Goose Makes Most Of Memorable Madison Square Garden Headlining Debut

A highlight of Goose's 11-year career took place on Saturday (June 28) in New York City, when the band headlined Madison Square Garden for the first time. The Connecticut-based quartet rose to the occasion in front of the sold-out crowd, delivering a marathon, curfew-busting show with plenty of impressive improvisation, emotional moments and multiple appearances from a three-piece horn section.

Goose came out swinging in front of their largest audience to date with a 19-minute “Factory Fiction” opener. Guitarist Rick Mitarotonda was in fine voice and uncorked a memorable solo that led into the evening’s first extended excursion. The bluesy jam built from near silence to a massive climax, a trend that played out several times throughout the evening.

“Hungersite” filled the two-slot and was also a lengthy version, spanning 18 minutes. Goose LD Andrew Goedde’s light show provided the perfect accents to the powerful music as he employed his biggest rig yet. The “Hungersite” jam was a minor-key affair filled with frenetic riffage from Mitarotonda and propelled by the rhythm section of bassist Trevor Weekz and drummer Cotter Ellis. It was then Ellis who had a turn in the spotlight by leading the band through “My Mind Has Been Consumed By Media.”

The 110-minute first set rolled on with an expansive “A Western Sun” that gave way to a cover of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill.” Goose then performed “Give It Time,” the first of six songs they’d play from their recently released studio album, Everything Must Go, at the sold-out concert. While “Give It Time” was only debuted live 14 months prior, it’s become a fan favorite with many in audience singing along to the anthemic lyrics at full voice — a moment those in the house will likely never forget.

Keyboardist/guitarist Peter Anspach addressed the audience to welcome the three-piece horn section that joined Goose on the Everything Must Go sessions. Saxophonist Stuart Bogie, trombonist Dave Nelson and trumpeter Andrew McGovern initially added to takes on “Feel It Now” and “Dustin Hoffman” from the LP. The horns also contributed to the outstanding “Animal” set closer. Goose and their guests took “Animal” deep with a pretty bliss jam to the delight of fans.

Goose returned to kick off the second set with a 20-minute version of Everything Must Go track “Thatch” that covered plenty of ground. However, the well-jammed “Thatch” was just a warmup for the ensuing “Red Bird,” the improvisational highlight of a concert filled with them. The MSG “Red Bird” altered between funk, darkness and arena rock as Ellis altered tempos at various points of the memorable excursion. Mitarotonda, Anspach and Weekz fluidly exchanged ideas with all four members equally contributing to the jam’s greatness.

A cover of the Thelma Houston-popularized “Don’t Leave Me This Way” emerged out of “Red Bird” and turned MSG into a raging dance party. The beloved “Tumble” followed, was expanded beyond the 20-minute mark and kept the crowd grooving. Goose mixed industrial themes with livetronica bombast before a segue into “Creatures,” which bled into a high-energy rendition of Otis Day and the Nights’ “Shama Lama Ding Dong.” The quartet eventually closed out “Tumble” to end the stellar seamless sequence.

Up next was the second-ever Goose performance of “Jed Stone,” a song which predates the band’s formation. A “Dripfield” was tacked on for good measure to wrap another marathon set.

It was well past midnight when Goose and the horn section came back for the encore. Peter Anspach expressed the band’s appreciation to their fans for taking part in such a special night. Anspach also thanked Goose’s family and crew. The quartet and the horns threw down an “Arcadia” encore to seal the concert.

Stream an official soundboard recording of Goose’s headlining debut at MSG below via nugs.net:

Additional Videos

Setlist (via ElGoose.net)

Set One: Factory Fiction, Hungersite, My Mind Has Been Consumed By Media, A Western Sun -> Running Up That Hill > Give It Time, Feel It Now[1], Dustin Hoffman[1], Animal[1]

Set Two: Thatch, Red Bird > Don’t Leave Me This Way, Tumble -> Creatures -> Shama Lama Ding Dong > Tumble, Jed Stone > Dripfield

Encore: Arcadia[1]

[1] With Stuart Bogie on saxophone, Dave Nelson on trombone, and Andrew McGovern on trumpet.