Goose Ascends

Troy Bass, contributor

 

Indie-groove powerhouse Goose ended their biggest tour to date with a high-stakes three-night run across the Northeast. Dubbed Everything Must Go, the mission unfolded in three cities, each night building on the last in energy, emotion, and execution. From a parking lot tailgate in New Hampshire to a sold-out Madison Square Garden to a fiery hometown closer in New Haven, Goose brought the goods.

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Phase 1 – June 27, 2025 | Bank of NH Pavilion – Gilford, NH

There was something in the air from the moment we arrived. Anticipation, nostalgia, maybe even a little disbelief. Goose was kicking off their final run of the tour, and they meant business.

 

The band: Rick Mitarotonda, Trevor Weekz, Peter Anspach, and Cotter Ellis delivered a well-paced, song-focused set, saving the deep space jamming for what was to come. They opened with “Flodown” (“Flopener”) and worked their way through a dreamy “Silver Rising” and “California Magic” before Cotter lightened the mood: “This next one’s by some shitty band called Swimmer,” he joked, launching into “Draconian Meter Maid.”

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The first emotional climax came with “Mr. Action,” a soaring moment that echoed through the pit like a collective sigh: “It’s been a long time, it’s been a wild ride, but you always see it through.” After a David Gray cover (“Please Forgive Me”), they stretched out into a 20-minute “Rockdale” that gave a glimpse of what lay ahead.

 

The second set got darker and deeper, with back-to-back 25-minute explorations of “Into the Myst” and “Fish in the Sea,” followed by the title track “Everything Must Go” and a moving “Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis.” They closed with an explosive encore of fan-favorite “The Empress of Organos,” sending us floating back to the parking lot, knowing this was just the beginning. Phase 1 complete.

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Phase 2 – June 28, 2025 | Madison Square Garden – New York, NY

A seven-hour drive, a street food mishap, and a dream realized: “Goose – SOLD OUT” flashing above the Garden. Inside, the merch was wiped out, but the crowd was ready.

 

Lights dropped. A prediction-turned-prophecy: “Factory Fiction.” As the band hit the main riff, the place exploded. From there, it was an onslaught: “Hungersite,” a razor-sharp “My Mind Has Been Consumed by Media,” “A Western Sun,” and a blissful “Running Up That Hill” cover, followed by the uplifting “Give It Time.”

 

And just when you thought the first set might be winding down, a three-piece horn section emerged. “Feel It Now” and “Dustin Hoffman” were elevated into something cinematic, with a powerhouse “Animal” to close the set.

 

The second set was all gas: “Thatch,” “Red Bird,” “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” and a 45-minute groove train of “Tumble > Creatures > Shama Lama Ding Dong > Tumble.” Then Peter dropped the news: “We’re past curfew, but we’re just gonna keep going!” A tender “Jed Stone” preceded a thunderous “Dripfield” as the clock ticked past midnight. The encore? A triumphant “Arcadia,” with horns, energy, and everything left in the tank. A four-plus-hour debut at MSG. Legendary.

 

 

Phase 3 – June 29, 2025 | Westville Music Bowl – New Haven, CT

Back home in Connecticut, Goose returned to their roots with one last celebration. The sun beat down on the bowl-shaped venue as the hometown crowd gathered, ready to close it out.

 

Trevor kicked things off with “Yeti” into the dance-infused rendition of “Pumped Up Kicks” (“Yeti Kicks”). Album standouts “Iguana Song” and “Your Direction” followed, before a perfectly placed cover of “Amongster” set the stage for a 20-minute “All I Need” and high-energy “SALT.”

 

For the final set of the tour, Goose cut loose. “Big Modern” opened things up, followed by a quick-fire “Madhuvan.” Then the party really started: back-to-back covers of “Whip It” and “Suzie Q,” leading into a funky “SOS.” They teased “Slow Ready,” but gave us the 15-minute futuristic yet euphoric “fast:slow” instead.

 

For the encore, Peter pulled out a sheet and thanked the entire tour crew by name. It was genuine and classy. Then came the final spark: a 10-minute dance-party closer, “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record),” sending the crowd into one final frenzy as fireworks lit the sky over the distant New Haven night. With flawless, though unintended, synchronicity.

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Final Thoughts

Three nights. Three cities. One mission. Goose’s Everything Must Go wasn’t just a tour, it was a statement. With studio precision, jam-band fluidity, and a growing sense of purpose, Goose showed they’re not just part of the jam scene, they’re leading it.