Goose Unfurl the Longest “Arcadia” Ever at Merriweather Post Pavilion

Goose spent the summer of 2026 making the country's biggest amphitheaters feel like their own backyard, and on June 28, 2026 the Connecticut quartet did exactly that at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. The storied shed has hosted decades of jam scene history, and the band rose to meet that legacy with one of the most complete performances of the tour. The first set ran hot from the opening notes, the second turned dark and dance fueled, and by the time the night was over the crowd had witnessed a piece of genuine band history along the way. It added up to a raucous, deeply satisfying evening that rewarded longtime devotees and newcomers alike.

The evening began with "Bear," and the choice qualified as a genuine surprise. The Shouting Matches cover had been played just three times in Goose history, and both prior outings were buried in the middle of a set. This marked the first occasion the song had ever opened a show, which created a small piece of set-list history tucked into the very first notes. It also provided just what the audience needed. Guitarist Rick Mitarotonda tore into the improvisation early, and this seventeen minute rendition saw bassist Trevor Weekz dominate the blues rock tune. A stellar transition gave way to "Butter Rum," from Shenanigans Nite Club. Drummer Cotter Ellis laid down steady beats throughout the island themed vintage tune. A layered exploration ensued that melded all four members together swimmingly, and landed back in "Butter Rum."

"Madalena," from Chain Yer Dragon (2025), was up next, and a mellow blues rock passage emerged. Weekz continued to propel the groove, while Peter Anspach, who handled multiple instruments across the night, added atmospheric texture on the synth. The song stretched to roughly eleven minutes, an unusually patient reading for a first set slot, before fizzling and transitioning into "Arcadia." That version turned out to be the longest the band had ever played, a distinction that carried extra weight because "Arcadia," from Moon Cabin, also stood as Goose's most frequently played song, with two hundred sixteen prior live performances. The band's most familiar number received the deepest exploration to date, and from an atypical perch at that, arriving fourth in the opening frame rather than serving as a set capping exclamation point. The song began at a slower tempo and gradually built, powered by a strong drumming performance from Ellis. Eventually Mitarotonda unleashed face melting guitar. The band brought the music back to "Arcadia," and ended a jam that had fans dancing hard in the Maryland heat.

The melodic ballad "Jed Stone," arrived next and gave the crowd and the band a much needed cool down. It flowed naturally into "Pancakes," from Dripfield. Mitarotonda raged on guitar from the beginning of this groove, and Ellis once more raced through the beats. That brought an exciting first set to a close.

The band returned for the second set and dove into a nineteen minute "Hungersite," also from Dripfield. Weekz once again emerged as the driver, and midway through, Anspach hopped on the clav to dial up the funk. A mellow segue found the band inside the recent song "Good Times // End Times," from BIG MODERN! The song brought an eighties synth pop vibe, much like the rest of the new album, and meshed that sound with the band's indie groove roots, which turned quite edgy at times.

The dance inducing "Slow Ready," from Moon Cabin, followed. Weekz delivered an EDM inspired bass-line, and made for a memorable take paired with Anspach's work on the synth, even though it ran short by "Slow Ready" standards. Out of nowhere, the band segued into Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" and officially entered goontz territory. The pop cover had surfaced in only about three percent of Goose shows across twenty seven total appearances, yet it had suddenly caught fire, with this being the fourth airing in roughly the previous twenty shows. The band sewed together a rich tapestry and soundscape of fast paced, EDM-inspired music, and a shadowy one at that. This passage was certainly the highlight of the show. The jam proceeded to grow even more menacing, and almost had an industrial feed, care of Mitarotonda on guitar.  The group slowly journeyed back into "Slow Ready," which completed a sandwich that is worth a re-listen.

The mood mellowed considerably as the band transitioned into the latest cut from BIG MODERN!, "(((postplace)))." Barely broken in, the tune had been performed just twice in the band's history and had debuted at Madison Square Garden in June 2026, which made its appearance in the set closing slot intriguing. It offered a nice break, and was welcomed after the intense heat of the "Slow Ready" and "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" sandwich. Mitarotonda ran away with the improvisation as he wove around Weekz, while Anspach contributed on a synth with piano effect. The set ended here, although the band stepped off stage and the music kept playing. They returned, and melded the ambient sounds into "Dripfield," the title track from Dripfield. The choice was as predictable as it was fitting, since the anthem had long served as a natural closer in the biggest of rooms, and capped what could only be described as a raucous show.

After a well-earned midsummer breather from East Coast dates, the quartet will launch an expansive West Coast run beginning at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre in San Diego, CA (Aug. 13). The California swing will continue with performances at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, CA (Aug. 14), Frost Amphitheater in Stanford, CA (Aug. 15), and Grand Sierra Resort Theatre in Reno, NV (Aug. 16) before crossing into Canada for a sold-out evening at Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, BC (Aug. 18). The adventure will continue with a co-bill alongside Greensky Bluegrass at WAMU Theater in Seattle, WA (Aug. 19), followed by two nights at Hayden Homes Amphitheater in Bend, OR (Aug. 21-22) and a stop at KettleHouse Amphitheater in Bonner, MT (Aug. 24). The final stretch will feature a trio of Colorado markets with two nights at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison (Aug. 27-28), the Twilight Concert Series in Salt Lake City, UT (Aug. 29), The Mishawaka in Bellvue, CO (Aug. 31), a return to Red Rocks Amphitheatre (Sept. 1), and a finale at Dillon Amphitheater in Dillon, CO (Sept. 2). Visit Goose's tour page for tickets and a complete list of upcoming performances.

Check out more photos from the show! Also view our prior Goose 2026 Summer tour coverage from MSG night one (review/photos), MSG night two (photos/review), Central Park (review/photos), Charleston night one (review/photos), Charleston night two (review/photos), Raleigh night one (review/photos), and Raleigh night two (review/photos).

Band: Goose
Location: Columbia, MD
Venue: Merriweather Post Pavilion
Date: June 28, 2026

Set One: Bear [1] > Butter Rum, Madalena, Arcadia, Jed Stone, Pancakes
Set Two: Hungersite > Good Times // End Times > Slow Ready > Can't Get You Out Of My Head [2] > Slow Ready > (((postplace)))
Encore: Dripfield

Notes:
[1] The Shouting Matches.
[2] Kylie Minogue.