2020/9/17 Goose @ South Farms, Morris, CT
This piece ran on LIve For Live Music. Check it out here …
The unedited version follows …
Goose returned to South Farms in Morris, CT on Thursday night to complete a two night sold-out homestand begging the question, is there anything more normal than seeing one of your favorite bands play live music two nights in a row??? Damn if it doesn’t just feel so right. Just as Goose was soaring to previously unknown heights pre-pandemic, there was concern as to whether they could continue their ascent under current conditions. Emphatically answering the question with aGoosetic shows featuring Rick, Peter, and soon to be full-fledged band member Jeffrey Aravelo, an uber creative Bingo Tour that was one of the best streaming events of the last six months, and a pair of drive-in shows on Cape Cod in Yarmouth, MA, Goose has not only stayed relevant but continued to climb, the South Farms homestand giving their gaggle of adoring fans the in-person celebration they so desperately craved.
To a man, the band was flying as high as their flock, evidenced by the raucous pre-show cheer arising from the band’s trailer just off stage right and letting those within ear shot know that the band was raring to go. Moments later, a quintet of geese emerged to excite fans with a cover of Wes Montgomery’s “Switchin’”.
With both drummers occupying the rear stage, it’s interesting to note that while Ben Atkind faces the audience, Jeff faces Ben. To see the way these guys smile and play off of each other is to understand Aravelo’s role in the band, the double drummer format really taking Goose to another level as Jeff adds some extra pizazz to Ben’s secret sauce. Sir Joe Russo, my favorite drummer on the planet who plays eponymously in his own band, recently said in an interview, “98% of being in a band is hanging out.” To that point and even without the pleasure of knowing these guys intimately, or at all more honestly, it’s clear that Aravelo’s a glue-guy that all the others play off of.
“Doc Brown” took Derek Jeter’s spot in the batting order which preceded a lovely cover of Van Morrison’s “Wild Night” in the three-hole.
Another trio of originals really took the set to dizzying heights, Peter Anspach leading the way on guitar/keys as “Elizabeth”, “Rosewood Heart”, and “This Old Sea” showcased all the very best of our beloved fowl before a first-time-played instant classic closed the set moments later. Asking for a friend, but is there another front man besides Rick Mitarotonda with the vocal chops — and cajones to boot! — that could pull off covering Jim James??? Well, he did just that as the most positively glorious rendition of My Morning Jacket’s “State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.)” left fans gape jawed as Goose headed into the break. One fan’s tongue-in-cheek comment, “I, uh, liked that a lot,” gave Peter a giggle as the band hit their trailer. Check out this must-see footage!
Taking a walk to check out the venue during halftime, another fan stopped to ask if perhaps I was perhaps the “scarf-waving guy dancing up front and holding down the fort for the band and rest of the venue?!?” Guilty as charged, brother, I’m blessed to have energy for days and it was an absolute pleasure to do so. The rest of the walk revealed the most unique and incredible vending situation, more reminiscent of a farmer’s market (very apt for the setting!) than a concert. Food trucks and pop-up tents revealed offerings ranging from “Pig Candy” (slow roasted bacon brushed with brown sugar), to a Cupcake Wars award-winning food truck to an artisan coffee stand also serving paella, because everyone wants paella with their cinnamon apple whiskey iced latte (delicious!), natch. Highest marks to the folks at South Farms for creating the ultimate pandemic concert site whilst returning a much needed dose of normalcy to those of us for whom these nights rank as more of a necessity than a luxury.
Goose, emerging from their trailer another audible pre-set roar, opened the second frame with “Indian River” and as they seamlessly segued into a cover of the Talking Heads’ “Crosseyed & Painless”, it became plainly obvious that they were now soaring in free flight. Good luck and better seats allowed the entire twenty-six minutes to be captured on video. They merit your attention.
It would be all Goose the rest of the way with “Lead the Way” immediately following the popular jam band cover of “Crosseyed”. “So Ready”, in comparison to its slowed down partner “Slow Ready”, was a party tune of the highest order, exploding with danceable peaks while being anchored by Trevor’s bass-driven grooves. Who wouldn’t love to see the band one day play both versions together, somewhat akin to Pearl Jam stringing together slow and then fast versions of Steven Van Zandt’s “I Am A Patriot.” Anyway, just throwing that out there in case anyone’s listening.
“Arrow” closed the set, and as it started off all slow and sexy before an auto-tuned climax, I had the somewhat ridiculous but likely accurate thought that this is the type of tune that’ll leave a trail of Penny Lanes in Rick’s wake. Ya know, the kind of song that get’s you @%$#. Props to Peter, too, who was a force all his own, playing assertive leads on the guitar all night and really driving the funk with his red Nord, especially on this last. An appreciative band returned to thank the fans and play one last tune, a celebratory “Arcadia” that put the exclamation point on a triumphant, two-night, sold-out homestand.
Being close enough to participate in the transfer of energy that is the hallmark of livemusic, the drug that keeps us all coming back so to speak, was absolutely everything. Attending both nights of the run and anchoring down the front-row center spot for each was no small task and I’d like to think I rose to the challenge, perhaps even with some room to spare. I surely don’t take for granted some of the luxuries that socially distanced concerts have provided, for example the opportunity to stand an unobstructed twelve feet in front of this group of rising stars, with Rick straight ahead, Trevor and Peter almost as close but to my left and right, respectively, nary a soul in front of me nor anyone within an equal radius on all sides. Professional tarping as a pandemic-induced necessity is likely something that won’t happen again and I was on the receiving end of that goodness for a back-to-back that won’t soon be forgotten. To the talented dudes in front of me, the friends who shared in the groove, and the gracious folks behind who supported my steps with kindness and affirmation, thanks for making me feel so alive.
19,502 steps that hopefully spread my excitement to everyone behind me which, fwiw, was everyone. Note that night one clocked 19,614 steps, objectively 112 steps better, whatever that means. *shrug*
Göose • 9.17.20 • South Farms • Morris, CT
Set 1: Switchin’ {1}, Doc Brown, Wild Night {2}, Elizabeth, Rosewood Heart, This Old Sea, State of the Art {3}
Set 2: Indian River > Crosseyed & Painless {4}, Lead the Way, So Ready, Arrow
Encore: Arcadia
Coach’s Notes:
{1} Wes Montgomery
{2} Van Morrison
{3} Jim James, FTP
{4} Talking Heads
Next Show: 10.2.20 • Higher Ground Drive In • Essex Junction, VT
Funny story about flag switching to be front-row center again. HMU for the deets.
