Article Contributed by Jamie Huenefeld
Published on 2026-07-02
Storm clouds lingered over downtown Raleigh, NC throughout the evening, but the rain never arrived as thousands of fans streamed into Red Hat Amphitheater for another stop on Goose's summer tour. The humidity hung in the air, but so did anticipation after the band's recent string of standout performances. As the clouds gradually gave way to patches of sunshine, the stage was set for an evening filled with adventurous improvisation, rare selections, and a powerful second set.
Before the music even began, multi-instrumentalist Peter Anspach congratulated the Carolina Hurricanes on their recent NHL championship, which prompted an enthusiastic "Let's Go Canes!" chant to erupt from the crowd. With the atmosphere charged and the clouds beginning to part, the Constitution State quartet wasted no time igniting the night.
The band kicked off the show with a high-energy "Yeti" from Moon Cabin. Multi-instrumentalist Peter Anspach led the opening on guitar, and the fans immediately responded with unbridled energy. He roamed the stage with his wireless guitar before making his way beneath a media tent, where he was embraced by members of the crew. As Goose locked into the jam, the music briefly hinted at Foster the People's "Pumped Up Kicks," though the tease never fully materialized. Instead, the quartet landed squarely back in "Yeti." As the sun peeked through the clouds, the band ripped into "MEDIA" from Big Modern! Anspach dialed up the synth while guitarist Rick Mitarotonda unleashed fast-paced, face-melting guitar work. Goose found themselves deep in goontz territory early in the show, with drummer Cotter Ellis pushing the relentless beats.
The mellow "Mr. Action" from Dripfield followed before gradually building into an uptempo groove driven by bassist Trevor Weekz. "Draconian Meter Maid" from Chain Yer Dragon came next, marking the second song of the evening sung by Ellis, following "MEDIA." The fifteen-minute version evolved into a funk-inspired jam with Anspach on the clav. Ellis was an absolute monster behind the kit throughout the fast-paced improvisation. That seamlessly segued into a raging "Drive" from Moon Cabin, where Mitarotonda entered full Jedi mode with soaring guitar solos that were perfectly complemented by Weekz's bass work. Anspach also pivoted to guitar, which added an edgier texture to the jam.
Weekz kept the momentum rolling as Goose transitioned into "Travelers" from Everything Must Go. Although the song had appeared at the recent Toronto performance on June 13, it remained a rarity after being played only twice last year. Mitarotonda masterfully navigated the intricate, vintage-inspired composition while Ellis added resonant beats that elevated the performance. Anspach enjoyed another shining moment on keys before the quartet took another turn into "Rockdale" from Dripfield. Anspach colored the Vasudo original with both Hammond B3 organ and Clavinet, while the fans were undoubtedly ready to go down to the Rockdale themselves.
Following set break, the band returned with "Don't Do It," originally by The Band. The classic rock cover had last appeared in Asheville, North Carolina, on April 10, 2026, and smoothly transitioned into "Big Modern!" Goose delivered their third-longest version of the title track from recent release Big Modern!, and it was anything but ordinary. Lighting director Andrew Goedde once again proved himself the elusive fifth band member, and created clever lighting arrangements that perfectly complemented the sprawling jam. Weekz continued to dominate on bass while Anspach decorated the soundscape with layers of synth. The improvisation steadily intensified as Mitarotonda unleashed more stellar blues meets prog-rock guitar, and sent the crowd into the air with their arms raised. This version stood as the undeniable highlight of the evening and was absolutely worth revisiting.
The mood softened as Goose drifted into "Red Bird" from Dripfield. Goedde drenched the parking garage behind the venue in brilliant red light, which created a striking contrast against the buildings of downtown Raleigh that surrounded the amphitheater. The bird band took flight while laying down another infectious groove. That groove naturally transformed into the Grateful Dead's "Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo," which ignited the crowd into another dancing frenzy. Anspach once again switched to guitar and provided rhythm as the jam blossomed into a blissful flow fueled by Weekz's bass before locking tightly with Mitarotonda's fiery guitar lines. Fittingly, Mitarotonda appeared dressed for the beloved Dead classic, as he sported a subtle tie-dye shirt.
Goose then settled into a familiar furrow that evolved into "Tumble" from Moon Cabin. Anspach continued alternating between rhythm guitar and synth throughout the eighteen-minute heater. The fans tried to hear what the song was trying to tell them as Anspach danced across the stage with his wireless guitar. The jam exploded into a Southern disco-funk fiesta, serving as yet another reminder of why fans continued following Goose from city to city. Ellis incorporated a foot-triggered drum pad to layer additional beats and elevate the tempo while Goedde maintained a white-and-red lighting pattern. The performance brought an epic second set to a thunderous conclusion.
Goose returned for an encore with the euphonious "How It Ends" from Big Modern!, marking only the second time in the song's history that it had been performed as an encore. Its gentle conclusion provided exactly the comedown the audience needed following an absolutely relentless second set, and brought one of the strongest performances of the summer tour to a satisfying close.
Goose will make its next stop at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ on July 2nd before kicking off a two-night Independence Day celebration at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY on July 3-4, with The Disco Biscuits opening on July 3 and moe. joining the festivities on July 4.
After a brief break, Goose will head west for performances 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 Theatre in Reno, NV (Aug. 16), and Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, BC (Aug. 18). The late-summer itinerary will then carry the band through Seattle, WA, Bend, OR, Bonner, MT, Morrison, CO, Salt Lake City, UT, Bellvue, CO, a return to Morrison, CO, and Dillon, CO before the tour concludes in early September. Head over to the band's tour page for additional dates and ticket information.
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), and Charleston night two (review/photos).
Band: Goose
Location: Raleigh, NC
Venue: Red Hat Amphitheater
Date: June 26, 2026
Set One: Yeti [1] > MEDIA, Mr. Action, Draconian Meter Maid > Drive [1] > Travelers, Rockdale
Set Two: Don't Do It [2] > Big Modern! [1] > Red Bird > Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo [3], Tumble
Encore: How It Ends
Notes:
[1] Unfinished.
[2] The Band.
[3] Grateful Dead.
