Goose’s Bold New Chapter Begins In Baja With Viva El Gonzo [Photos/Videos]

Somewhere between a dystopian fever dream and a spiritual oasis, Goose’s inaugural Viva El Gonzo festival unfolded in San José del Cabo with a surreal blend of tranquility and intensity. Under the Mexican sun, surrounded by palm trees, ocean breezes, and three otherworldly stages, this wasn’t just a destination festival; it was a sunbleached love letter to community, collaboration, and creativity.

“I feel like I’m tripping in a Mad Max movie,” Andy Frasco said as he opened the festival on the Crania stage, an arid industrial space surrounded by heavy machinery and sand. The repressive landscape was in stark contrast to this stage’s comfort, with tiered platforms stacked with pillowy couches where the audience could melt into the cushions, enjoy the music, and watch a triangular screen behind the stage that displayed stunning visuals.

The other stages were just as immersive. The Round Rocks stage, a small circular platform surrounded by spirals of massive boulders, palm trees, and art installations of towering glowing plants, created a 360-degree viewing experience unlike any other. The main stage was expansive, lush green, and bathed in sunlight. It was the perfect backdrop for swirling dancers and fiery sunsets that gave way to electric evening sets. Just outside the festival gates sat a beautiful beach with a swimming area and a marina full of yachts.

Several activities gave fans the opportunity to connect with the band members on the nearby beach. Fans had the chance to join Goose’s drummer, Cotter Ellis, for a volleyball game and go on a morning run with keyboard player Peter Anspach. A cacao ceremony allowed attendees to share a meditative experience with several band members.

The festival’s lineup featured a blend of jam-scene favorites like Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Eggy, Dogs in a Pile, and Mihali (Twiddle) as well as indie-rock veterans The War on Drugs and a touch of Latin flair from bands such as the tropical music group LA LOM and the Mexican psych-rock band Shamans.

Collaboration & Sit-Ins: A Musical Tapestry

One of the defining elements of Viva El Gonzo was the sheer number of sit-ins and onstage collaborations. Artists flowed between sets like water, adding new layers and moods to each other’s music.

On night one, Goose’s Rick Mitarotonda joined Eggy’s set at the Crania stage for a joyful version of Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al” that had the whole crowd singing along and dancing. Later that evening, Rick’s alter ego appeared in a jazzy new outfit with colored sunglasses and a funky hairstyle to join LP Giobbi’s electronic set. They delivered a genre-blurring collaboration that fused deep house with soaring psychedelic guitar riffs, proving that two often rivalrous musical worlds can work together in harmony.

LP Giobbi, Rick Mitarotonda — Viva El Gonzo — San José del Cabo, Mexico — 5/8/25 — Partial Video


[Video: Ryan Legvold]

Goose and Dawes both traded sit-ins, blending Dawes’ folkloric, narrative-rich songwriting with Goose’s adventurous improvisation. Rick then joined The War on Drugs on stage, adding powerful layers to an already otherworldly version of “Brothers”. Later that night, Dogs in a Pile brought Rick and Peter from Goose onstage for a powerhouse rendition of “Boogie on Reggae Woman”, fusing funk, jam, and groove in a way that felt like one big band rather than two.

Dogs In A Pile, Rick Mitarotonda, Peter Anspach — “Boogie On Reggae Woman” (Stevie Wonder) — 5/9/25

[Video: MICHAEL SONTAG]

Saturday’s daylight hours brought a more intimate tone. At the Round Rocks stage, Goose performed an acoustic set under the sun, joined by bluegrass virtuoso Sierra Hull. Together, they created a moment of peaceful, intricate beauty with “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” and “Atlas”, offering a softer, sweeter contrast to the weekend’s more high-caliber jams.

That night, Mihali was joined by Jimmy Law of Dogs in a Pile, who added extra soul and swagger to this solo set at Round Rocks. After Goose’s Saturday set, Rick joined an eclectic cast of musicians from both the U.S. and Mexico for The Ganzo Collective—a genre-mashing superjam that embodied the festival’s freewheeling, borderless spirit. For the last live band set of the festival, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong welcomed Peter from Goose on keys for a funked-out “Show Me”, followed by a sit-in with Rick for a supercharged, electric version of “Poseidon”.

Across all three days, these sit-ins didn’t just feel like cameos—they felt like communion. A rotating cast of friends and collaborators hopped on stage to explore, connect, and amplify each other.

Feel It Now

The feeling of overwhelming relaxation at Viva El Gonzo emanated from the stage, to the crowd, to the waves. Musicians from Goose and Pigeons Playing Ping Pong seemed to be enjoying themselves just as much as any fan on vacation.

Catching up with Cotter Ellis after his game of beach volleyball, he admitted he was “a little nervous because I really care about playing and putting on the best show,” but that it was balanced out with anticipation for the weekend ahead. “It’s excitement that bubbles up inside me. Part of the beauty of being in a jam band is not knowing what’s gonna happen out here.”

Of course, Cotter has a bit more on his plate these days as Goose recently (officially) transitioned from a five-piece to a four-piece. The drummer who joined the band last February said he welcomes the challenge of rhythmically retooling the band’s growing catalog that’s become so dear to the fans.

“It’s been really fun reinterpreting a lot of these songs that have awesome percussion parts,” Ellis said. “Transitioning to the four-piece brought out a lot of inspiring ideas of how to add different elements to what we’re playing. It leaves more space for creativity.”

Never ones to pass up an opportunity for themed performances, PPPP’s Jeremy Schon and “Scrambled” Greg Ormont welcomed the chance to curate their set to the laid-back locale.

“We have a lot of songs that mention the beach and we have songs in Spanish,” Ormont said, with Schon adding, “It’s a balance between nodding to where you are and just doing your thing.”

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Goose go back a long way, something Ormont couldn’t help but reflect on as he prepared to play the band’s luxury tropical destination festival.

“Six years ago Goose was opening for us and it’s been amazing to watch them rise,” Ormont observed. “I’m inspired by Goose’s latest album and I hope to hear them play some of their new stuff.” Greg got his wish, as Goose debuted some of its new songs during the festival.

Musical Highlights: Defining Moments Of The Weekend

Goose’s sets brought a combination of new material and fan favorites. The band’s performances balanced raw energy with emotional depth, showcasing its evolution and tight chemistry. While there were endless memorable moments across Goose’s three two-set shows, some fan favorites included night one’s explosive debut of Nirvana’s “In Bloom” featuring Mihali, night two’s high-octane “Rockdale” featuring members of Dawes and “The Empress of Organos” with a tease of War’s “Low Rider”, and night three’s thunderous and euphoric “Dripfield” that brought the weekend to a powerful close. The band also debuted some songs from its new album, Everything Must Go, including “Iguana Song” and “Dustin Hoffman”.

Goose, Taylor Goldsmith, Griffin Goldsmith — “Atlas Dogs” -> “Rockdale” [Pro-Shot] — 5/9/25

The War on Drugs delivered a set that felt like a desert storm—hypnotic, melancholic, and atmospheric. Layers of sound built into towering peaks, with music that transported the audience to another world. “I Don’t Wanna Wait” stood out as one of the most emotionally potent tracks of the entire weekend.

Goose’s acoustic set at Round Rocks was another highlight—a sunlit, intimate session surrounded by a close audience. The band, joined by bluegrass virtuoso Sierra Hull, played a gentle and soulful set that included a beautiful version of Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U”, which transitioned into a dreamy jam laced with notes of “Silver Rising”. It was a quiet moment of transcendence amid the festival’s wilder energy.

International sounds also added flavor to the weekend’s sonic palette. LA LOM, a Los Angeles-based group, brought an infectious blend of Peruvian and Colombian psychedelic cumbia, while local Mexican band Shamans leaned into heavy Latin psych-rock. Everything Here is Alive, a dreamy, folk-inspired project that occasionally veers into a heavier metallic space, brought an ethereal presence with songs that flowed seamlessly between languages, including Spanish and French. The band’s genre-defying style—what it calls “fermented alternative fae folk”—was unique, authentic, and refreshing.

The festival’s closing set was equal parts rave, fever dream, and inside joke. DJ Marb Menthols—Goose bassist Trevor Weekz’s mysterious alter ego—closed out the festival with a full-on psytrance meltdown at Crania. With bizarre, dystopian visuals flashing on the triangular screen and unidentifiable sounds pulsing through the air, Trevor hurled Marlboro cigarettes into the crowd like party favors during every bass drop. In the final, chaotic moments, members of the band and crew stormed the stage chain-smoking Marlboros together like some strange, nicotine-fueled victory lap to bring the festival to a close.

DJ Marb Menthols — Viva El Gonzo — San José del Cabo, Mexico — 5/10/25 — Partial Video


[Video: Ryan Legvold]

How It Ends

Viva El Gonzo was a unique and transformative festival experience that combined outstanding music with deep human connection. Goose didn’t just throw a party. It created a living, breathing moment in time, where fans, artists, and the environment all played their part in something truly communal. Viva El Gonzo was a trip, a gift, and a statement.

Check out videos, setlists, and David Tracer‘s photos from the inaugural Viva El Gonzo Goose festival in Mexico. Goose will return to domestic stages on May 23rd for a set at BottleRock Napa, kicking off a cross-country summer tour. Find tickets and tour dates here.

Goose — Viva El Gonzo — San José del Cabo, Mexico — 5/8/25 — First Set Preview