Article Contributed by Jamie Huenefeld
Published on 2026-11-07
Goose | November 6, 2026 | Photos by Jamie Huenefeld/Killahwave
When Goose settled into the Miller High Life Theatre for three nights in February 2025, the run marked the band's first as a four-piece, and the century-old Milwaukee room clearly made an impression. The band enjoyed the stay so much that they returned for another three-night stand, which opened on November 6, 2026, as the third show of Fall Tour 2026 and the band's fifth appearance at the venue overall. Night one wasted no time showing why Goose keeps coming back, delivering a nearly ninety-minute first set, a ninety-one-show bustout, four first-ever segues, and the band's first "Wysteria Lane" sandwich in almost seven years.
"Royal" kicked off this much-anticipated run. Guitarist Rick Mitarotonda was laser-sharp out of the gate. This twelve-minute version of the Chain Yer Dragon (2025) track launched into an ambient jam, proving the boys were ready to play.
Recent single "Your Direction" moved the music in the Everything Must Go direction, fitting for a track from that 2025 album. Bassist Trevor Weekz laid down some tasty thumps that mixed well with drummer Cotter Ellis's tight beats.
Jam vehicle "Arrow," from 2022's Dripfield, had all the feels during this eighteen-minute heater. Mitarotonda went into Jedi mode with those soaring peaks. Weekz complemented his work, weaving around him masterfully.
The vintage "Jive II," which dates back to 2016's Moon Cabin, followed and began with a decadent slow-simmer jam. Weekz took the song for a spin, with keyboardist Peter Anspach complementing him on the Hammond B3 organ. A little bit goes a long way, indeed. Anspach pivoted to the clav and dialed up the funk for this fourteen-minute rager, which saw plenty of ups and downs and ran well past the song's usual length.
The tempo kicked up considerably for "MEDIA," the first of four Big Modern! (2026) songs of the night. Ellis handled lead vocals and was like a freight train on drums. He and Weekz drove this funky, fast-paced jam. Lighting director Andrew Goedde showed why he is one of the best in the business.
The heartfelt, intricate "Seekers on the Ridge pt I" followed and included the soul-enriching segue into "Seekers on the Ridge pt II." The pair was short, as always, but nonetheless delightful.
Set one closed out with an eighteen-minute "Hot Tea" party. Mitarotonda used an echo delay on vocals during the Dripfield favorite. Weekz took a ripping bass solo and proved he has continued to improve with each tour. The band took the music into a dark place before unfurling a rip-roaring conclusion. Clocking in at almost ninety minutes, the first set felt more like a second set.
Heavy hitter "Wysteria Lane" kicked off set two, a slot the song has filled in fewer than one in ten. performances. Anspach strapped on an electric guitar for this tune, which was co-written by Weekz and Mitarotonda. The band took the fans down the pathway to the great beyond, albeit a short one.
Anspach moved back to the Vibe Vintage electric piano as the band segued into "Good2B," marking the first time the two songs had ever been paired. Goedde launched the pink and yellow light scheme as Ellis held this '80s pop drum beat solid. An upbeat, ambient, bass-driven vibe manifested during this fourteen-minute romp from Big Modern!
Mitarotonda decisively shifted the music toward blues rock, eventually diving into the riff for "Suzie Q" by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Goose had not played the cover since June 29, 2025, a gap of ninety-one shows. During the jam, Anspach hopped on the Moog before the band returned to "Suzie Q."
A murky transition occurred as Ellis banged powerfully on the cymbals. The band skillfully found a way back into "Wysteria Lane" as Mitarotonda sang the second verse. A mellower jam emerged with Weekz leading. This shifted in a darker direction with Ellis crushing the snare drum. The boys brought the song to a raging conclusion and completed a stellar jam sandwich, the first time Goose had played "Wysteria Lane" twice in one show since December 21, 2019. Every segue inside the sandwich, from "Wysteria Lane" into "Good2B," into "Suzie Q," and back again, was a first-ever pairing.
At one point, Anspach was on his feet with his hands in the air. Fans knew this meant "Pancakes" were getting served up that night, after the Anspach-penned tune had sat out the previous fourteen shows. Mitarotonda used the vocal echo delay once again. At roughly eighteen minutes, this jam had some real teeth. Mitarotonda slayed on guitar as Weekz and Anspach, on the Moog, swirled around him. The jam delved into Type II territory with succulent prog rock vibes and deserves a re-listen.
As "Pancakes" reached a triumphant peak, the band moved into an atmospheric transition that landed in "(((postplace)))," another first-ever segue and the closing track on Big Modern! This melodic jam saw Weekz taking another vibrant solo before the music was ratcheted up to end this fiery set.
The band walked off stage with atmospheric effects still playing. They returned to play an energized "POP," also from Big Modern! Anspach switched to electric guitar for the final time. This ended night one in Milwaukee with vigor.
Check out more photos from the show!
The Milwaukee stand will continue with two more nights at the Miller High Life Theatre. Night two (Nov. 7) has sold out, though fans can still find tickets through Cash or Trade, while tickets for the Nov. 8 finale are available through AXS. Goose will then head south for two nights at The Truth in Nashville, TN (Nov. 10–11). From there, the band will swing back toward New England for a pair of shows at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT (Nov. 13–14) and a stop at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, ME (Nov. 15), followed by a members-only evening at The Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, CT (Nov. 16).
The fall run will continue at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, VA (Nov. 18) before two nights in Pittsburgh, PA (Nov. 19–20) and a tour-closing show in Rochester, NY (Nov. 21). Next, the band will celebrate Goosemas 2026 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ (Dec. 11–12), then cross the Atlantic for a show in Oostende, Belgium (Dec. 22).
Looking ahead to 2027, Goose will appear at 10 Years on the Beach, the destination event hosted by Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds in Riviera Maya, Mexico (Jan. 20–23) before a spring swing through the Southeast. That leg will open with two nights in Alpharetta, GA (April 9–10), then roll into Hollywood, FL (April 13) and St. Augustine, FL (April 15–17) for three nights at the amphitheater where the band closed out the Florida run this past April, before wrapping up in Clearwater, FL (April 18) with a return to The BayCare Sound. Hop on over to the band's tour page for more details about these dates.
Band: Goose
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Venue: Miller High Life Theatre
Date: November 6, 2026
Set One: Royal, Your Direction, Arrow, Jive II, MEDIA, Seekers on the Ridge pt I > Seekers on the Ridge pt II, Hot Tea
Set Two: Wysteria Lane > Good2B > Suzie Q[1] > Wysteria Lane, Pancakes[2] > (((postplace)))
Encore: POP
Notes:
[1] Creedence Clearwater Revival cover; first time played since June 29, 2025 (ninety-one shows).
[2] Unfinished.
