Photo by Juliana Bernstein

On Saturday night, the genre-blending, improvisational seekers, Goose, achieved a significant milestone by headlining and selling out at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The prestigious feat was a testament to their growth, having previously taken the stage in November 2024 at the SOULSHINE benefit concert, where they shared the stage with Robert Randolph, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, and Dave Matthews. The June 28 concert showcased a powerful performance from the Connecticut natives, Rick Mitarotonda (vocals, guitar), Peter Anspach (vocals, keys, guitar), Trevor Weekz (bass), and Cotter Ellis (vocals, drums), who delivered two high-energy sets featuring their originals and choice covers that clocked in at over four hours, exceeding the venue’s curfew by an hour. 

The band presented exemplary show moments, including extended jams (“Dustin Hoffman,” “Thatch”) and guest appearances by Stuart Bogie (saxophone), Dave Nelson (trombone), and Andrew McGovern (trumpet). The horn section that performed on their latest LP, Everything Must Go. Guest appearances bore a similarity to the band’s 2022 debut at Radio City Music Hall, due to the collaborative crossover and the arrival of Bogie and Nelson at both gigs. The addition of woodwind and brass instruments represented instrumental flourishes on select songs during set one and the concert’s encore. 

Goose stepped on stage to the sound of a roaring audience, who hooted and hollered in recognition of the historic moment. Anspach snapped photos of the crowd on his cherry red Polaroid before offering the official welcome: “Madison Square Garden, what the hell is up!?” The venue evoked scoreboard-like effects that caused the pianist to jump with glee, “Thanks, everybody, for coming tonight. This is such an honor to play here. We’re so grateful. Everybody showed up, we really owe it to you guys. Thanks for coming.” 

The concert’s framework was a testament to the band’s versatility and evolution, featuring material from their full-length studio LPs, including 2025’s Everything Must Go, 2022’s Dripfield, 2016’s Moon Cabin, their EP Undecided, as well as songs from their Vasudo side project and Cotter’s other band, Swimmer. They also worked on covers, including originals by Kate Bush, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, and Otis Day & The Knights, showcasing their ability to master different styles and genres.

Mitarotonda’s opening riffs of “Factory Fiction” set the night on fire, representing a beloved inclusion from the Vasudo catalog. “Hungersite” assumed the night’s second slot and served as an improvisational-heavy display. The band’s energy was infectious, and even those who were initially seated couldn’t resist the urge to join the excitement. Swimmer’s “My Mind Has Been Consumed by Media” set up a sequence that included “A Western Sun” into Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” and the final piece of the three-part interlude: “Give It Time.”

“Give It Time” represented the concert’s first nod to their latest studio album that also ushered in an unforeseen kick-off of material from their 2025 set: “Feel It Now,” “Dustin Hoffman,” and “Animal,” which served as set one’s final movements with help from the brass and woodwind section, Bogie, Nelson and McGovern. 

Returning after a set break, they maintained odes to Everything Must Go with “Thatch” and “Red Bird,” which merged into Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes’ 1975 release, “Don’t Leave Me This Way.” From newer adopted material, the band took a step back for their next series of songs, beginning with a partial “Tumble” before a longtime feature from their personal song bank, “Creature.” Sans pause, they moved into Otis Day & The Knights’ “ Shama Lama Ding Dong.”

The highly improvised segment ran back into “Tumble,” completing an extensive series of songs played without stop. The third ever “Jed Stone” was positioned into the night’s second set and ran into “Dripfield,” which ultimately served as the final offering from the band’s mainframe. While latter half of the night did not feature the brass and woodwind section, they were eventually invited back to participate in the concert finale, an encore of “Arcadia.” 

The soaring display was a fitting end to a night that went an hour past curfew, cementing Goose’s legacy as a Madison Square Garden act, with the fandom to fill the seats and rock the house. Following Saturday’s concert in the Big Apple, Goose will head home to their native Connecticut for a performance tonight, June 29, at the Westville Music Bowl in New Haven. The concert represents their tour finale. Tickets remain on sale. 

Watch clips from Saturday’s MSG debut below. 

Goose 

Madison Square Garden – New York City

June 28, 2025

Set I: Factory Fiction, Hungersite, My Mind Has Been Consumed By Media, A Western Sun -> Running Up That Hill[1] > Give It Time, Feel It Now[2], Dustin Hoffman[2], Animal[2]

Set II: Thatch, Red Bird > Don’t Leave Me This Way[3], Tumble[4] -> Creatures -> Shama Lama Ding Dong[5] > Tumble, Jed Stone > Dripfield

Enc.: Arcadia [2]

Coach’s Notes:
    [1] Kate Bush.
    [2] With Stuart Bogie on saxophone, Dave Nelson on trombone, and Andrew McGovern on trumpet.
    [3] Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes.
    [4] Unfinished.
    [5] Otis Day & The Knights.

Show Notes: This was the band’s biggest headlining show to date.

Setlist via elgoose.net