This would also mark the first potential repeat of this four-day run, kind of the same song though technically not as it’s both titled and regarded differently. “Slow Ready” debate raging regularly among Goose devotees, I’ve been firmly in the Slow camp for some time, perhaps having been swayed back last night though that could be recency bias rearing its ugly head (see Portland’s set-closing “Slow Ready” from 10/28/21 for a most recent comparison).
The band would revisit “Earthling Or Alien?” before closing the set with their proprietary dance anthem “So Ready”.Īs far as the “So Ready” vs. “Western Sun”, a forever favorite among the list of tear-jerking Goose ballads, followed in all its glory before the band returned to character for a first-ever playing of The Monkees’ “I’m A Believer” that had the crowd going wild. Evil’s turn to drop into character, asking Jeffrey Arevalo, drums/percussion, “Ready, Scott?”, the snarky teenaged percussionist replied in character, “You’re such an ass.,” before taking lead vocals on The Who’s “My Generation”, a hard-rocking classic that would wind its way into some delightfully ambient off-script grooves. Powers’ remarks aside, Mustafa ( Trevor Weekz, bass) would establish early footing as the night’s front runner for band MVP, slapping his five-string early and often while rhythm partner Mini-Me ( Ben Atkind, drums) provided the engine powering Dr.
Powers that prompted a soaring guitar solo. Evil” ( Rick Mitarotonda, guitar) comment from the lovable Mr. “Earthling or Alien?” followed in all its funky glory, gimmick-free on this night apart from the “Take it, Dr. for the 1999 hit sequel Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. The evening’s musical costume would persist with a cover of Tommy James’ “Dragging The Line”, a song also covered by R.E.M. Splendid, out of control, groovy,” said The Spy Who Shagged Me as the band dropped into Quincy Jones’ “Soul Bossa Nova”, the popular instrumental adopted as the theme song for the goofy 1990s satire franchise. This is gonna be a smashing evening baby. A journey of deeply significant growth during that time that even saw the addition of a new band member, Goose was primed to play the show of their lives up against the pressure of rising expectations in front of an ever-expanding gaggle of devoted fans.įirst to greet the audience was Austin Powers himself ( Peter Anspach, keyboards/guitar) and the crowd responded in kind with roaring screams and applause. Goose quickly outgrew the smaller pond that was home to my first show two years ago, a Halloween celebration at New York City’s 250-capacity Mercury Lounge, growing more than tenfold to the 2,600-capacity Palladium in Worcester, MA. After being confronted with some of the toughest choices I can remember, I can unabashedly say that Goose is my Halloween tradition and I was exactly where I was supposed to be. With choices galore and countless friends exercising their options far and wide, at the end of the day we vote with our presence. Halloween is the musical holiday of the year, with bands from coast to coast upholding long-standing tradition by donning musical costumes and bringing their level best in terms of both creativity and musicality.