Choosing a band name, much like naming a child, is quite the challenge. A great name should be memorable, intriguing without being too obscure, short, catchy, and easy to say. Crucially, it shouldn’t cause any confusion or awkward moments.
While the bands Goose and Geese nail most of these criteria, they undeniably stumble on the ‘no confusion’ part. Just swap a couple of ‘O’s for ‘E’s, and their names become almost identical. Mix up singular and plural, and you’re talking about a single bird instead of a whole flock – or in this case, a whole band! It seems to enjoy these groups, you need to be both a passionate music fan and a grammar expert.
Adding another layer of head-scratching, both groups have recently dropped new albums and are currently hitting the road on tour. This means interviewers everywhere are on high alert, desperately trying to keep the two acts straight.
Just last month, Brooklyn-based quartet Geese unveiled their third studio album, “Getting Killed,” earning significant acclaim as one of the year’s top releases. Meanwhile, in August, Goose, a four-piece from Wilton, Connecticut, released their fifth studio album—and second of the year—titled “Chain Yer Dragon.”
Logically enough, Goose arrived on the scene before Geese, forming in 2014 compared to Geese’s 2016 debut. Both groups share musical education roots: Goose has connections to Berklee College of Music in Boston, while Geese emerged from Brooklyn’s Park Slope Rock School. And just to be absolutely clear, don’t mix either of them up with the Atlanta nu-metal band, Silly Goose.
As Rolling Stone perfectly summarized, “Though these two outfits couldn’t be further from each other in sound and style, they’ve been inevitably conjoined by name.”
Given all this, you might find yourself wishing for a field guide, much like a birdwatcher would use, just to keep Goose and Geese straight!
What Do They Sound Like?
Imagine Goose, often likened to Phish, as a jam band with a subtle indie-rock edge. Pitchfork notes their “distinct ability to put listeners in a trance, even stopping time for a little bit.” Rolling Stone praised them as “musicians unafraid to revel in rubbery grooves, guitar and keyboard solos that threatened to never end.”
Now, consider Geese as an indie-rock band seasoned with jam-like tendencies. Their latest album, according to GQ, “rips open the carcasses of Radiohead, Pavement, and Swans and feasts there, looking up with a big, bloody grin.” Pitchfork, meanwhile, characterized “Getting Killed” as “a clattering, groove-based sound, denying the structures of traditional rock music while following the same volleys of tension and release.”
The Origins of Their Names
Rick Mitarotonda, the frontman for Goose, shared that their band name originated from ‘nonsensical kitchen lingo’ he encountered while working at Dam Good Tacos, a restaurant in Fort Collins, Colorado.
The name Geese, surprisingly, comes from the plural form of guitarist Emily Green’s nickname. Yes, you read that right: the band Geese actually has a member named Goose.
Spotting the Differences Onstage (and Beyond)
While both groups consist of four casually dressed musicians who sport jeans, T-shirts, and sneakers, there are subtle visual cues. The members of Goose are generally about a decade older and often boast impressive beards that would make a lumberjack proud. The Geese members, on the other hand, tend to have a more ‘Silver Lake’ indie-cool aesthetic rather than a rugged ‘Lake Oswego’ vibe.
Fan Base Overlap: Do Audiences Cross Over?
Despite hailing from distinct musical realms with minimal fan overlap, a few noteworthy exceptions exist. Trey Anastasio, the iconic Phish frontman, not only shared the stage with Goose at Radio City Music Hall but also toured with them in 2022. Interestingly, he’s also been seen enjoying Geese’s live performances.
Earlier this year, Geese even opened for Vampire Weekend. In a cool twist, Vampire Weekend’s frontman, Ezra Koenig, has also made guest appearances on stage with Goose.
The Dream Lineup: A Goose-Geese Shared Show?
A combined Goose and Geese show hasn’t happened yet, although they did share the same festival stage at Newport Folk Festival on July 25th this year. As the music site Stereogum optimistically noted, ‘Hopefully they will become good friends.’ Fans are certainly hoping for that ultimate ‘gaggle’ of a show.