On Friday, June 19 and Saturday June 20, Goose returned to Madison Square Garden for two highly-anticipated shows that centered around the release of their new album, Big Modern!.
The excitement from both the fans and the band was palpable. It’s a big deal for any band to play Madison Square Garden, but to sell out two nights is a statement about how far the band has come and how far they may go.
NY Knicks music and an audio replay of their winning game was played to get the fans really going before the first song was played. The first night was filled with many new songs, live debuts, and covers, and quite obvious that the band and their song have advanced so far in such a short time span.
Goose opened up the first night with “Thatch,” which got the crowd in the mood, then “Borne” > “POP” which made its live debut. Cotter’s dynamic drumming was shining through and Rick’s vocals and solos were really popping. The first set also included the live debut of “Scavenger.” The band ended the set with an electrifying “Echo of a Rose.”
The first set was filled with new material that showcased the band’s trajectory and the second set showcased the band’s ability to weave seamlessly into complex jams, which only spanned 5 thoroughly jammed out songs. The second set also featured Stuart Bogie sitting in on most of the set, providing an added texture to their songs. The band opened up with a Great Blue cover, “Pancakes,” then played “Into the Myst,” which is when it became clear that this would be a jam heavy set, letting Rick shine on guitar and Bogie add more thump on the saxophone.The band ended the second set with “The Empress of Organos,” with intricate jams that felt like they would never stop, weaving through intricate peaks broken up with structured verses, highlighting the improvisation and syncopation of the band. The band encored with a Jim James cover, “State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U).”
With two sold out nights at MSG, Goose continues to prove why they are not the next thing in the scene, but that they have already arrived and will continue to grow for years to come.
View photos from photographer Filip Zalewski, who captured the show on Friday night, peruse the setlists via ElGoose.net and stay tuned for our review of the pair of shows.
June 19, 2026 Goose, Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Set 1: Thatch, Borne -> POP[1], Savenger[1], Peach[2], Seekers on the Ridge pt I > Seekers on the Ridge pt II, Echo of a Rose[3]
Set 2: Pancakes, Into the Myst[4] -> Good2B[5] -> Elmeg The Wise[5], The Empress Of Organos[5]
Encore: State Of The Art (A.E.I.O.U.)[6]
Coach’s Notes:
[1] FTP.
[2] Future Islands.
[3] Fast version.
[4] Unfinished. With Stuart Bogie on woodwinds.
[5] With Stuart Bogie on woodwinds.
[6] Jim James.
Show Notes: Before the first set, the PA played some highlights from the recent New York Knicks NBA Finals championship and “Go New York Go.”
June 20, 2026 Goose, Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Set 1: MEDIA[1], Hot Tea[1], Rockdale, Wysteria Lane[1] > Burn The Witch[2], Slow Ready
Set 2: Arrow[3] > Fish In The Sea[4], Big Modern! > Good Times // End Times[5] > (((postplace)))[5] -> Big Modern!
Encore: SALT
Coach’s Notes:
[1] With Stuart Bogie on woodwinds.
[2] Radiohead. With Stuart Bogie on woodwinds.
[3] Unfinished.
[4] Fat Freddy’s Drop. With Stuart Bogie on woodwinds.
[5] FTP.
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