Last night, Goose closed out its first run of 2024 with a fourth and final performance at Port Chester, N.Y.’s The Capitol Theatre. While this landmark series has boasted many highlights, including live debuts, an eclipse celebration and the band’s inaugural performances with new drummer Cotter Ellis, none has shined so bright as Wednesday’s shocking sit-in, which brought indie pioneers Vampire Weekend to join the rising jam stars onstage for two collaborative treatments of VW originals. Beyond this dream ensemble’s first-ever shared stage, Goose bid a fond farewell to the crowd at the Cap with yet another live debut and a slew of fan-favorite deep cuts.

Goose kicked off night four with “Turbulence & The Night Rays,” a Vasudo original first staged back in 2012, followed by a ripping array of deep-catalog gems “Earthling or Alien?,” “Silver Rising” and “Atlas Dogs.” This niche fan service came to an early head with the third live debut of Goose’s second annual spring residency at The Capitol Theatre as the band presented “How It Ends,” performed only once before as Vasudo in 2022. Through a dazzling, expansive improvisatory run, the group merged this new entry into “Tumble” to close out the first set. To keen-eyed attendees, Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig, Chris Baio and Chris Tomson could be observed enjoying the first frame from the balcony, teasing their imminent sit-in.

After an introduction from Peter Anspach, Vampire Weekend stormed the stage at the top of the second set with an explosive rendition of “Gen-X Cops,” an early single from the band’s recently released fifth studio album Only God Was Above Us. This heart-pounding set-opener warmed the audience for a funking, exuberant cover of “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa,” a beloved staple from VW’s early catalog, which endured for a staggering 31-minutes as all eight members of the ensemble traded solos and explored the standard’s percussive and melodic intricacies of the standard. While Goose and Vampire Weekend have previously collaborated on the 2021 EP 40:42 (and sat down with Relix to discuss the project), this marked the first joint performance from the bands that steer ever-closer to a similar indie-groove sound.

Once the bands parted ways, and Anspach coyly noted that “those guys can hang out,” Goose returned to its second frame with “Arrow,” followed by an expansive medley of “Borne,” “Hungersite” and “Dripfield.” To finally cap off the exhilarating week of performance, Goose embraced a mood shift with the deeply stirring “Slow Ready,” directing the evening’s tremendous energy into an intentional and heartfelt final note.

Goose will return to the stage on May 24-26 as a headliner at Solshine: A Music & Arts Reverie in Chillicothe, Ill., then launch into its 20-stop summer tour. To find tickets and details for a show near you, visit goosetheband.com/tour.

View scenes from the band’s final night at The Capital Theatre below, courtesy of photographer Chad Anderson, and read on for a video of the Vampire Weekend sit-in and the evening’s complete setlist.

Goose
The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, N.Y.
4/10/24

Set I: Turbulence & The Night Rays, Earthling or Alien?, Silver Rising, Atlas Dogs, How It Ends* > Tumble
Set II: Gen X Cops+, Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa+, Arrow, Borne > Hungersite[3] > Dripfield
Encore: Slow Ready

Notes:
* FTP as Goose.
+ FTP Vampire Weekend cover, w/ Ezra Koenig on guitar and vocals, Chris Tomson on drums and Chris Baio on bass.
^ w/ “Welcome to Delta” and “Dripfield” teases from Peter Anspach.