Photo of Rick Mitarotonda of Goose by Laura Tucker
On an average Wednesday night in June, something felt just a little more special. More optimistic. As I made the turn to the Factory compound, I struggled to find a parking spot. There were also what seemed to be vendors and RVs taking up space in the large lot. Suddenly, it seemed as though I had been sleeping on an underground movement. I actually wasn’t familiar with the band before tonight. But I am obviously the odd one out. They have a cult-like following reminiscent of another happy hippy clan. In one article on the web, I found a guy who has seen them 107 times to date. That’s what I mean. These RVs, they must belong to the faithful.
I passed them waiting in line to enter. There were people of all ages and both genders were represented. They wore everything from tie-dyed shirts and flip-flops to jeans and light-up shoes. There wasn’t really one style for this crowd which indicated a broad reach for the band called Goose, though many of them opting to keep their shades on during the show struck me as a bit odd.
The set was to begin at 8:00 but the band didn’t seem to be in a rush to get the night started. They came out at 8:20 after some booing from the crowd. I thought this was due to their tardiness, but it continued as they took the stage and seemed to be more of a cry of acceptance. They started with “All I Need,” a fifteen-plus minute introduction to more of the same. The crowd swayed and danced and seemed to just simply get lost in the music. They were in their element and the booing was a distant memory.
Comprised of Rick Mitarotonda (vocals, guitar), Peter Anspach (vocals, keys, guitar), Trevor Weekz (bass), Jeff Arevalo (vocals, percussion, drums), and Cotter Ellis (drums), the members of Goose meld together in such a fluid way to create a smooth and flawless sound. They are a jam band or have an improvisational ability that seems to come completely natural to them. Maybe it’s their chemistry. Maybe it’s their musicianship. Whatever the magic formula, it works.
The next song was “Time to Flee” with the lyrics, “See ya later, alligator.” This sense of humor lends itself to the overall vibe of the band. Anspach, wearing striped tube socks, gave the impression that it’s all just fine and life shouldn’t be taken too seriously. As was equally evident by the miniature Elvis figurine and Godzilla vs. the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man stickers on one of the amps. This doesn’t mean that they don’t have substance or concerns. One of the coolest things that I discovered about these guys is their philanthropic contribution to the world. One dollar for each ticket sold will be donated to Greenpeace. Caring for the planet and using their popularity for good is a most admirable trait. And that should add up pretty quickly given the fact that they have been on tour pretty much ever since their date of inception in 2016 (with the exception of that one year). This is how they grew their tribe.
On this tour, they are playing two sets per night and they are booked for two nights at each venue on many of their stops. The need for both shows is supported by their super-fan following. Their performance here in St. Louis (I attended the first of their two nights) had a groovy sensation about it, with beach balls floating freely around the venue—and Goose fans seemingly doing the same.
And kudos to the lighting team. The setup wasn’t overly-elaborate but the ambiance was incredible. The use of streaming white starlights against the blues, pinks and purples was an impressive and eye-catching element of its own; especially from the back of the house. This was a show I’m glad I got a chance to catch. | Laura Tucker
