Goose Surprise-Releases New Studio Single ‘Royal’

Goose surprised fans today by dropping a new single entitled “Royal.” The Band-influenced song, which has never been performed live, arrived at midnight through No Coincidence Records on all streaming services with no advance notice.

“Royal” was co-written by Goose guitarist Rick Mitarotonda and longtime collaborator Matt Campbell. The Connecticut-based band recruited D. James Goodwin to produce the track. Goodwin was also behind the board for Goose’s last two full-length studio albums — 2025’s Everything Must Go and 2022’s Dripfield.

The brash new track featuring Mitarotonda on lead vocals is heavy on ripping guitar. Bassist Trevor Weekz alternates between funky slap work and a driving bass line, while Peter Anspach moves from electric and acoustic piano to clavinet.

“Royal” is said to “introduce the story of Royal, a transient musician whose burning ambition threatens to get the best of him,” as per a press release. The musician is “playin’ in the Night Ray Band,” a reference to the Goose/Vasudo song “Turbulence and the Night Rays.”

Stream Goose’s new studio single, “Royal,” below:

Goose will play a free noon set for WXPN at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia on Friday, August 15 before performing at Utah’s Park City Song Summit on Saturday, August 16. After a gig in Iowa on August 28 and a trip to The Gorge to open for Dave Matthews Band on August 31, the quartet kicks off their fall tour on September 12 with an appearance at Canada’s Harvest Music Festival.

Scroll below for a complete list of upcoming Goose tour dates and ticket links.