The el Goose Times: Volume Two

The

Interview

JonLombardi aka“Coach”

on

Coach: anall-encompassingtermminimallydefinedasonewhotrains,Merriam-Websterfellwoefully shyofthehigh-watermarksetby Luigi“Jon”Lombardi.Mentor,teacher,androlemodel;brother, friend,andnumberonefan;CoachisaliteralfoundingfatherofGoose,havingperformedeveryjob possibleforthisbandatleastonce.Quicktodeflectcreditandsendpraiseelsewhere,he’srisento everychallengeandmovedonwithgraceanddignitywhentheopportunityarosetobringinfresheyes andgrowthefamily. “I'vewornmanyhatsthroughout(mytimewiththeband)andstokedtohave changedhatsbecauseyouknow,thatmeansthere'smorepeopleonboardintheteam.” Bytitle,heis Goose’sstagemanager.Inpractice,he’sCoach.

TheelGooseTimes isacommunityrag–yaknow,afor-the-gaggleby-the-gaggletypeofdeal.Sowhilewe’dlove topullbackthecurtainoninsidejokesandtellyoupreciselywhentoexpectthenext“FactoryFiction”,the purposeofthiscolumnhasalwaysbeensingular:tosupportthebandandcommunityatlargewhileshiningthe spotlightonbrilliance.SoitwasonlyamatteroftimebeforewespoketoCoach,amanwhoseloveandpassion formusic,community,andhisbestfriendswerethecatalystthatcreatedGoose. “[AfterVasudo],mywork schedulesettleddownandmyprioritieschangedandIrealizedwhatwasimportanttome…whatIwantedtodo wasspendalotoftimewithTrevor.…[Atthesametime],hewasbringingoverInvestmentBankerForDummies booksandbeinglike,“Igottafiguremyshitout,’andIwaslike,‘You’reabassplayer.’ThenItoldRickwhatwas gonnahappen.Iwaslike,‘I'mnotblowingsmokeupyourassbutI'mwillingtoderailmytenyearplan–mylife plan–andjust,like,puteverythingintothis.I’msoproudofmybestfriendswhoseparticularloveandpassion [formusic]iswhyIdidthis.”

Tohisfriendsonstage,sometimeshe’smoreofafatherfigure.Imaginethesetbreakshenanigans: “It'slikeyou takeoneofyourkidsandtheirfivebuddiestotheballparkandthey'relikesixyearsoldandyouhavetobelike, ‘Who'shere?Who'sthere?’IknowRick'sgottotakeatleasttwopees.Peter,there'ssomethingwegottawork out.Ben'sgettingabackrubfromSam.Jeff'sfine.Trevor'sreadytogo.AndIgotthevenueatmybacklike,‘they needtobeonnow.’Thenallofasudden,atthesuperlastminutewhenwe'realreadysupposedtobeontherigs, Rick’slike,‘whatdoyouthinkaboutthatsetlist?”I'mlike,Ialreadywroteitbeforethefirstset,soIlikeit.Nowgo play!”

Inthebeginning,theobligationsoflifesometimeskeptCoachfromkeepingitalltogetherinperson. “Backinthe daywhenIwasn’tabletobeontheroadateverysingleshowbecauseIwouldbeworking,IgaveTrevaLuigidoll andIsaidtakethisontheroadsoI’malwayswithyouonstage,evenwhenI’mnotthere.AfterafewyearsTrev, forsomereason,wasn’tfeelingtheLuvibesonhiscabandIwasprettyshocked,mildlyoffendedeven,butthen Peterwaslike,‘DudeI’dlovetohaveLuigiliveinmyworld.’AndjustlikethatLuigigotthebestseatinthehouse sittingontopofHandiniworld.IimmediatelyturnedtoTweekzandwaslike,“Yo,yourmistakebro,Luigiisastar.”

with Marc Komito

Coach: He’sInThePaper

Volume

ThefirstlegofSummerTourwasonetoremember,featuringoutstandingshowsinMaryland,SouthCarolinaand Tennessee.Withthebandinfineform,nodoubtlegtwowillfeaturemuchofthesameacrosstheboard,especiallywitha returntofamiliarvenuesinLegendValleyandSwanzeyinadditiontoatwonighthomestandinConnecticut.

LegendValleyiswhat’sreallydrawingmyattention,though.Forthosethathaven'tbeenormaybeunaware,LegendValley isonthehallowedgroundsoftheformerBuckeyeLakeMusicCenter,hometohalfadozenGratefulDeadshowsbetween 1988-1993.ButtheflashbackthatstealsmyattentionwasyearslaterinSeptember2018whenLegendValleywashome totheResonanceFestival.Originally,Goosehadscheduledthreesets:alatenightacousticsetonnightone,aVIPsetnight two,andanafternoonSaturdayTentset.

Longstoryshort,theacousticlatenightsetwasscratchedandGooseplayedafullelectriclatenightset,albeitwithsome technicaldifficulties,whichistosaythebandcouldnothearanythingonstageincludingeachotherorthemselves. Miraculously,thisdidnotholdthembackonebitastheyopenedwithabangingSoReadyandclosedthenightwithanepic Wysteria>HotTeafeaturingRobCompaofDopapod.Musicaside–whichwasexceptional!–thatweekendholdsaspecial placeinmyheartasitwasthefirsttimeIwasabletofinallymeetatonoffansIhadbecomefriendswiththroughGoose.

AlthoughthefollowingyearResonancemovedawayfromLegendValleytoSlipperyRock,PA,Goosehasmanagedtostaya stapleontheresonancelineupforyearstocome.IneverexpectedtohavesomanyfriendsintheMidwest,butbecauseof thisbandIhavebeenabletodeveloprelationshipswithpeoplealloverthecountrythatIneverwouldhave.Thepeoplein thiscommunityaresomeofthebestpeopleintheworldandwithoutallofyouthebandwouldnotbeabletocontinuewhat theydo.

Ican’twaittogetbackontheroadandmeetsomemoreoftheflockaswellascatchupwitholdfriends!Keepyoureyeout formeinplaceslikeMontana,Denver,Maine,MassachusettsandConnecticut,andbesurethatyouare SoReadyforTour!

LegOneReview

RyanStorm

Thefive-showfirstlegofGoose’s2021touringseasonshowcasedawildlydifferentbandthananyof ushadseeninpreviousyears.Withadistinctfocusonnewarrangementsofclassicsongsand experimentationwithtempos,thequintetblewmindsnightafternight,withjumpsoffthedeep-end intopreviouslyunchartedimprovisationalwaters.

Beginningwiththe Frederick Arrow,whichtookplaceamongthefirstoftwoweather-plaguedshows,Goose showedawillingnesstodeviatefromtheirfamiliarexceptionaltension-and-releasejamsinfavorofspacier, moregroove-basedjamsakintotheirrehearsal“Ted”jams.ThesecondnightinFrederick(5/4)continuedthat trendwithamassive Creatures thatopeneditssecondset,highlightedbyPeter’sincrediblysmoothnew VintageVibeelectricpiano,settingthebandoffona25-minuteexcursiondeepintothegroove-eschewingthe normalTypeItensionandreleasesectionthesongnormallyhas.Don’tsleepon5/4’sfirstseteither–itboasts afieryrenditionofTimetoFlee,aslowbuildAllINeed->Flodown,andanexplosiveArcadiathatsawRich squeezingeverydropoftensionfromthejamwiththeuseofhisnewwahpedal.

Astourcontinueddownto Charleston,Goosetookthestageatagorgeousriversidevenueanddeliveredafun showforallofus.FromthefirstnotesoftheSwitchin’opener,thebandcultivatedalaid-backvibe,which continuedinthe19-minute HotTea laterintheset.Startingthesongatamuchslowertempothanusual, Goosetooktheopportunitytoreallydigintothesong’sgroove–areallyinterestingandatypicaljamdeveloped withPeteronsynthandRickonastrange-soundingchoruseffect.Otherhighlightsfromthisshowincludethe briefly-Type-IITheWayItIs,anexplosiveSoReady,ThisOldSea’snewarrangement,andthebandhammingit upduringEarthlingorAlien?.

Interview(Cont.)

Butithasn’talwaysbeeneasy,andthefactthatthiscrewofbestfriends, whichincludeseverypersononstageandinthetrenches,hastranscended theupsanddownsandrodetherollercoasteroflifeandlosscomes throughinthemusicjustasitplaysoutinthecommunity.

“Wedealwithanxiety.Wedealwithregularlife.Ifyoutoldmeattwenty-two thatatthirty-fourthebestthinggoingformewouldbethisjambandI startedwithmytwobuddies,I’dhavelaughedmyassoff,wouldn'thave believedyouatall,andsaid,‘I'llbuyyouabeeratthePanicshow.’But that’swhat'sgoingonandI’mgonnatakeitandrollwithitbecauseitcould beworseandI'mhappytobealive.We'velostsomanyfriends…that’skind ofwhatwasbigaboutAliveandWell.Welostalotofpeople,andwealso grewupwithpeoplethatjustweren'twell.Wewanteveryonetobewelland toshowthemthatwe'rehere,we'realive,andwe'redoingthebestwecan. Butatleastwehavethesemomentsandwecanwakeupbreatheandbe like,hey,‘Yousayitlookslikeraintoday,butwesay,oh,whatadaytobe livin.’”

SowhileLuigiJonLombardi,secondgenerationItalian-Americanfrom Wilton,CT,maynotbeTheGodfather,attheveryleast,he’sTheArchitect. “Firstandforemost,besidesbeingformybestfriendsandmybrothers whicharethebandandthecrew,Gooseisforeverypersonwhocomesto theshow,whostreamsorjustwatchesonYouTube,andevenforthosewho arepissedtheycan'tgetthroughonticketsandI'vebeentherewithbands, too,butjustthefactthatthattheytakethetimetoloveusandconnectwith asongandmakelastingmemoriesatourshowsiswhyIdothisandwhyI willneverstopdoingthis.So,thankyou.”

Everythingaboutthisband,thiscommunityinfact,isatestamenttoCoach andhislove.Weseeyou.Weappreciateyou. Andweloveyou,too.

aka“Coach” Fin.

Tourmovedonto Tennessee andthegorgeousCavernsAboveGroundvenue.Afterastrong(albeitinside-thebox)openingtotheshow,RichandPeterbustedoutacousticguitarsonstageforthefirsttimeeverandinvited lightingdirectorAndrewGoeddeuptowhistleonMeandJulioDownBytheSchoolyardinhonourofhis birthday.Therealhighlightofthesetwasthe RosewoodHeart thatbeganwithRickonacousticguitarbut switchedtoelectricasthejamstartedtocreateaversionthatmorethanstandsuptothefabled“Hosewood” fromlastfall’sSouthFarmsshows.Thefirstcomplete “Jiveangle” tookoverthenextsegmentoftheshow,with JiveIclosingthefirstsetandaphenomenalJiveLee->JiveIItoopenthesecondframe,featuringanextraten minutesofjamming(whetheryouconsideritJiveIIor“Jam”isuptointerpretation)beforefadingintoWysteria LaneandthelivedebutoflikelythemostpopulartrackoffoftheTedTapes,Moby.Whilethisperformance stucktothepreviouslyreleasedversion’sgrooveandlength,boththebandandcrowdhadear-to-eargrinsas Trevordroppedbassbombafterbassbombthroughthesong’sincrediblegroove.AsearingEmpressofOrganos andanemotional726encoresolidifiedthisshowasoneofGoose’sstrongesttodate.

Thefinalnightoftour,muchliketheopeningnight,wasplaguedbytorrentialrain–however,thistimedueto thelackofanearlycurfewattheCaverns,thebandwasabletogetinafullshowthatclosedthefirstlegof 2021onahighnote.FromtheopeningnotesofAtlas,whichhadnotablybeenwrittenonmultipleprevious setlistsbuthadn’tbeenplayedyet,thecrowdandbandwereampeduptocontinuetheirhotstreakfromthe nightbefore.Therestoftheabbreviatedfirstsetcontainedafantasticnewgroovyinstrumentaloriginaltitled WelcometoDeltaandaslightlytruncated ElmegtheWise thatledintoanextendedsetbreakduetothe precipitation.AsfanstookshelterintheCaverns’undergroundportionandgottheirhandsondrycopiesofthe ElGooseTimes,spiritsremainedhighandasthebandtookthestageforthesecondsetoveranhourlater,it feltlikenoenergywaslostduringthebreak.Openingwiththe Madhuvan everyoneknewwascoming,Goose doveheadfirstintothejam,onceagaineschewingtheirtraditionaltensionandreleaseinfavourofaspacier, moreTed-likespace.beforebuildingintoamoretraditionalpeakaheadofafantasticsegueintothetour’sfirst repeat, SpiritoftheDarkHorse.Thissongcontinuedtheflowofthesetperfectly,givingPeteryetanother chancetoshineontheVintageVibeelectricpianobeforefinishingoffMadhuvanwithabang.DoobieSong offeredaquickbreatherwithPetertakingthesongonorganinsteadofhisusualguitarpart.Yetanothernew arrangementdebutednextasaslowandTed-ifiedTumblegaveusanotherphenomenaletherealjambefore Don’tDoItclosedtheset.Returningtostagefortheencore,GooseclosedthetourwithanabsoluteHEATERof aCrosseyedandPainless,completewithanElmegReprisetofinishthefirstset’struncatedversion.

Sixshowsintotheyear,thebandcontinuestouptheantewithmoreandmorediversejamsand shows.Withanextensivesummerandfalltouralreadyscheduled,there’snotellingtheheightsthat Goosewillcontinuetoreacheveryshow. HONK!

SponsoredBy

JonLombardi

HowToImpressYourEmpress

Ifyoucouldn’ttellfromthestarkcontrastbetweenthemen’sand women’slineforthebathroom,the GooseChick isarareand beautifulbird.Thejambandsceneisanotorioussausagefest, andourgaggleisnoexception.Withatleast3:1oddsnotintheir favor,theelhomiesfindthemselvesatagreatdisadvantagewhen SeekingtoJivewithalike-mindedpartnerwhilethehensrulethe roostwiththeirpickoftheflock.Here’ssomeinsidertipstohelp theaveragepeacockgetinvolved:

Scorethetickets. Wanttoshowheryouhaveyourshittogether? Nothingprovesyourdedication,focus,andabilitytoperformunder pressurebetterthanwakingupanhourbeforepre-sale,doingthe research,anddeliveringresults.ALWAYSgostraighttothesourceand checkthevenuewebsite.Usemultipledevicesandbrowsers.Checkyour inter-webconnection. Do.Not.Refresh.The.Page. Patienceiskeyhere. Clickingthelinkrightastheclockstrikes10amlocaltimeismilliseconds fasterandmakesallthedifference.Bonusifyougrabextrastodisperse tothefamandkeepoutofthehandsofscalpers.

Snacks. Onhand24/7.Sweet.Salty.Savory.Spicy.Vegan.Beprepared. You’llneverknowwhatshewantsandshewon’teither.Keepher hydratedwhileyou’reatit.Sheisawaterfowlafterall.

Setthemood. SkiptheSlowReadyvsSoReadydebateandgostraight fortheTedTapes.AGooseChickwantsyoutotakeherthroughallfour phasesoftheMooninthebackofaCaminodeepintheForest.

Don’tsweatyoursmallstuff. Alittlebitgoesalong,longwayifyouknow themoves.Here’sourtopthree:

1.TheHandini -Don’tTwiddlewithit.Pullupachairandgiveherthe serviceshedeserveslikewhenPeterticklestheivoriesontheepic 9/17/20Rosewood.

2.TosstheArugula -slapherskinslikeJeff’spercussionon EarthlingorAlienfromlastGoosemas.

3.Tremorbass -ifthisneedsexplanation,Ifearforthefutureofhumanity. AfterthepeakclimaxinHoneybee(reference11/6/20fromthe4:50 markon),itcertainlydoesn’thurttopulldownyoursunglasses,look deepintohersoul,andreadhersomepoetry.

GoosechicksarewiserthanElmeg,strongerthanThisOldSea, brighterthantheWhitestLights,andultimately,tiredoftheSame OldShenanigans.Keepyourheartonyoursleeve,yourintentions Madhuvanpure,andletherLeadtheWay.

ItTakesaGaggle. AMama’sMissiontoSaveherChild

ByGuestWriter: NicoleJohnson, Co-FounderofTheFOXG1ResearchFoundation

Youneverknowwhoisdancingrightbesideyouatashow.Wefeeltheenergyandsharedloveofthemusicsurrounding us,butdoyoueverwonderwhat’sherstory,orhisstory?Weallhaveone.WhenI’mdancinginmyzone,oftennextto “ScarfGuy,”undertheGoeddelights,everythingfeelsright.Inthemoment,and ineverymomentIknowmypurposehere,asthisearthling,isquiteastory.Hi, I’mJosie’smom.

Josiewasbornwitharare,devastatingdiseasecalledFOXG1syndrome.Sheis nine-and-a-halfyears-oldandshecan’twalk,ortalk,orevensitupwithout fallingover.Shecan’tdance,butman,doesshewantto.Sheisfedthrougha tube,buttheworstpartisthatshesuffersfromlife-threateningseizures.When theyhappenit’slikeamonstertakesover.Shecanbelaughinghermost preciousinfectiousbellylaughonemoment,andinaflashshecanbe unresponsive,juststuckandblue.Theseareheart-crushingmoments.

LikeanyMotherGoosewoulddo,I’vedecidedtoworkmyassofftofindacure forJosieandforeverychildintheworldwithFOXG1syndrome.Istartedthe FOXG1ResearchFoundationin2017andwe’veassembledateamoftheworld's mostbrilliantscientiststofixthisbrokengene-andletherdanceagain,letherlive sofree.Yes,IjustchanneledMr.Mister.

We’relivinginamind-blowingageofscientificbreakthroughsandwe(TheFOXG1 ResearchFoundation)haveseveralpromisingprojectsunderway-includinggene therapy,Crispr,drugre-purposing,RNAtherapyandmore.Trustme,Idon’thavea sciencebackground,Iwasactuallyinthemusicbusinessbeforethis,butamama’s gonnalearnwhatamamaneedstoknow.Withsupportfrommyfamily,friends,and mycommunity,Iknowthatnothingisimpossible.Weareheretochangethefaceof ahorriblediseaseandthatmakeslifeprettydamnexciting. Ittakesavillage-ora gaggle,rather.

Josieistheembodimentofpureloveandjoy.Shegivesthegiftofperspectiveto everyonewhoknowsher.Iamtrulyblessed.Andwhilesheisperfecttome,she deservessomuchmore.JosielightsupwhenshehearsGoose,sheespeciallyloves Rick’sguitarsolos.Mydream(mygoal)isthatshewillbeonthedancefloorwithus alloneday.IalwayssaythiswillbeJosie’sstorytotelloneday.AndI’mstickingtoit.

PicturedAbove: Josie&herMom Nicole(Usedwithpermission)

LisaGoverna with PaigeCaruso &DaundaBennettDavis