The el Goose Times: Volume Three

AsGoosecontinuestoriseinpopularity,oneaspecthasremained constant:theirstellarproductioncrew.Soundengineers,like Sam Bardani,playacriticalrolewithineveryliveproductionbycontrolling microphones,soundlevelsandoutputsinanefforttoproducethe bestqualitysound.AsChrisMitchell,FOHengineerforUmphrey’s McGee(aninspirationofSam’s)oncesaid, “Itisasoundengineer’s goaltobecomeinvisibleandfacilitateanemotionalconnection betweenartistandaudience,regardlessofproductionlevel (1).”

InourfirstinterviewforVolumeThree, TheelGooseTimes satdown withSamtotalkabouthishistorywithGoose,backgroundinaudio productionandmore:

Howlonghaveyouknowntheband?Whendidyougetinvolved withtheiraudioproduction?

ThefirstGooseshowIeverworkedwasin2016,IwasstagemanagerandmonitorengineeratasmallfestivalinConnecticut. Irememberbeingextremelyimpressedbytheirperformancethatnight.Aroundthattime,theywereplayinglocalvenuesand wehadmutualfriends,soIcaughttheirshowswheneverIcould.IwasthehouseaudioengineeratalocalCTvenue,Fairfield TheatreCompany.Ireallyconnectedwiththeguyswhilehandlingfrontofhousesoundforthem,specificallywhenthey openedshowsforbothTheNewMastersoundsandTheNthPower.BenandIimmediatelyhititoffandwewouldhangoutat showsintheBlackRockareaofBridgeportwhereIlived.Oncethebandwasabletohireafull-timesoundguyinOctober 2019,theybroughtmeonastheirsoundengineer-therestishistory. Tellusaboutyourbackgroundinaudioproduction–didyouhaveanyformaltrainingorareyouself-taught?Haveyou workedwithanyotherartistsbesidesGoose?Whatothersoundengineershaveinspiredyou?

Iwasexposedtotheaudioworldataveryearlyage.Mydad,RayBardani,hasbeeninthemusicbusinesssincethe1970’s, (andisstillgoingstrongtoday!)so,musichasalwaysbeeninmyblood.However,thestudioworldisadifferentbeastthat wasnotnotentirelyforme.Iamreallygratefulformyexposuretosomanyamazingmusiciansovertheyears,andthewealth ofknowledgeandexperienceIobtainedthroughosmosis.Growingup,Iwasalwaysencouragedtoplaymusic–(1) ‘HowtoDisappearCompletely:MyYearWithoutEQ’byChrisMitchell.

Iwasalsotaughttolistentonotjusttheentiresong,butthenuancesofproduction.Iwasprimarilyinfluencedbytheclassic rockrecordsearlyon,andIthinkthatexposuresetthetoneforhowIapproachtheliveexperience.

Thatsaid,Ididn’tpursuemyowncareerinmusicuntilIfoundinspirationthroughseeingliveshowsandwantedtocontribute somethingtothemagicthatIfelt.In2013IwasluckyenoughtogetaninternshipatFairfieldTheatreCompany,andtruly was“throwntothefire”headfirst,workingproductionforsomeworldrenownedacts.Ilearnedfromanamazinglytalented groupofpeople,whoexcelinlife,audio,andbusiness.Ithasbeenamazingtoworkwith,beinspiredbyandgrowalongside thisband/crew/family.Mymentorsfromthetheatre,JoeCuzino&RobertMartinau,taughtmenearlyeverythingIknowandI amforevergratefulforthem.Workingasahouseengineer,itwasalwaysamazingtopickuplittletipsandtricksfromthe visitingengineersthatwouldpassthroughtown.Thearticle‘HowtoDisappearCompletely:MyYearWithoutEQ’byChris MitchellwasamassiveinfluenceonthewayIapproachmixing.Sodefinitelyimmenserespectforhim!

Talktousaboutyoursoundrigandhowithasevolvedovertime,asthebandcontinuestogrow.

WhenIlinkedupwiththeband,ourinputlistwasapproximately20channels(individualmicrophoneinputs),asolid microphonepackageandanin-earrackwithasplitter.Ihavebeenincrediblyfortunatetoworkwithagroupofmusicianswho arethispassionateandappreciativeoftheimportanceofproduction,inadditiontothetoolsittakestoachievegreatsound. Also,theyallhaveawealthofaudioknowledge,andaloveforgear.

Asthingsbegantoreallyrampup,IwassohappythattheytrustedmyopinionofwhatGooseneededtoobtainthebest soundpossible.Twoyearslater,wehavemorethandoubledthechannelcount,upgradedourmicrophonepackage,andjust recentlybegantouringwiththefrontofhouseaudioconsoleofmydreams.Attheendoftheday,itallstartswiththesource, andmyjobistojustamplifywhattheycreateonstage.Itellthemallthetimethattheymakemesoundgood,nottheother wayaround!

WalkusthroughtheprocesspreparingthesoundleadinguptoeachGooseshow,aswellasduringtheshowitself.It seemslikeaprettyinvolvedprocess,asthere’squiteafewfactorsthatcanaffectthequalityofsound.

Runningaudio,peopleseeyoupushingfadersandtwistingknobs,butthatmaybetheshortestpartofmynight.Ourcrewis filledwithpassionate,hardworkingindividualswhowilldowhateverittakestocrusheverydetail,muchofwhichinvolves gruelingphysicallabor.Thetypicaldaystartswithunloadingtensofthousandsofpoundsofgearfromourtrailer.Onceit’sall positionedonstage,Iwillmoveontoplacingandpatchingallthemicrophones,runningcablestoeachmember’spersonal mixers,settingupthemonitorconsoleandstagebox,thensettingupthefrontofhouseconsole(all600+poundsofit!).

Imakesureall48inputsarewheretheyneedtobeandtherearenomis-patches,badcablesorphantombuzzesbeforethe bandisready.Comesoundcheck,Iletthebandjamanddialinthesound.Dependingonthesystem,thisprocesscanbea breezeortakesomefinessing.Duringtheshowiswheretherealfunishad.Iaddreverb,welltimeddelaythrows,andI’m luckyenoughtolistentoandwatchtheseamazingmusiciansfeedoffofeachothers’energy.Beingabletohighlightthecool littleintricaciesandmusicalideastheybounceoffeachotherinjamsisfun.There’snothinglikepumpingthesubsforthe bassdropinYetiandfeelingthatpowertheyproduce.Oncetheshowisover,it’stimetobreakitalldown,loaditupandthen ontothenextone.It’sexhausting,butrewardingandIwouldn’ttradeitforanythingintheworld!

Hasthetransitiontoin-earmonitorsaffectedthequalityofjamming,fromyourperspective?

Iwasluckyenoughtoinheritthein-earandmulti-trackingrigthatPeterandtheguysalreadyhadinplace,Iknewtheywere seriousabouttheirsoundwhenIsawit!It’sadreamasanaudioengineertobeabletosolelyfocusonthefrontofhouse soundandnotconstantlybetweakingmonitors.In-earsnotonlysavetheband’searsfrompotentialhearingloss,theyalso allowthemtobecomfortableandfinetunethemixtotheirlikingtosuitthevibeeachnight. WhydoesTrevorhaveamic?Inquiringmindswouldliketoknow:) IstandbythefactthatTrevor’smicmayinfactbethemostimportantchannelonstage!IfheweretospeakupandImissed it,Iwouldneverforgivemyself.Hissingularlowharmonyon“ElectricAvenue”wasgamechanging,andIwasabsolutely flooredbyhis ridesallyride during“MustangSally.”Don’tevengetmestartedonhisBingoTourrenditionof“AchyBreaky Heart.”Iwept.

RyanStorm

SpecialthankstoBrianWeberakaJiveGooseforfillinginformeintheFredition!

Aftertearingtheirwaythroughtwolegsofanincredibleearlysummertour,GoosetookthebalanceofJuly,August,and Septembereasy,focusingonafewdatesaroundthefestivalcircuit.

Startingwithanextendedsetat FloydFest onJuly23rd,thequintetfromConnecticutdemonstratedthatthesefestivalsetswould beanythingbutstandard.Openingwithanearly20-minutebliss-filled AllINeed thatmeltedperfectlyintoFlodown,Goosewas lockedinfromthefirstnote.MississippiHalf-StepandSlowReadycamenext,keepingtheenergyhigh,beforeTheEmpressof Organosbroughtournextbigtasteofjamming,completewithanamazingfunksectionledbyTrevor.NextupcameMadhuvan, featuringthenewverseandthegreatadditionofPeteronpianoduringthefinalchorus.Thejam,asallMadhuvanstendtobe, waspurefireasRichandPeterduckedandweavedaroundeachothertobringittoaroilingpeak.AsneakyMVPfor2021has been ThisOldSea,withnumerousstandoutversions,butnonemorestandoutimprovisationallythantheonefromFloydFest. Beginningwithaquietandmusingjam,colouredwithbeautifulelectricpianoandtouchesoforganfromPeter,Rickweaved gorgeousmelodyaftergorgeousmelodyovertherhythmsection’ssparseatmosphericplaying.Thejamgraduallygrewin intensity,stayinginagreatmajormodeuntilabeautifulpeakaroundthe13-minutemark.Post-peak,Rickimmediatelydirtiedup histoneandPeterhittheclavforafewminutesofthegnarliest,funkiestGooseI’veheardoutsideoftheirrenditionsofLookOut Cleveland.NotonlywereRickandPeterexcellingattheirinstruments,butTrevorseizedtheopportunityforsomeincrediblebass fillsandbreakdownsaheadofthecrowdsinginghimHappyBirthdayafterthejam’sconclusion–ithadjusthitmidnight.After closingthesetwithafiery JiveI>Lee,Goosesteppedupfortheencoretodeliveratypicallyhotversionofarguablytheir quintessentialsong,Arcadia.BeforetheencoreoftheFloydshow,Petertookasecondtoremindthecrowdoftheirupcoming festivalattheLockn’Farm,Fred.

FredtheFestival tookplaceonAugust20-22,andfeaturedrevivalsofnumerousGooseside-projectslikeVasudo,ElephantProof, andOrebolo,aswellasperformancesfromCoryWong,Dawes,andmore.Goosethemselvesperformedtwofantasticandjamfilledshowsonthe21stand22nd.AfteropeningtheirfirstnightwithanexplosiveYeti,thebandimmediatelydroppedinto Drive This23-minuteexcursion,whileveryTypeI,containedsomeexceptionalVintageVibeworkfromPeterduringthesecondjam, developingasimilarrhythm-focusedgroovetothe5/4Creatures.RosewoodHeart,PleaseForgiveMe,andanexplosiveSeekers ontheRidgefollowedbeforethealways-rockingArrowclosedthesetwithyetanother20-minuteexcursion.Thisjamdevelopeda vibesimilartotheDriveearlierintheset,withPeteronguitarinsteadofelectricpianothistime.Explodingbackintotheclassic Arrowjamaroundthe18-minutemark,Goosesentthefestivalaudienceintosetbreakonanextremelyhighnote.

Creaturesopenedthesecondsetwithanothertightgroovejam.Peterbeganondistortedguitar,takingtheleadforalittlewhile beforetransitioningtoVintageVibeasthejamranthroughitstypicalchordprogressionbeforebreakingintoabluesyjam highlightedbyRich’sfantasticrhythmguitarworkandSpuds’hi-hat.Theswingingjamcontinuedbeforemeltinginto HotTea. Someyellinganticsensuedbeforethejamtookoffatafantasticpace.HearingTrevor’sphenomenalbassplaying,RickandPeter slowlydroppedout,lettinghimstepupwithaspectacularsolo.Duringthisgroovysegmentofthejam,Trevorweavedtogethera melodythatthewholebandwouldriffoffoffortherestofthejam.ThebandcamebackinledbyPeteronclavbeforesome seriouslystank-face-inducingbreakdownsandafierypeaktoenditoffTea-style(andashoutoutfor“TeamLarry”).BringingTaylor andGriffinfromDawesonstagetojoininonguitaranddrumsrespectively(andJefftakingoverPeter’sguitar),theband strummedthefamiliaropeningchordstoThisOldSea.WithvocalcontributionsfromTaylor,thesonghadadistinctlydifferentfeel asthetwoleadguitaristsdemonstratedfantasticinterplaythroughout.Inthejamsection,TaylorandRicktookturnsleadingthe jamthroughanetherealmodethatalternatedbetweenatightgrooveandspaceyexplorationbeforechargingbackwithenergyup toapeakaccentuatedbyPeter’sorgan.SpudsandGriffin’sdrummingthroughoutwastightandthejambecameabitreminiscent oftheGratefulDeadduetothetwo-drummer,two-guitarattack.TheGoose+Daweslineupthenclosedtheshowwithan energeticcoverofTheBand’sDon’tDoIt.

8/22’ssix-songfirstsetmaynothavehadtheMobyopenerthebandhadplannedon,butitincludedthereturnofGreatBlue song Lily’sTiger,anupbeatsynth-drenchedinstrumentalthatIREALLYwishtheyplayedmore.Atightgroovedominatedthe succeedingTumbleatfirstwithPeter’sstaccatoguitarandJeff’sperfectlytimedtambourinehits,thetwoguitariststhenmove intoduelingwahpedalpartsbeforepeakingthejamaroundthe13-minutemark.AFlodown-esquebreakdownfollowedbeforea finalclimbtothepeakandendofthesong.726servedasabridgebetweenthemassivejamandtheset-closing SoReady, whichfeaturedformerGoosememberChris“Doc”Enrightonkeys.Thisphenomenalrendition,containingstandoutVintageVibe andsynthsolosfromDoc,hassincebecomemyfavouriteversionofthesong!Thesecondsetbeganinastrongfashionbeforea SUPER-extendedEarthlingorAlien?servedupaheavydoseofstageanticsasSpudsandJefftookanextendeddrumsolo.After theconclusionofthesong,Goosewelcomeduptheirfinalguestoftheweekend–keyboardistMattCampbellofVasudo,coauthor(withRick)ofmanyofourfavouritesongs.Therewasonlyoneforthemtoplayforthissit-in–theHIGHLYcoveted Factory Fiction.Withitsexplosivejamreachingpossiblythehighestpeakoftheweekend,GoosereallysenttheFredcrowdhomeinstyle, nottomentionthefantasticTravelers>ElmegtheWiseencorethathintedattheyet-to-be-debutedthirdpartofthesaga.

AndrewDaRosa with

JiveI

JiveI

WelcometothedebutofTheVoiceBeneaththeQuill.MynameisAndrewandI’llbeyourtourguidethroughthecosmosoftheGoose discography.ThisserieswilllookatthehistoriesofsomeofyourfavoriteGoosesongsaswellasabreakdown(oratleastmy interpretation)ofthelyricsandofcourse,thebestliveversionsofeachsong(nugsmembershipnotincluded).

Todaywelookatthe“WiltonianJive,”theoft-debatedfirstsongwrittenbyguitaristandprincipalsongwriterRickMitarotondafor Goose.Notfamiliarwiththe“WiltonianJive?”Perhapsyouknowitbetterbyitscurrentname: JiveI

FirstrecordedasmakingitsdebutonDecember20,2014attheinauguralGoosemas,accordingtoelgoose.net,the“WiltonianJive” existedforabrieftimeuntilitsofficialknighthoodto“JiveI”onJune17,2015atTheAcousticinBridgeport.

Whynotkeep“WiltonianJive,”youmayask?“JiveII”wasintroducedthreemonthsprior,anditseemedkindofsillytohaveonesong withthebestnameintheGooselexiconandhavetheotheronebe“JiveII.”In2016,thesongwouldforeverbecementedas“JiveI” whenitlandedonthetracklistforGoose’sdebutalbum,“MoonCabin,”thatFebruary.Remnantsofitshistoryarefoundinthestudio lyricsofthe“JiveI”inthethelastlineofeachchorus:

“Wecanfly rightonthrough thewiltonianjive”

However,ifyou’rehopingtohearthelastlinelive,youhavebetterchancesofgettinga“FactoryFiction”asRickusuallyendsthe chorusonthe“rightonthrough”line.Delvingintothelyricalcontent,onecanpickuponthemesofdeterminationandunrelenting individualismintheRick-pennedlines.

Thesongactsasasortoftaleoftheperpetualpromiseof“thegrassbeinggreenerontheotherside”thatRicksimplywillnotsettle for.Ricktellstheantagonist“no,yourbreadidon’twishtoeat,”whichhethenfollowsupinthenextversewith“wanderback/through yourloamylea/wherethewakeofassociation/couldn’tstealyouaway”—doublingdownonhisowncertaintythatheknowswhat’s best.Bothforhimandtheband.

Bythetimethefirstversecomesaround,Rickoozeswithconfidencewhenheushers“iftomorrowcomestonight/wehavecashedour gold/inforsomethingworthourtime.”ThelastversehasRickfullylooseandassured,evenencouragingthelistenertodothesame: “it’sgonnadropyourjawtosee/thethingsicando/soonyou’llseeyoucandothemtoo.”Inaway,thesongactslikeavictorylapfor theband,forgingitsownpathwhilealwaysrememberingwheretheycamefrom:Wilton,Connecticut.

Sosevenyearsafterthe“WiltonianJive”gracedtheGoosediscography,“JiveI”continuestoactasthecenterofgravityfortheband akintoTheStrokes’“LastNite”orTomWaits’“IHopeThatIDon’tFallInLoveWithYou”—beingaccessiblewhileofferingthebest glimpseyoucangetoftheband.IthassincebecomeastapleintheGooseliverepertoirewiththesongmakinganappearanceno lessthanonceeveryfiveshowsinthepastyear.

Hereareafewofourrecommendedversionsofthetunetoholdyouoveruntilthenextbig“JiveI”landsonthislist:

RaisingRicky:Pop-Pop’sPride

RaisingRicky:Pop-Pop’sPride

Grandmotherof3,yogi,travelenthusiast,andquintessential MotherGooseChick, MoMitarotonda,reflectedonthemomentshe knewhersonRickwasaseriousmusician: “Inmiddleschool,heputtogetherthissonghewrote…Heplayedevery instrumentandlayeredoneinstrumentontopoftheotherandthen didthevocalsandhandedmethisrecording…that’swhenIknew.This isatalentandapassion,anditneedstobenurtured.”

In6thgrade,theydecidedtostartguitarlessons.MospokehighlyofRick’sfirstteacher, BobRiccio,who stressedtheimportanceoflearningtheoryandnotjustplayingsongs.Rickgaveitashot,butultimately wasn’t“soreadyforthis”andpreferredlearningsongsandplayingbaseball.“By8thgrade,hereallydecided thathewasseriousaboutitandhesaidIwanttogobacktoBobRiccio.Iwanttodothistherightway.”

MoandherhusbandRichard Mitarotonda Sr’sunwaveringsupportandpositivemanifestationplayeda tremendous roleinherson’ssuccess:“Wealwayshadthisthingthatthere'snoPlanBhere.PlanAcanbe modifiedandyoucanredefinewhatsuccesslookslikebutI'mnotgoingtokillthisdream…Ithinkpeople thinkwehavetoselloutMadisonSquareGardenandthenyou'vemadeit.Itdoesn'thavetolooklikethat.”

TheywenttoworkonplanA,enrollingRickinsummerprogramsatBerkleeandNYU.Shesupportedhimas hehelpedpioneeranAPMusicTheoryprogramathisschool.“It'snotlikewecomefromafamilyofcareer musicians.Youhavetoforgeyourownpath.Ofcourseyouwanttoraiseakidthatbecomesselfsustained, whocontributestosocietyinsomewayoranother,butstillisdoingwhattheywanttodoandwhatdoesthat looklike…flippingburgersorinourcaseslingingtacosalongtheway.”

Ittakesavillagetoraiseachild,andMoandherhusbandhadonehellofatribe.Rickdonnedasweatshirtat the11/6/20SouthFarmsshowhonoringhisgrandfather:

“Theyhadsuchaspecialrelationship.WhenRickwasborn,hisgrandfatherhadjustretired.WhenIwas goingbacktowork,IwaskindoffreakingoutlikeIdon'tknowifIcandothis.”Herfather-in-lawdrovefrom LongIslandtoConnecticuteveryweekforthefirsttwoandahalfyearsofRick’slife.Tuesdaythrough ThursdayPop-Popchangeddiapers,napped,watchedsoapoperas,andwalkedtheneighborhoodwithRick whileMowasatwork.

Mo’sbrotherwasanothermajorinfluenceonyoungRicky.“Mybrotherwasasingerinaband.WhenRickwas probably14or15,theywereplayinggigsintheselocalbarsandclubsandRickplayedwiththem.Whenhe startedplaying,hesatonaspeakerwithhisbacktotheaudiencebecausehedidn'tfeelcomfortableon stage.Ittookawhilebutmybrotherreallyhelpedhimwiththat.Aftersomanyshows,therehewasturned around,standingup.Itwasreallycool.Thosewerehisfirstgigs.”

Rick’sunclealsogotthefamilyinvolvedwith ShenanigansNiteClub.“WhenShenanigansopened,mybrother wasworkingformybrother-in-law.TheywereinstallingthecarpetatShenanigans,andhejusttookalikingto thosepeopleandtheytookalikingtohim.Hesaidtomybrotherinlaw,‘IthinkI'mgonnastayhere.’Andhe did!Hestartedoffasabouncer,andthenultimatelywasbookingallthetalent.Itwasarealspecialplacefor ourfamily.”Mo’sfavoriteshowwasrockabillysingerRobertGordon.ShealsosawGoosemas2018whenthe clubwasknownasCantikiandhadthehonorofguestbartendingforBonnieRaitt.“Iknowexactlyhowshe likesherlemonscut.”

“Thiskidisn’theadingforWallStreet”

There’sobviouslyricalhomagestoRick’suncleandfatherthroughout theGoosecatalogue.There’ssomethingaboutthesesongs(Spiritof theDarkHorse,WesternSun,ThisOldSeatonameafew)that connectwiththelisteneronadeeperlevel.Moacknowledgedmanyof theselyricsevokestrongemotionsastheywerewrittenatatimeof profoundgriefforherandherfamily.

Thatwasreallyhardtolosehim…that’showheprocessesthingsand that’showheexpresseshimself—throughhislyrics.”Laterthatyear, whenRickwasjuststartingcollege,hisfatherdied.

Hersonmanagedtoconstructivelydealwithgriefinawaythat

ThesamecanbesaidforthelyricstoLeadtheWay,asongdedicated tothefamily’sGoldenRetriever,Sadie.Aroundthe5thor6thgrade, Rick’soldersisterleftforcollege.Rickwantedadogtodividethe attentionhewasnowsolelyreceivingathome.

“ShewasonRick’sschedule.We’regoingtowakeupat11amand stayupto3am.Shereallydidsitinthefrontseat.Shecouldalwaystell whenhewasmakingmoves.Shewenteverywherewithhim.”Even whenRickmovedintoanapartmentforcollegehetriedtobringSadie. Hekeptherthereaslongashecoulduntiltheygotcaught.

SeveralofthesesongsfromMoonCabinandShenaniganswere writtenandrecordedinastudioRickbuiltonthethirdfloorofMo’s home.Despite,hisbestattemptstoinsulatetheroom,shecouldstill hearthatprocess:

“It'stedious.It’sthesamethingoverandoverandoveragainbecause he'saperfectionist.ThenIwouldhearitinasongandsayohmygod heworkedonthatsohardforjustthatonelittlepieceofit!Itwasreally interestingtowitnessthatprocessandseeitcometofruitionandhear whathewasshootingforthatwholetime.” Moperfectlydescribedhowitfeelswitnessinghersonreachsomany

InSupportOf:

InSupportOf:

Themissionof GrooveSafe isto cultivateconsentcultureand createano-tolerance environmentforharassmentand sexualmisconductatevents.

Goose isrecognizedasa GrooveSafeArtistAmbassador andisastrongsupporterofthe GrooveSafemission.

Goosewillnottolerateany harassmentorunwanted touchingattheirshowsorbytheir community.

Howcanfanshelp?It’simportant tolookoutforoneanother-ifwe allworktogetherwecanmake thisenvironmentwelovesomuch safeandfunforeveryone.

TosupportGrooveSafe(anonprofitorganization)andtolearn moreabouttheirmission, pleasevisitGrooveSafe.com

“Hejustwroteandwroteandwrote… sharingitmeanssomethingtopeoplethat aregoingthroughsomething.Itdoesn't evennecessarilyhavetobethepainorthe growththatyoulearnfromthat…They connecttoitonwhateverleveltheyneed toconnecttoiton.”

positivelyimpactsourentirecommunity.

Interview: Interview: Interview:

JonCaruso with

SeanCronin Guitarist&Mastermind ElephantProof

ElephantProofstompedintotheFredFestivalanddeliveredanelectriclate-nightset,whichmanythoughtwasoneofthe highlightsofanexceptionalweekend.Theirsetwasapleasantsurprisetomany,asquiteafewTEDheadsdidn’tknowmuch abouttheAllston,Massachusetts-basedbandpriortotheirinclusioninthefestivallineup.OurTEDitor-in-Chiefcaughtupwith SeanCronin,theguitaristandmastermindbehindElephantProof,followingtheirfirstshowinoversixyearsatFredthe Festival:

WhatwasitlikeperforminglatenightattheFredFestival?Moreimportantly,whatwasitlikeplayingonstagewithyour friendsagain?Theenergywaspalpableanditwasoneofourfavoritesetsoftheweekend!

Thankyou,Iappreciatethat.Thankyouforcomingtocheckouttheset!Iknowlikenoonereallyknewanythingoftheband, soI’mgladthatsomepeoplewereinterestedenoughtocomeoutandseewhatweareabout.ItwaseverythingIhopedfor andsomuchmore,youknow?

Itwas amazing.Thelightsinthetreesintheforestwerejustaddingsomuchtothevibe.Itwasincredible,thecrowdwasso locked-inwithusanditfeltsogood.Itsoundedgreatupthereonthestage.AtsomepointIwasdefinitelyfeelingthevibesof, like,athousandgigsbefore–emanatingoutoftheforest.Iwaslike,“It’stimetodiginrightnow!”Thisiswhatthisstagewas meantfor.TheproductioncrewsatFredwere sogood onbothstages–onthemainstageandtheforeststage.ThePAwas justaboutasgoodofaPAasI’veeverheard.Thecrewtookallthetimethatwasnecessarytomakesureeverythingwas perfect. Theguysweresohappytobeonstageandwewerelockedinsuperhardallset. Itwasafuckin’blast!

WhoseideawasittodotheHomeDepotthemeintoacoverof PurpleHaze?Theunexpectedcoverswereatreatandillustratedto ushowElephantProofisanincrediblyuniquemeltingpotof influences–frommetaltojazztoeverythingin-between.

Itspeakstothequotefromyourinterviewwiththe GreatBeyond podcast:“Thegoalofartistobecomeanamalgamationof everythingyou’veeverheardthat’sstuckwithyouandputyourown signatureonit.”

(chuckles) Thatonewasmyidea,because,firstofall,asalotof peoplehavesaidontheinternet,theHomeDepotsonghasno businessslappingashardasitdoes!Thatshitfucks! (chuckles)

Butthat’skindofacornerstoneofElephantProof’sliveshows:crazy coversthatmakenosensebutsomehowendupmakingsenseinthe end.

SomethingI’vealwaysbeenreallyintowithmusicismakingstuffworkthatreallyshouldn’t.Igotveryheavilyintothatstyleof mashupcoverswhetherwemashtwosongstogetherorjustdoacompletelydifferentversionofasongthatwasnotverygood andmakeitintosomethingcoolonpurpose.

PicturedAbove: ElephantProoflate-nightsetatFredtheFestival,August2021 (PhotoCredit:JonCaruso)

Wedohaveabunchofsessionscomingup,somethingwithRelixMagazine(alivein-studioperformance)andwe’regoingto check-inatarecordingstudioinBrooklyninOctoberatsomepointtotalklogistics,laydownafewtracksandhangoutwith theguys.Andrightnow,we’relookingatafewshowsinJanuary.Ican’tspeakofthoseshowsyet,butthey’reprettybigand they’llbeintheNewEnglandarea.We’llgofromthere–we’vegottwoonthebooksandfiveorsixmorethatwe’reworking on.LikeIsaid,the(Goose)managementteamissogood,they’rereallyprofessionalandcarealotaboutwhatwe’retryingto accomplish.

(Gooseaswell)areregulardudeswhoworkedsuperhardatwhattheyweredoing,theynevergaveup,anditturnedinto somethingthatpeoplereallyfellinlovewith.Theyworkedhardandkeptgoing.They’resuperdown-to-earthandI’mjustso excitedtoworkwiththeirmanagementteam.

WhatshowsareyoumostlookingforwardtoonGoose’sFallTour?

Ididseethey’redoingsomegigsinColoradoinmid-November–Ilookedonmycalendarandmycalendarisfree,whichisa firstforme.I’vebeendoing150-200nightsayearforthelast12yearsofmylife,Idon’trememberthelasttimeIhada monthoff(minusthetimeduringthepandemic).It’sskiseason,I’mabigskierandmountainbiker–Imightjustgoout theretodosomeskiing,seesomeGooseandhangoutwithmyColoradofriends. Thankyouagainforspendingtimecatchingupwith

Recipe#2: GOOseBalls

Someofyoumaybetooyoungtorememberbuyinggooballsfromagirlinapatchwork skirt,withflowersinherhairandawickerbasket,butsomeofyourparentsmight! Gooballsweretypicallyinfusedsnackswithallsortsofgoodiesaddedintoyourliking. ThisrecipewontbeinfusedbutfeelfreetoDIY.TheseGOOseBallswillbepackedwith proteintogiveyoutonsofenergyandcanbecustomizedwithallsortoffunaddins!

FamilyhasalwaysbeenanimportantaspectoftheGoosecommunity andinthiseditionofElGoslings,wewantedtohighlightoneofthe manyGoosefamilieswithinourcommunityandlistentheirstories.This Volume’shighlightisthe Langefamily fromNebraska!

Kevin: “AfewyearsagoIwasworkingconstructionandgothurt,which forcedmetobeastay-at-homeDadto3whileMorganworkedfulltime. In2019,MorgangotintotoUNL,soshewasafull-timestudent,in additiontoworkingfull-time.WhileshewasdoingthatIstarteddoing artforextramoney,alotofpaintingsandsomeresinpieces.Igot turnedontoGoosebyfindingthePizzaintheParkvideo.Iwashooked prettyquick,theideaswereflowingandmynotebookstartedfillingup withideasforpinsandstickersaswellasshowpostersallforGoose. They’rewhatIlistenedtoconstantlyformonthsandthekidsstarted noticingcertainsongs.

Obviously,TimeToFleewasoneofthefirstthatstuckoutforthe“See YouLaterAlligator”lineand“Honeybee”alwaysseemedtogetthem movingmorethanothers-weendedupusingHoneybeeforthemiddle nameofour8montholdGoldenLab.Mykidshavebeento Summercamp,inadditiontoseeingPhishandmanyotherbands multipletimes,butthere’savibetoGoosethatmakesmyyoungest ArayaSunshinedanceeverytimeshecomesclosetomeandthe speakerswhileI’mdoingmyart.She’sWAYintoit,shedoesspinsand groovesliketheheadiestmamaoutthereontour,thosemovesare comingfromthesoul.ThenwetoldthemweweregoingtoEauClaireto seeGooseandeverytimewegotinthecaritwas‘arewegoingto Goose?’