geese at Stubbs, texas

As the lights dimmed and Geese walked out on stage, I couldn’t quite believe my eyes. Through my foggy beer goggles, the dry Texas evening, and the chants of people singing I could just make out the band that has completely taken the indie music world by storm. Recently hailed as “Gen z’s first great rock band”, Geese have exploded in popularity in the last year, largely due to the resounding success of their most recent album Getting Killed. I hit the jackpot in November, whilst in Austin, Texas; my friend had a spare ticket to the show that had been sold out for months. He was paying forward a debt as I had introduced him to 3D Country a year earlier, and yeah, I am bragging that I heard Geese before you. 

Their first song ‘Husbands’ built up so much tension, with Cameron Winter’s unwavering vocal range given full custody of the arrangement. Again, this tension was enhanced with the slow but steady track ‘Cobra’, superb songs, but I must say, I was surprised by the bands decision to begin the set at a slower pace. This all changed with their third track ‘Getting Killed’. Suddenly, I was bashed from side to side, beer was poured down my back, and I was hoisted into the air. In my opinion, these are all the great indicators of a lively and present crowd. If you have listened to the album you know the kind of energy it demands, and if you haven’t, go listen to it right now, what are you doing?!  

 

The rest of the gig continued at this cataclysmic explosion of energy. There were lively crowds, flying beverages and patrons surfing above the swarm. Violent moshes broke out and, I must say, the Americans did a great job of moshing British style (like the Hokey-Cokey). My highlights from the set were ‘Getting Killed’, ‘Taxes’, ‘100 Horses’ and ‘Trinidad’, all high energy and, noticeably, all from their newest album. That was something glaringly obvious at the gig – we had all been brought to Geese by Getting Killed  like moths to light.

 

I spoke to a few people at the gig before the show started and got a couple of interviews. Something that was quickly apparent was how far people had come (someone from Seattle!) and how energised and excited people were for this hot-shit band. Some folks were driving home that night, taking exams in the morning or just flat out winging their evening in Austin. There was even a group that had created a Zine dedicated to Geese and handed them out for free next to the overcrowded merch table. Inside we saw art work and pictures of the band, as well as a poem dedicated to Cameron Winter. I’m sure they had all been taken from the very first song. 

 

The band finished off, oddly, with the first track on Getting Killed, ‘Trinidad’, as their encore performance. This is one of my favourite tracks on the album, its frantic and untethered nature draws me in every. Damn. Time. A colossal mosh pit opens up towards the end of the track, and I managed to go in and grab  a selfie right there in the centre. A guy tried to steal my phone, but there are no hard feelings, we were in no man’s land. I kept a hold of it and within seconds all frustration was lost, we all started bashing into each other as the band began their crescendo, with Winter’s voice and Max Bassin’s drums in an almost colliding in a frenzy.  It was a telling choice to have their first track as their closing song. To me, this signifies the band knows they are only just getting started.

 

Words: Dexter Clark


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