Show Review - Goose 3/26/23 Cleveland, OH
Goose brought the first weekend of their 2023 spring tour to a close last night with a sold-out show at the Agora in Cleveland, returning to “Showhio” for the first time since their New Year’s Eve performances in Cincinnati.
Opening the night with a lengthy take on “All I Need,” Rick asserted himself early with searing leads throughout the initial minor-key improv. Sticking with one mode and riding it out through several well-executed peaks. It seemed as though the band was ready to wrap it up as they returned to the main theme of the song, but the guitarist had other ideas and quickly departed on a pseudo- “second jam” of sorts.
Immediately quieting into a pretty major-key space, Trevor and Peter backed up Rick’s beautiful phrasing with licks of their own, coalescing the jam into a laid-back and beautiful theme. Continuing the demonstration of patience that we have seen at each stop on the tour so far, guitar, bass, and piano danced around each other and crafted a gorgeous melody that seemed so familiar. Peter peppered in some “Honeybee” teases as the drummers hung back and grooved along. Finally returning to the final chorus of “All I Need,” Goose had laid down yet another 20+ minute show opener full of diverse and compelling improv.
Peter took to guitar and fronted the band on “The Whales” next, a song that has really grown on me over the past year. The first cover of Bob Marley’s “Caution” since October gave way to a hot rendition of “Jive I.” Rick’s solo had a brief jazzy section that saw Spuds and Peter both switch up the normally propulsive tempo and nature of the song for a cool outside-the-box moment.
The crowd grooved along to “California Magic” as Rick and Peter showed off the bluesy side to their playing before the band jumped headlong into “Jive II.” For those in the building who may have been confused by the intense bass bombs that seemed to be coming from somewhere other than Trevor Bass himself, look no further than Jebb’s sample pad. Gleefully triggering bombs at key peaks in the show, he had Rick and Peter cracking up after each one.
The first “Jive Lee” in 16 shows got into some absolutely grimy groove spaces to close out the set, and marked the sixth-ever performance of the full Jive Triptych in a single show.
The second set began with a blazing take on “Drive.” After Mitarotonda’s fiery solo, the band eschewed any sort of jam section and launched into their first cover of “Take On Me” since 12/13/19. The classic 80s cover launched into a very classic-sounding Goose jam – an aggressive dance groove with some serious shred. Rick continued his run as MVP of the show with some crazy fretboard fireworks and a lot of hints around the “Dave’s Energy Guide” riff.
Tapping “Into The Myst” next, Trevor and Peter each took a solo at the beginning of the slow-build jam before Rick ripped it into a typically-strong conclusion with an abbreviated vocal ending. A rare second-set appearance for “Honeybee” was highlighted by a very special moment – the band surprised Coach with a new rainstick.
The second set closed with a hot rendition of “Arrow” that just reached 20 minutes and a quick romp through “Shama Lama Ding Dong” in the encore slot.
Goose delivers in Showhio! Tour continues with an intimate show in Athens, GA on Tuesday night before Goose takes the stage at the legendary Ryman Auditorium for three nights this weekend. The band has continued to develop new improvisational themes over the course of the tour so far as each band member focuses on expanding their own playing.
Three whole weeks until I get to see them again…