Goose

Self-described “indie-groove” outfit Goose emerged in the late 2010s with a sound rooted in American trad-rock, jazz, funk, folk, and progressive rock. Citing jam band giants like Phish, Grateful Dead, and Umphrey's McGee as influences, Goose quickly rose to the fore of the jam band scene, culminating in the release of the acclaimed studio efforts Shenanigans Nite Club (2021) and Dripfield (2022).
Goose was founded in 2014 by ex-Vasudo members Rick Mitarotonda (vocals, guitar), Ben Atkind (drums), and Trevor Weekz (bass). Based out of Norwalk, Connecticut, the group issued their debut album, Moon Cabin, in 2016 — keyboardist, guitarist, and vocalist Peter Anspach joined the roster the following year. A virtuosic and widely praised performance at the Allman Brothers-curated Peach Music Festival in 2019 brought the band into the mainstream. Still, the emergence of COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdown nearly stopped them in their tracks. Undeterred, Goose bolstered their ranks by adding percussionist Jeff Arevalo and spent 2020 live-streaming a series of acclaimed, socially distanced concerts from a Virginia barn. The shows brought in over $100,000 for the band and were chronicled in the documentary Bingo Tour: The Movie. The following year saw the group release the studio LP Shenanigans Nite Club and a 20-minute rendition of Vampire Weekend’s “2021,” which was at the request of fan and VW mastermind Ezra Koenig. Goose continued their hot streak in 2022 with the release of the full-length studio effort Dripfield, which saw them strike a keen balance between modern songcraft and the improvisational nature of their live shows. ~ James Christopher Monger