Goose kicked off a two-night New Year’s run at The Andrew J. Brady Music Center in Cincinnati, OH Friday night. Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval honored the band and the occasion by officially designating December 30th, 2022 as Goose Day—as if the band needed more reason to celebrate the completion of its biggest year yet.

The New Year’s run caps off a career-defining year for Goose, which included the release of the critically acclaimed Dripfield, inaugural sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall and Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and festival appearances at BonnarooNewport Folk Festival, and Sweetwater 420 Festival. The band also teamed up with Trey Anastasio Band for a historic fall tour and celebrated Goosemas at Broomfield, CO’s 1st Bank Center before landing in Cincinnati.

Goose got things off to a groovy start with the upbeat Peter Anspach-led “Elizabeth”. Nearly 15 minutes of funk-laden improv signaled the start of the night’s musical explorations. Goose then offered a nod of recognition what Anspach called its “home away from home” with a cover of “Bloodbuzz Ohio” by The National, which the band debuted at Red Rocks earlier this year.

Goose – “Elizabeth” – 12/30/22

“California Magic” came next, followed by “Seekers On The Ridge” parts one and two. A fast but long version of “Echo Of A Rose” topped out at 23 minutes, and “Turned Clouds” brought the first set to a climactic close.

If set one was the warmup, set two was the real deal. The improvisation continued as Goose stretched each song beyond its natural length, resulting in what on paper looks like a truncated five-song set. In reality, the set lasted over 90 minutes, with only one song coming in at less than ten minutes.

Highlights of the second set included a slow-building “Into The Myst”, fan-favorite “Arcadia”—the longest song of the set at just over 23 minutes—and a sequence that bridged “Slow Ready” and “This Old Sea” before transitioning directly into a lighthearted cover of Bob Seger’s “Hollywood Nights” capped the set.

After a brief encore break, Peter Anspach thanked Mike Moroski and the mayor of Cincinnati for declaring December 30th “Goose Day.” The band then played a two-song encore featuring “Butter Rum” and “Doobie Song”.

Listen to full-show audio and check out fan-shot videos and a gallery of photos from photographer Daniel Ojeda below.

Goose returns to The Andrew J Brady Music Center tonight (12/31) to wrap a momentous year with a sold-out New Year’s Eve celebration.

Goose – Andrew J Brady Music Center – Cincinnati, OH – 12/30/22 – Full Video

Goose – Andrew J Brady Music Center – Cincinnati, OH – 12/30/22 – Full Audio

Goose – “Seeker On The Ridge” (Parts 1 & 2) – 12/30/22

[Video: Kevin Higley]

Goose – “Hollywood Nights” (Bob Seger) – 12/30/22

[Video: Yimmy Yames]

Click to view more videos.

Setlist [via El Goose]: Goose | Andrew J Brady Music Center | Cincinnati, OH | 12/30/22

Set 1: Elizabeth > Bloodbuzz Ohio (The National), California Magic, Seekers On The Ridge Pt. 1 > Seekers On The Ridge Pt. 2, Echo Of A Rose [1], Turned Clouds

Set 2: Into The Myst, Arcadia [2], Slow Ready > This Old Sea -> Hollywood Nights (Bob Seger)

Encore: Butter Rum, Doobie Song

Coach’s Notes:
[1] Fast version.
[2] With Heartbreaker tease.

Coach’s Corner: Before the encore, Peter thanked Mike Moroski and the mayor of Cincinnati for declaring December 30 as “Goose Day.”