Goosemas X: Wild, Unpredictable, 13 covers, Several First Times Played

Plus, an overview of this Gooseheads Substack

As anyone following Goose knows, the band’s cover songs are about the most unpredictable parts of their live shows. And about the best.

I am starting this Substack so I can go into some detail about Goose’s cover songs - and to satisfy my love of music history and music exploration. As we go, I hope to delve into other areas of Goose and perhaps cover songs from other artists.

I came to Goose via a cover myself; in 2021 they released a 21-minute version of Vampire Weekend’s song 2021. It’s incredibly good. I was immediately hooked.

Goose’s cover songs are exceptional, and I do not use that term lightly. The first cover I ever saw them perform was from Billy Joel. I’ve seen them cover Bruce Hornsby. I’ve seen them cover the Band, several times. I’ve seen them cover Shama Lama Ding Dong and I’ve seen them cover Electric Avenue. I could go on and on.

I believe Goose’s covers are at the very top of reasons why they have such a rapidly expanding fan base. I remember being in line for their second Red Rocks show in 2023 and talking to a man whose wife was “not quite there” with Goose; that is - until she heard their version of The Killing Moon from Echo & the Bunnymen from the night before on BandCamp.

That night, that fan was afforded what many say was their best cover of all time (side note: there are a lot of “all times” with Goose): I Will Die For You, from Prince. I was in the third row for that and what struck me at the time was how difficult a cover song that must be, containing 221 words, punctuated by a road map of rhythms and harmonies. That same August night, I was afforded perhaps my favorite cover song that I’ve ever seen Goose play, and I’ve seen a lot: “What’s Up,” from 4 Non Blondes. The energy at Red Rocks when that song reached its chorus is something I’ll never forget - 9,000 fans screaming at the top of their lungs, a release of emotion that only music can do and Goose seems to do better than anyone.

I’ve followed several bands and I’ve never so consistently said, as I do with Goose, “Well, there’s another Goose cover better than the original.”

Goosemas X, which took place on December 8 and 9, 2023, in Hampton, VA, offered up no less than 13 cover songs, including many never played before and many no one expected them to play ever.

Let’s take a look at the songs and the album they came from to put into context how unique Goose is in their use of cover songs, spanning genres and years.

Before diving in, we all know there has been a lot of news in recent weeks, specifically with drummer and co-founder Ben Atkind moving on from Goose. I am not sure how he’s replaceable given how his drumming seemed to chug Goose along in a way that was, well, quintessential Goose.

That said: what seems like a difficult situation for a band on a whirlwind trajectory presents a chance for Goose, I believe, to evolve into an absolute juggernaut in 2024.

We will all be listening with eager ears to see where the next evolution of Goose goes. Without a doubt, there will be cover songs.

Now let’s dig in.

Here’s a breakdown of the cover songs played at Goosemas X.

December 8

• Mirrors, Justin Timberlake | First Time Played (FTP)
  The third song in the first set, producing a terrific jam, introducing us to their mirror planet theme

  Album: The 20/20 Experience (2013)

• Man In The Mirror, Michael Jackson | FTP

  Coming out of Tumble, this closed out the first set

  Album: Bad (1987)

• Fire, Jimi Hendrix | FTP
  This opened the second set, introducing us to their fire planet theme

  Album: Are You Experienced (1967)

• Sex on Fire, Kings of Leon | FTP

  The fourth song of the second set, it came after (dawn)

  Album: Only By The Night (2008)

• Burning Down The House, David Byrne
  Transitioning out of Arrow, the song closes the second set

  From: Speaking in Tongues (1983)

  December 9

• Circles, Post Malone | FTP

  This is the first cover song of Goosemas, Night Two. It comes as the third song of the night, introducing us to a bubble planet theme

  Album: Hollywood’s Bleeding (2019)

• 99 Red Balloons, Nena | FTP
  Appearing after Circles, this is the last song before Goose comes back into song opener Pancakes.

  Album: Nena (1983)

• Big Blue, Vampire Weekend | FTP

  The third cover song of set one goes tantalizingly into Dripfield.

  Album: Father of the Bride (2019)

• I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles, (19th and 20th century composer) John Kellette | FTP

  The set-one closer comes from a song written in 1918

  Single (1918)

• Jungle, ELO | FTP
  This opens set two, introducing a jungle planet theme

  Album: Out of the Blue (1977)

• Run Through The Jungle, Credence Clearwater Revival | FTP
  The third song of the set goes into Echo of a Rose

  Album: Cosmo’s Factory (1970)

• The Way It Is, (with) Bruce Hornsby
  The cover, with Hornsby on keyboards, is certainly the highlight of the Hampton shows

  Album: The Way It Is (1986)

• Jungle Boogie, Kool and the Gang | FTP
  The last cover over Goosemas X is sandwiched between The Empress of Organos

  Album: Wild and Peaceful (1973)

The average year of the songs covered at Goosemas X is 1984.

---

I set up this Substack to dive deep into Goose covers, to give some history and reflection, and because I think it will be a good service for Goose fans and others who are on the fence.

Let’s have fun in 2024.