Hot off the release of their sophomore album “3D Country” this June, Brooklyn-based art rock band Geese showcased their new record in brilliant fashion.
Arriving in Minneapolis as a tightly arranged musical quintet, the band’s one-hour show proved they can effortlessly re-create the feral post-punk sounds of their studio recordings in a live setting. It is not hard to imagine them taking the stage at First Avenue’s much bigger main room next time they are in town.
Letting loose as they opened their set, the band did a surprise cover of Bob Dylan’s “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35,” the opening track to Dylan’s 1966 masterpiece “Blonde on Blonde.” This felt like an homage to the Minnesota-born singer-songwriter, as Geese lead vocalist Cameron Winter replaced some of Dylan’s original lyrics towards the end of the song, melodically name-dropping Minneapolis and the 7th Street Entry. The band was having fun, starting their Saturday night show on a cheery note.
The vibe of the room changed immediately after as the band calculatedly transitioned into “Gravity Blues” off of “3D Country” with Winter passionately moving to the song’s low tempo. Winter began to show off his prowess as a vocalist, both crooning and yelling throughout the song.
Winter exuded a nonchalant swagger that felt like an odd duality of Will Toledo and Mick Jagger –– the latter of which he was channeling across the blues-tinged yelps that define the choruses of their latest album.
The night did not become chaotic until the third song in the set, “Mysterious Love,” a high-tempo cut from “3D Country.” The band displayed impeccable dynamics with quiet, spacy verses contrasted by loud choruses shaped by guitar squeals and Winter’s screams. The audience was especially engaged during the song’s ending refrain, singing along to Winter as he sings the lyrics, “Somе people are alonе forever. Some people are alone forever.”
The peak of crowd energy came mid-way through the set when the quintet played “3D Country” opener “2122,” the only song of the night where a mosh pit erupted. Winter screaming and singing the lyrics of the ear-wormy refrain “Get out, get under. Get out, get under” ignited the mosh pit like gasoline on a fire.
While mostly showcasing their new record, the group also performed the brilliant “Low Era” from their 2021 debut album “Projector.” The dreamy yet dissonant track practically took the room to another planet. The band effortlessly achieved the same magic they reached on the studio recording. Winter especially shined in this performance, showing off his vocal range by alternating from his falsetto in the verses to a deep baritone in the choruses.
After doing a musical 180 with the shift in sound from their debut album “Projector” to their 2023 record “3D Country,” Geese laid the groundwork for an eclectic, evolving discography. On top of their already established potential, after putting on an extremely engaging high-energy show with impressive musicality, Geese proved to be one of the most exciting rock bands in the country.
