Goose showed fans what the band has been up to in the 63 days since summer tour ended, kicking off its fall jaunt in New Jersey with the debut of two new songs. The Connecticut indie-groove quintet made its debut at Holmdel’s 17,500-capacity PNC Bank Arts Center to kick off the tour set to run through November.

After opening the show with “Flodown” (a.k.a a “Flopener”) and “Mr. Action”, Goose put the new guy Cotter Ellis to work on the debut of “Draconian Meter Maid”. The band’s recently-installed drummer wrote and sang the new song, which came alive with a syncopated prog-rock breakdown that springboarded the band into a four-on-the-floor funky vamp. Peter Anspach‘s swirling clavinet guided the improvisation while pinch-hitter Jeff Arevalo jumped in on rhythm guitar. “Draconian Meter Maid” opened up into an ascendant jam that the band took to the song’s 17-minute mark.

Goose — “Draconian Meter Maid” [Pro-Shot] — 9/1/24

Goose had more surprises in store for set two, kicking off the frame with the debut of another new song, “Big Modern!”. The song’s intro and central groove felt vaguely reminiscent of an upbeat The Band song, coincidental considering Goose would close the show with The Band’s take on Marvin Gaye‘s “Don’t Do It”. Guitarist Rick Mitarotonda reclaimed lead vocals on this one, though Cotter wasn’t far as he and Anspach joined the frontman to blend the song’s multi-part harmonies. Just like “Draconian Meter Maid”, “Big Modern!” also jumped off from a heavy syncopated mid-section, and Goose rode the new song out for nearly 40 minutes. The composite jam had several distinct sections, with rising peaks giving way to expansive breakdowns to take up the bulk of this three-song, 72-minute set.

Goose —PNC Bank Arts Center — Holmdel, NJ — 9/1/24 — Set Two

Check out a gallery of images from Goose in Holmdel, NJ from photographer Bahram Foroughi along with full-show audio. Goose’s fall tour continues with three nights at Boston’s MGM Music Hall at Fenway beginning tonight, September 2nd. Find tickets and a full list of tour dates on the band’s website.

Goose —PNC Bank Arts Center — Holmdel, NJ — 9/1/24 — Full Audio

Setlist: Goose | PNC Bank Arts Center | Holmdel, NJ | 9/1/24

Set 1: Flodown [1], Mr. Action, Draconian Meter Maid[2], Drive > Seekers on the Ridge pt I > Seekers on the Ridge pt II, Same Old Shenanigans
Set 2: Big Modern! [2], Feel it Now, Madhuvan
Encore: Don’t Do It [3]
[1] Flopener.
[2] FTP.
[3] The Band.