Goose Share New Single “Royal”

Goose, photo by Juliana Bernstein

2025 is Goose’s year. In the last eight months, the quartet has cemented itself as not only a fixture in jam, but also as crossover stars in the broader alt-rock world with the release of their triumphant fourth studio album, Everything Must Go, and high-profile bookings like New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Newport Folk Festival and New York’s hallowed Madison Square Garden. Along the way, they’ve also weathered a lineup change, debuted their Viva El Gonzo destination festival and announced its 2026 follow-up, reached new heights of instrumental prowess on a titanic tour and made their first TV appearance on CBS Saturdays. Somehow, it seems they’ve also found time to record, as evinced by today’s fresh single, “Royal.”

“Royal” is Goose’s first studio offering since Everything Must Go landed in April, and it’s a big swing away from the sound they centered on that breakthrough project. In place of their high-polish indie grooves, Rick Mitarotonda, Peter Anspach, Trevor Weekz and Cotter Ellis embrace a hard-hitting blast of classic rock for a spiritual successor to the live favorite “Turbulence & The Night Rays.” Over a shuffling funk foundation of springing bass, pulsing percussion and bawdy barroom Wurlitzer, Mitarotonda tells the story of an ambitious musician, skewing into the first-person on the final verse. Tangled lines of gritty, commanding guitars become wilder and wilder before erupting into a brilliantly scuzzy final jam, lofted to a blissful peak through bright, key-shifted harmonies.

In the final five months of their biggest year yet, Goose will maintain their tremendous momentum with a highly anticipated fall tour. The band will return to the road next week for a set at Park City, Utah’s Park City Song Summit, then make 19 further stops–including shows with Mt. Joy and Dave Matthews Band–through their year-end Goosemas XII celebration. Find tickets and more information here.