Article Contributed by Jamie Huenefeld
Published on 2026-04-22
The Constitution State quartet Goose returned to the gorgeous St. Augustine Amphitheatre on April 18, 2026 for their third performance at the coastal venue. The band had been on a roll from the prior Florida shows in Orlando, Clearwater and Ft. Lauderdale, and that certainly carried into the evening. They dropped a few fun covers, along with a twenty-nine-minute debut of an exciting track from their new album Big Modern!, which will be released in June.
Goose stepped onto the stage with purpose and opened set one with a “Dr. Darkness” that felt locked in from the first note. It was a standard version on paper, but the energy told a different story. The band came out fired up and established a tone that carried through the entire set.
That momentum spilled directly into “Flodown” and reached through a synth-heavy segue driven by Peter Anspach and Rick Mitarotonda. The transition felt intentional and textured, with Anspach layering effects while Cotter Ellis kept things grounded with tight, steady drumming. As the build peaked and the band dropped into the song proper, confetti burst from the crowd with a perfectly timed release. Lighting director Andrew Goedde matched the moment with cascading rainbow vertical beams across the band’s evolving, futuristic rig. Ellis leaned deeper into percussion here, adding subtle complexity beneath the surface.
“Dustin Hoffman” shifted the mood into something funkier and more playful. Anspach’s clavinet work gave the opening a greasy, rhythmic pulse, which gradually stretched into a more exploratory space. The jam opened up around a strong bass line, where Trevor Weekz anchored the low end while Anspach continued to color the edges with layered textures. The result balanced groove with atmosphere without losing direction.
“Your Direction” followed and showcased a refreshed indie groove version. The band approached it with restraint, allowing the reworked feel to breathe rather than forcing it into a bigger jam vehicle.
A smooth, mellow transition brought the set into “Strange Overtones,” by David Byrne and Brian Eno, where Mitarotonda guided the ensemble into the song with a clear count-in. This tune was played for only the second time, the first being at Goosmas 2025 in Providence, RI, and the band treated it with a light touch. Ellis worked the resonant tones of his kit. Anspach leaned into piano-driven effects and was complemented closely by Weekz. Rather than diving deep, Mitarotonda danced around the chord structure, keeping the performance airy and controlled.
As the sun began to set, the band eased into “Jed Stone,” a Vasudo tune that has found new life in Goose’s rotation since 2025. Ellis’s drumming stood out here, precise with a subtle jazz phrasing that gave the song added dimension. The lyric “the night will always know that I’m just another soul” landed with weight in the shifting light. Weekz took a leading role in the jam, locking in tightly with Mitarotonda as the band built a patient, cohesive groove.
Set one closed with “Pancakes,” which was introduced in a loose, meandering fashion. Anspach rallied the crowd into participation and coaxed waves of raised hands and synchronized clapping. His piano work came through strong once again, while Weekz continued to assert himself as a driving force throughout the set. As the jam peaked, Mitarotonda delivered a searing, face-melting guitar sequence that brought the set to a decisive and energetic close.
Brand new tune “Good2B,” a feel good funk meets pop and rock song, debuted to start the second set. Ellis's drumming added significant depth. This twenty-nine-minute version had some serious teeth. The funky baseline and synth accents created this deliciously danceable composition that will easily surge as the feel good tune of summer 2026. This deep jam saw Weekz emerge as a force to be reckoned with, along with Mitarotonda unleashing his fury. The lights were notably pink and yellow, which complimented the color scheme of the new album, Big Modern!.
After those twenty-nine minutes of pure fire, a well-executed segue found the boys in “Arrow.” This sixteen-minute version continued the face melting. The middle of the jam got very dark and had heavy contributions from Ellis. That darkness morphed into the lesser elusive “Bob Don,” by With. This song was last played at the Louisville Palace on September 23, 2025.
As the tune wound down, a bubbly shift brought the music back into “Arrow.” Anspach dialed up that familiar riff by a factor of funk on the clavinet. This instance was short, fleeting, and eventually pivoted once again into “Hollywood Nights,” by Bob Seger. This well known blues rock song was last played in Charlotte, NC on September 27, 2025, and meshed into a whirl as the beat picked up. A bass-driven jam eventually morphed into a tension and release shred fest by Mitarotonda. Goedde was the proverbial fifth member with the purple, green and orange lighting display. They reached a climax and sang the closing lines for “Hollywood Nights,” before a skillful pivot back into “Arrow” to sing the last line and end the set. These are the moments jam rock fans live for.
The band returned to the stage for an encore, where Anspach first took a moment to give a shout out to Jillian for her birthday, along with a lot of love and appreciation for the audience. The band was energized and moved into a charged “Empress of Organos.” The crowd was in the same place mentally as the group, and clapping during the chorus prior to the jam was especially intense. Both Weekz and Anspach took a few moments to showcase their skills before Mitarotonda took the song to new heights.
The music eventually mellowed and landed in the ballad, “This Old Sea.” The band wasn't quite done and kicked up the tempo to transition back to “Empress,” which ended the show with vigor.
Goose is back tonight at the iconic Saenger Theatre in New Orleans, LA on April 22 as part of Jazz Fest. They will embark on a three night run in the Lone Star State, starting in Houston, TX on April 23, Austin on April 24 and Irving on April 25. The band will take a few days off before heading to San Jose del Cabo in Baja California Sur, Mexico for their second annual Viva El Gonzo. Afterwards, Goose is off to Europe for their sure to be legendary second run. This includes two nights in London, UK (May 22-23), a show in Brussels (May 25), and two nights in Amsterdam (May 27-28). On May 30, they have a show in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, followed by Paris (June 1), Berlin (June 3), and the Northside Festival in Viby, Denmark (June 5). They return to North America on June 13 with a jam packed summer tour. Head on over to their tour page for more details about these dates and more.
Check out more photos from the show!
Band: Goose
Venue: St. Augustine Amphitheatre
Location: St. Augustine, FL
Date: April 18, 2026
Set One: Dr. Darkness > Flodown, Dustin Hoffman, Your Direction[1] > Strange Overtones[2], Jed Stone > Pancakes
Set 2: Good2B > Arrow > Bob Don[3] > Arrow -> Hollywood Nights[4] -> Arrow
Encore: The Empress Of Organos > This Old Sea -> The Empress Of Organos
Notes:
[1] Indie-Groove version.
[2] Brian Eno & David Byrne.
[3] With.
[4] Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band.
Setlist via elgoose.net
