Goose Debut “Somebody’s Watching Me” and Resurrect “Mad World” at Suwannee Hulaween
Goose, photo by Bill Kelly
On Sunday, Nov. 2, fans gathered at Live Oak, Fla.’s Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park for the fourth and final day of 2025’s Suwannee Hulaween. The 12th annual iteration of the beloved four-day Halloweekend bash brought performances from some giants in jam, electronic dance music and everything in between, and its last bill culminated in a headline set from Goose. Through their two sets on the Meadow main stage, the rapidly rising indie groove quartet celebrated the holiday with a mix of their tried-and-true classics and some very ‘80s surprises.
Recharged from a month away from the stage, Goose shot into their first set with the reliable show opener “Arrow,” then merged seamlessly into the newer relative rarity “My Mind Has Been Consumed By Media.” A medley of “Big Modern” and “Silver Rising” led the band into the exultant, shuffling funk of the Everything Must Go cut “Dustin Hoffman,” then set up a set-closer of Rockwell’s 1983 electrofunk classic “Somebody’s Watching Me”; drummer Cotter Ellis held down lead vocals with frontman Rick Mitarotonda chiming in for the Michael Jackson chorus on the live debut.
Goose lit up their second set with the older fan favorites “Hot Tea” and “Tumble,” the latter of which was left unfinished as they veered off into a cover of Tears for Fears’ “Mad World,” last played in Sept. 2024. After wading into a soul-stirring “Slow Ready,” the group built momentum through their fifth-ever rendition of the Chateau Sessions III selection “fast:slow,” then let the sparkling pulse resolve in a soulful, shreddy outpouring on Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes’ “Don’t Leave Me This Way.” When the lights went up again, the band closed out Hulaween’s Meadow Stage with an encore of “SALT.”
Goose’s final festival set of the year will be followed by another month of well-earned hibernation before Goosemas XII, staging at Providence, R.I.’s Amica Mutual Pavilion on Dec.12 and 13. Find tickets and more information at goosetheband.com.
Goose
Suwannee Hulaween
Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park – Live Oak, Fla.
11/2/25
Set I: Arrow[1] -> My Mind Has Been Consumed By Media, Big Modern![1] > Silver Rising, Dustin Hoffman, Somebody’s Watching Me[2]
Set II: Hot Tea, Tumble[1] > Mad World[3], Slow Ready[4] > fast:slow[5] -> Don’t Leave Me This Way[6]
Encore: SALT
Notes:
[1] Unfinished.
[2] Rockwell. FTP.
[3] Tears For Fears.
[4] First verse only.
[5] With You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) teases.
[6] Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes.
Setlist via elgoose.net.
