Article Contributed by Jamie Huenefeld
Published on 2026-06-26
On Sunday evening, June 21, 2026, thousands gathered beneath the trees at New York City's Central Park SummerStage for what was expected to be a celebratory small venue performance by Goose. Instead, the evening unfolded as something far deeper. Less than twenty-four hours after tragedy struck during the band's performance at Madison Square Garden, the atmosphere inside Central Park carried an unmistakable weight. Yet amid the grief, Goose transformed the evening into a communal space for healing, remembrance, and togetherness. Throughout the night, songs about oceans, journeys, patience, friendship, and perseverance took on new meaning as the band honored Paul Kueker and reminded everyone in attendance that music could still provide comfort in moments of profound loss.
The show began with the band stepping on stage in the lush, serene setting of Central Park. The mood was particularly somber given the tragic events that had occurred the prior night. Multi-instrumentalist Peter Anspach began the show by addressing the situation directly, and conveyed that the band's hearts went out to Paul Kueker, his family, and everyone affected by his untimely passing at the show the prior night. He explained that the band was deeply saddened and heartbroken by what had transpired before extending a moment of silence in Paul's honor. Afterward, Anspach shared that the band had decided to continue with the show because people needed to be together, and added that anyone who was struggling should reach out to friends, loved ones, or even the band. Following his remarks, guitarist Rick Mitarotonda simply stated, "This show is for Paul."
The show began far more somberly than most envisioned as Goose opened with "This Old Sea" from Moon Cabin. The song's imagery of laying down burdens, being carried, and crossing over naturally read as a grief song for Paul and, more specifically, as a meditation on accompaniment through death and loss. The song started out somber for obvious reasons, but the slow simmer eventually got cooking toward the end. The jam naturally flowed into "Same Old Shenanigans" from their 2021 release Shenanigans Nite Club. A raging dance party ensued as the band dug into the nearly twenty-minute version. Peter Anspach had several standout moments on the synth while Cotter Ellis maintained a steady cadence throughout. Anspach later pivoted to the organ during the "dawn" section of the tune, bringing a vibrant and bubbly energy to the performance. Bassist Trevor Weekz amped up the bass as Anspach moved to clavinet to dial up the funk. This extended version certainly did not disappoint.
Another pivot found the band in "Your Direction" from Everything Must Go (2025). While not a documented tribute song, "Your Direction" worked beautifully within the memorial context because it is structurally about movement, distance, hesitation, and crossing a threshold. Mitarotonda continued to dig deep and raged on guitar even during this shorter tune.
The funk quotient rose considerably as the band flowed into "Dustin Hoffman," also from Everything Must Go. Mitarotonda quickly fell into a sweet pocket, and delivered slick rhythmic phrasing throughout the jam. The funky theme continued as Goose launched into "Yeti" from Moon Cabin. Anspach strapped on his guitar and danced around the stage. He clearly enjoyed the freedom afforded by his wireless setup. Once again, Weekz drove the jam from the low end as the band brought the first set to a close.
Set two kicked off with a monster "Hungersite" from the 2022 release Dripfield. The lyrics speak of wreckage, disarmament, friendship, and refusing to "lay that down." In a show explicitly built around communal healing, those lines read like mutual support language for the living after trauma. The twenty-three-minute version quickly turned dark. Cotter Ellis was front and center, and deployed a clever drumbeat that pulled everything together. Mitarotonda was in rare form and unleashed face-melting guitar riffs throughout the improvisation.
The jam then flowed brilliantly into "Dripfield," also from Dripfield. This unfinished twenty-one-minute version was no slouch. While not a straightforward elegy, "Dripfield" is saturated with imagery of heaven, oceans, undertow, tides, and the notion that "life comes better in love." In this memorial context, those themes suggested continuity rather than obliteration. The watery imagery also indirectly echoed "This Old Sea," helping the second set maintain the earlier symbolism of death, transition, and carrying one another through difficult moments.
A masterful segue landed in "Jed Stone," an unreleased Goose original. This powerful version felt particularly meaningful for Paul. The song repeatedly offered images of rest, riverside stillness, drifting away, and the promise that someone remained on the other side of fear — a sentiment that resonated deeply given the circumstances surrounding the evening. Trevor Weekz once again led the charge on bass.
A really well-executed transition then found the band in Nina Simone's "Sinnerman." Goose once again slayed this cover, and that night was no exception. Later in the jam, Ellis utilized electronic drums as the band dropped into the EDM-driven section commonly referred to by fans as "the goons." The dark improvisation, propelled by an evil bass line, overflowed with EDM energy. On top of that foundation, Mitarotonda layered in searing guitar work, and placed a perfect bow atop an already sick jam.
The boys were not quite finished yet as they launched into an eighteen-minute "Madhuvan" from Shenanigans Nite Club. The band settled into an intricately woven jam that unfolded at a slightly slower pace than normal but still packed a powerful punch to end the set.
With only a few minutes remaining before curfew, Goose did not bother to leave the stage. Instead, they launched directly into "Give It Time" from Everything Must Go. As an encore-like final statement, the selection could not have been more fitting. A song centered on patience, survival, reconfiguration, and possibility after difficulty, "Give It Time" transformed from comeback anthem into something far more profound within the memorial framework of this performance. Themes of perseverance, restarting, and turning up the next song when needed became reminders that healing was rarely immediate, but it was possible. On this difficult evening in Central Park, Goose demonstrated that grief did not have to be carried alone. Through music, community, and remembrance, they honored Paul Kueker in the most meaningful way they could — by bringing people together.
A GoFundMe has been established to support the family of Paul Kueker during this incredibly difficult time. Goose is also selling a Big Love Benefit Tee, with proceeds benefiting the memorial. The shirt is available for pre-order. Those wishing to honor Paul's memory and assist his loved ones are encouraged to contribute or purchase a shirt if they are able.
Goose's summer campaign will continue with a pair of performances at Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh, NC (June 26-27). From there, the quartet will make its way to Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD (June 28) before embarking on a Northeast swing that includes two nights at Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston, MA (June 30-July 1) and a stop at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ (July 2). The run will culminate with an Independence Day weekend celebration at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY (July 3-4), where The Disco Biscuits and moe. will provide support on successive evenings.
Following a brief midsummer pause, Goose will launch a West Coast excursion beginning at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre in San Diego, CA (Aug. 13). Additional appearances await at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, CA (Aug. 14), Frost Amphitheater in Stanford, CA (Aug. 15), The Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, NV (Aug. 16), and Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, BC (Aug. 18). The late-summer itinerary will also carry the band through Seattle, Bend, Bonner, Morrison, Salt Lake City, Bellvue, and Dillon before the tour concludes in early September. Fans can visit Goose's tour page for a complete list of upcoming dates and ticket information.
Check out more photos from the show! Also view our prior coverage from the Goose 2026 Summer tour at Madison Square Garden Night One (review/photos) and Madison Square Garden Night Two (photos/review).
Band: Goose
Venue: Central Park SummerStage
Location: New York, NY
Date: June 21, 2026
Set One: "This Old Sea," "Same Old Shenanigans," "Your Direction," "Dustin Hoffman," "Yeti"
Set Two: "Hungersite" > "Dripfield"[1] > "Jed Stone," "Sinnerman"[2], "Madhuvan"
Encore: "Give It Time"
Soundcheck: "Atlas Dogs" (Indie-Groove version), "Madalena"
Notes:
[1] Unfinished.
[2] Nina Simone.
