Goose is a NY band. *Yes, I know: Ohio disagrees. But we all know what the kids are saying about Ohio these days.
I’m teasing. The two shows Goose just played in Ohio are top-notch shows, as usual in ‘Showhio’. The thing is, to quote Ryan Storm, CMAC was “one of the best shows of the summer so far.”
On Saturday, June 21, at the Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center, CMAC for short, this second year in-a-row show, almost to the date, saw a Goose crowd that was, from this constant listener’s POV, more attentive and more appreciative. Casual conversations with first-timers heard curiosity and the occasional “this is an amazing jam.”
The heat that meteorologists had been warning the area about for days was beginning to arrive this Summer Solstice evening in Upstate NY. Fans were welcoming the occasional breeze for sure. A girl with a fan was nearby delivering a good breeze all evening to those around her. Good vibes on the first day of summer.
This Upstate NY venue is one of the closest for Canadians to visit to see bands that don’t make it up to Canada very often. Everywhere I turned there were Canadians muttering “good day, eh?” and just otherwise being polite and some of the coolest people in the place. These days, it’s kind of a relief to talk to people from other countries. On to the jams…
Honkers, as the more seasoned fans call themselves, thought the standout jams were in Dripfield (a reliable jam vehicle) and a killer Sinnerman (Nina Simone cover). These were played back-to-back with a seamless segue. Goose has been dropping into an improvisational full-band groove that Honkers have been calling the “Goontz”. The Goontz is funky and dirty, on the edge of what jamband fans call “evil jamming.” This creates an all-out dance party, with newcomers’ jaws on the floor. Both Dripfield and Sinnerman had the Goontz!
Catch Goose this coming Saturday June 28th at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. Tickets are popping up occasionally on CashOrTrade, a reliable after-market face-value ticket sales website. See you there!
Goose – CMAC, Canandaigua, NY –
Set 1: Iguana Song, Jack-A-Roe (Traditional), Draconian Meter Maid -> Dustin Hoffman > Borne > Rockdale, Animal
Set 2: Eminence Front (The Who) > Dripfield > Sinnerman (Nina Simone), Big Modern! > Give It Time
Encore: Thatch
