Article Contributed by Jamie Huenefeld
Published on 2026-06-25
The second and final night of Goose's sold-out stand at Madison Square Garden on June 20, 2026 delivered another adventurous evening of improvisation, debut material, and standout guest contributions from Stuart Bogie. The quartet once again showcased songs from their newly released album Big Modern! while stretching familiar favorites into expansive territory. However, the evening was also marked by tragedy following a fatal fall inside the arena during set break. While only a relatively small portion of the crowd was aware that anything had occurred at the time, the incident cast a somber shadow over an otherwise electrifying performance.
The evening began with multi-instrumentalist Peter Anspach welcoming the crowd and guest Stuart Bogie back to the stage. Anspach also noted that the band had failed to mention Bogie's appearance the previous evening, but he doesn't need an introduction these days.
The quartet opened with the new tune "MEDIA," another track from Big Modern!, the album they had released just a week earlier. Drummer Cotter Ellis immediately pushed the tempo, steering the jam into darker, more sinister territory early in the evening. Bogie added color on clarinet, complementing the evolving soundscape. An eighteen-minute "Hot Tea" party followed. Bogie switched to saxophone, and restored the late-night atmosphere. Anspach moved over to clavinet and injected even more funk into the proceedings. Guitarist Rick Mitarotonda reached towering peaks early in the set.
After Bogie stepped away, the band launched into a tasty seventeen-minute "Rockdale." Bassist Trevor Weekz continued his dominant weekend performance, while Mitarotonda delivered a blues-rock clinic throughout the jam.
Bogie soon returned for another standout performance during "Wysteria Lane." This time, he remained on saxophone, transforming the beloved original into a jazzy delight. Ellis' drumming proved exceptional, serving as the perfect complement to Bogie's melodic lines. Weekz also notably shined, driving the improvisation forward in a song that he wrote.
The mood gradually turned ominous as the band slipped into Radiohead's "Burn the Witch." Bogie stayed on saxophone, at times adding an acid-jazz flavor to the arrangement.
The group followed with "Slow Ready," a tune that had been cut from the set-list the previous night. Mitarotonda utilized an echo effect on his vocals, which added another layer to the performance. The raging rendition brought an absolute heater of a first set to a close.
The band then took an unusually long set break that lasted more than an hour. Roughly thirty minutes into the intermission, members of Goose could be seen casually gathering near the side stage. Little did they, or most in attendance, realize that a tragic incident had occurred inside the arena. A man later identified as Paul Kueker, 51, reportedly fell from the upper balcony into Section 103. Thankfully, many fans seated in that area had been away from their seats, and no additional serious injuries were reported. Kueker was later pronounced dead after being transported to Bellevue Hospital. Fans were subsequently cleared from the section and the area was roped off. Details surrounding the circumstances of the fall remain unclear, but the situation was heartbreaking regardless of the cause. Our hearts certainly go out out to his surviving family and anyone impacted by the trauma. A GoFundMe has been set up to fund his funeral costs and support his family. If you need help, please get some.
As this tragedy quietly unfolded, Goose returned to the stage with "Arrow." Anspach picked up his guitar and handled lead duties to begin the well-known fan favorite. Stretching to twenty-six minutes, the performance stood as the longest jam across both Madison Square Garden shows. Mitarotonda unleashed blistering solos that paired beautifully with Ellis' relentless, fast-paced drumming.
Bogie magically reappeared on saxophone as the band transitioned into "Fish in the Sea," by Fat Freddy's Drop. His contributions made this rendition especially memorable, dialing up the late-night vibes once again. Rapid-fire strobe lights perfectly complemented the fiery sequence care of lighting director Andrew Goedde.
Just as quietly as he arrived, Bogie exited the stage, leaving the quartet to dive into "Big Modern!," the title track from their new release. Weekz excelled as he seamlessly stitched together the musical conversation between his band-mates. A raucous segue then carried Goose into the debut of "Good Times // End Times," another selection from Big Modern!. The blues-rock-pop hybrid immediately demonstrated tremendous promise as a future jam vehicle. The interplay between guitar and keyboards created a rich musical tapestry that packed a serious punch.
"(((postplace)))" followed and featured a textured, melodic improvisation that slowly simmered into another heater. Anspach soared on the synth while utilizing a piano effect, and Mitarotonda was in rare form as he ventured deep into darker territory before ultimately steering the band back into "Big Modern!" The sequence concluded Goose's fourth set at Madison Square Garden with tremendous energy.
The band returned for the encore and took a moment to thank both the crew and the fans. With time running short, Goose opted for "SALT." Ellis emerged wearing a yellow speedo and a pink fluffy bucket hat, which drew laughs from the crowd. The electrifying performance sent the sold-out arena home buzzing. Following the final notes, the band lingered on stage and took one final bow.
Goose will continue its summer tour with a two-night stand at Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh, NC (June 26-27) before making a stop at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD (June 28). The Northeast stretch will follow with a pair of performances at Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston, MA (June 30-July 1), followed by PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ (July 2). Goose will then celebrate Independence Day weekend with two nights at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY (July 3-4), featuring support from The Disco Biscuits on July 3 and moe. on July 4.
The summer excursion will resume in August at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre in San Diego, CA (Aug. 13), The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, CA (Aug. 14), Frost Amphitheater in Stanford, CA (Aug. 15), Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, NV (Aug. 16), and Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, BC (Aug. 18). Additional stops will bring the band to WaMu Theater in Seattle, WA (Aug. 19), Hayden Homes Amphitheater in Bend, OR (Aug. 21-22), KettleHouse Amphitheater in Bonner, MT (Aug. 24), Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO (Aug. 27-28), Twilight Concert Series in Salt Lake City, UT (Aug. 29), Mishawaka Amphitheatre in Bellvue, CO (Aug. 31), a return to Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO (Sept. 1), and Dillon Amphitheater in Dillon, CO (Sept. 2). Head on over to their tour page for more details on these shows and more.
Check out more photos from the show! Also view our prior coverage from the Goose 2026 Summer tour at Madison Square Garden (review/photos).
Band: Goose
Location: New York, NY
Venue: Madison Square Garden
Date: June 20, 2026
Set One: MEDIA [1], Hot Tea [1], Rockdale, Wysteria Lane [1] > Burn The Witch [2], Slow Ready
Set Two: Arrow [3] > Fish In The Sea [4], Big Modern! > Good Times // End Times [5] > (((postplace))) [5] > Big Modern!
Encore: SALT
Notes:
[1] With Stuart Bogie on woodwinds.
[2] Radiohead. With Stuart Bogie on woodwinds.
[3] Unfinished.
[4] Fat Freddy's Drop. With Stuart Bogie on woodwinds.
[5] FTP.
