Goose Get Rolling on Goosemas XI with Debuts, Dunk Tanks and More Bingo Shenanigans

Photo Credit: Adam Berta

Last night, Dec. 14, Goose touched down in North Charleston, N.C. to kick off the premiere jam event of the holidays: Goosemas XI. Returning to North Charleston Coliseum with a bag of tricks, the indie groove quintet set the series off right with an evening full of twists, turns and antics. For some festive thrills, Goose steered its latest seasonal celebration to the theme of “Bingo Live,” returning the randomized setlist format that brought their unique live act into fans’ homes through the COVID lockdown with the 2020 Bingo Tour. On Friday, this model resulted in some unprecedented placements, live debuts and masterful improvisation, accessorized by the trademark cheerful theatrics that define Goose’s special events.

Goose commenced their holiday performance with an introduction from Lucky Lou, the evening’s quick-talking 70’s inspired emcee. After a refresher on the rules of the games and the stakes–with fans in the crowd and at home watching on for a chance to win tickets to the Viva El Gonzo destination event–the band opened the show with its first-ever treatment of The Allen Parsons Project’s “Sirius,” then moved into the funky groove of Great Blue’s “Yeti” for its first ball pull. Lucky draws kept coming as the band moved through an exuberant “Butter Rum” and a far-out take on the essential “Arcadia,” then the band played a new theme as Lucky Lou introduced The King (merchandise manager Naveed Quarterman) and promptly dropped him into a dunk tank. After this aside, the quintet tore into two more perfect placements, delivering a precise, energetic and top-shelf sprint through “Turbulence & The Night Rays” and “Silver Rising” to close the set.

After the intermission, fate led Goose to three hooky, concise selections–”Hot Love & The Lazy Poet,” “Give It Time” and “Mr. Action”–which primed the band to drop into a more exploratory space for “Hungersite,” then follow a distinctly bold, shapeshifting jam into a rambunctious “Flodown.” Taken together, these latter tracks bled into one zany, country-fried cosmic throwdown which stretched on for just shy of half an hour—a definite highlight from night one. After “726,” the band earned its first bonus ball of the night, which brought on a debut cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” charged by vocals from Nico D’Elisa and a trio of guitars from Rick Mitarotonda, Peter Anspach and Jeff Arevalo.

Goose returned to the dunk tank for another breather, soaking social media’s Bruce Robinson before digging into a poly-rhythmic, danceable and high-voltage jam on “Into the Myst.” The group merged into “Big Modern!” to close the set on a high note, then returned to the stage for an encore with “SOS,” slotting a two-part diversion to “Seekers on the Ridge” within the closer. Riding high after a downright thrilling show, Goose will return to the stage tonight to conclude what is shaping up to be a Goosemas to remember.

Fans at home can rewatch last night’s show and tune in for tonight’s follow up via the professionally-shot official livestreams on nugs.fm.