy number sounded right at home in the Big Easy with guitarist Rick Mitarotonda delivering some fretboard fireworks to conclude the number. Keyboardist/guitarist Peter Anspach picked up his six-string for the shimmering new tune, “Lead Up.” The band unveiled “Lead Up” on March 10 during their recent five-night run at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York. The tune has seen heavy rotation since with the NOLA play marking its seventh appearance.

“Tunred Clouds” came next before the band brought out David Shaw to sing the Blind Melon favorite, “No Rain.” Shaw handled late Blind Melon frontman Shannon Hoon’s tricky vocal part well and the cover boasted a shreddy guitar solo from Anspach. After Shaw departed, Goose stretched out the funky “Thatch” and kept up the funk in New Orleans with a brassy “Hot Tea.”

The set closer saw more guests with Francis joining Anspach in key world. The Cool Cool Cool horns — baritone saxophonist Josh Schwartz, tenor saxophonist Greg Sanderson and trumpeter Chris Brouwers — kicked off the song with a horn line in lieu of Rick’s opening guitar riff that had an afrobeat feel to it. Mitarotonda lead the ensemble through the song before Peter and Neal traded crunchy licks on clavinet and electric piano respectively. The horns then tore up the tune before Rick brought things home with some spicy riffage to close out the set.

Goose kicked off the second set with a pairing of “Hungersite,” off their latest studio LP, Dripfield, and “Feel It Now,” another song debuted at The Cap in March. The Cool Cool Cool horns then returned to help out on Goose’s cover of “Fish In The Sea” by Fat Freddy’s Drop. “Silver Rising” and “The Empress Of Organos” brought the five-song second frame to a close.

Watch David Shaw lead Goose through “No Rain” below:

Setlist (via ElGoose)

Set 1: California Magic, Lead Up, Turned Clouds, No Rain[1], Thatch, Hot Tea[2]

Set 2: Hungersite > Feel It Now, Fish In The Sea[3], Silver Rising, The Empress Of Organos

Coach’s Notes:

• [1] Blind Melon. With David Shaw on vocals.
• [2] With Neal Francis on keys and vocals, Josh Schwartz on baritone saxophone, Greg Sanderson on tenor saxophone, and Chris Brouwers on trumpet.
• [3] Fat Freddy’s Drop. With Josh Schwartz on baritone saxophone, Greg Sanderson on tenor saxophone, and Chris Brouwers on trumpet.
• Coach’s Corner: This show was part of the Daze Between festival.