Goose’s Peter Anspach & Rick Mitarotonda Discuss ‘Special’ 1st Sessions With New Drummer Cotter Ellis And Internet Reaction To New Music

Goose keyboardist/guitarist Peter Anspach and guitarist Rick Mitarotonda appeared on a new episode of Osiris’ Best Show Ever podcast hosted by comedian Cam Herdt. The pair shared their feelings on the initial sessions with new drummer Cotter Ellis and how the internet responded to the lineup change and the new music they’ve shared.

The Goose bandmates started the discussion with Herdt by talking about the switch. “There’s a lot of amazing moments throughout the process of finding somebody new,” Anspach explained of the search for co-founding drummer Ben Atkind's replacement. “With Cotter there were these very very special moments that I remember where we were all in the room and Rick and I were looking at each other just absolutely geeking out of our minds at how much fun we were having. That was one of the first moments I knew we had something special here.”

Peter Anspach went on to state the “Leo” jam on Goose’s Ted Tapes 2024 compilation was the first thing they played with Ellis. “Literally four minutes into that is when we had one of these moments that I was just like ‘Oh my god, this is something special,'” Anspach added. “That was really a pinnacle thing for me. He’s just such a nice guy, he works so hard … I couldn’t say enough nice things about him.

Rick Mitarotonda picked up on how Ellis inspired Goose bassist Trevor Weekz. “Trevor was playing in a way that I had never really heard him play before. He was speaking in a way I had never heard before,” the guitarist said. “Everyone was just communicating in a really interesting way. It feels just really open and free.” Herdt noted Trevor was dancing in a video shared by the band in a way he hadn’t seen.

Mitarotonda also addressed the internet’s response to the change in drummer and their new music. “It’s been an interesting experience, for sure,” Rick said and noted he’s taking a step back from social media. “The less we can [spend time on the internet] the better and just focus on the art of it and have our heads buried in that.”

“The vibes are great and all those other things, the chatter, distracts you from how much fun you’re having. The first day we dropped a clip, the whole first half of the day, I was like ‘fuck yeah’ we dropped this amazing piece of music that I’m so proud of what a great moment. Then, you get some texts about people who are reading stuff on the internet and it all comes crashing down,” Anspach recalled. “It’s like hold on a second, I love this. You can’t let yourself get down via that crap.”

Eventually, talk turned to the main focus of the podcast, Mitarotonda and Anspach’s “Best Show(s) Ever.” Herdt asked the pair about their first concerts which were similar in nature. Peter saw Brian Wilson live when he was 8 while Rick caught The Beach Boys to start his concert-going career as a toddler. However, the first concert Mitarotonda attended that really made an impact on him was Dave Matthews & Friends at the Hartford Civic Center in December of 2003.

Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio was a member of Dave & Friends which ties into Anspach’s selection of his “Best Show Ever.” Peter picked his first Phish concert which took place on August 14, 2009 at The Comcast Theatre in Hartford. After security confiscated Anspach and his friends’ weed early in the evening, Peter saw “the most informative and most amazing concert of my life.” The musician particularly was blown away by the “You Enjoy Myself” and “Icculus” Phish played in Hartford. “I was like ‘damn, I don’t read enough,'” Anspach quipped of the latter.

The experience sent Anspach down the Phish wormhole. Thirteen years later Peter shared the stage with Anastasio for the first time on June 25, 2022 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Goose and the Trey Anastasio Band embarked on the eight-show TABoose Tour November 9 – 19, 2022.

Check out a clip of Best Show Ever in which Anspach discusses his Phish experience:

Rick Mitarotonda had a bunch of “poignant” and important shows in his past and couldn’t narrow it down to just one. He picked a trip with Peter to Europe to see Fat Freddy’s Drop — though noted they saw three shows and while the first was sick, the other two were exactly the same — along with small jazz concerts featuring guitarists John Scofield, Mike Stern and Kurt Rosenwinkel as well as Bon Iver performances.

Watch the episode of Best Show Ever featuring Goose’s Rick Mitarotonda and Peter Anspach below:

Goose just announced an April 2024 run at The Capitol Theatre that will mark Ellis’ debut performances with the band. Scroll below for a full list of upcoming Goose tour dates.