Review: Geese proves that they aren’t a psyop

Photo Submitted by Sophie Anderson

Max Murray, left, and Sophie Anderson, right, pose for a photo at the Geese concert on Oct. 27 at The Complex in Salt Lake City.

Geese proved they aren’t a psyop at their sold-out show at The Complex in Salt Lake City on Oct. 27. Opening with “Long Island City Here I Come,” Cameron Winter, Emily Green, Dominic DiGesu and Max Bassin brought a sound that is uniquely their own. The post-punk, experimental rock band from New York City has a sound like no one else. Lead vocalist and keyboardist Winter’s beautiful yet striking vocal performance, along with the band’s distinct guitar tones, adds an additional depth to Geese’s music and live show. Winter also switched back and forth between keys and guitar, sometimes mid-song. It was insanely impressive to watch.

The crowd was transfixed and moving. Going into the show, I was worried that the crowd would be unattentive, only bringing the energy to Geese’s most popular songs. I was immediately proven wrong. Everyone around me knew pretty much every word and was dancing and jumping the whole show. 

Geese’s live show balanced songs about yearning for connection, like the track “Half Real” and “Au Pays du Cocaine,” with much harsher songs like “2122” and “Trinidad.” You might think that these two would clash, but it instead leads to a perfect equilibrium, allowing the crowd to cool down between songs to come back just as hard for the next harsh song. The lighting design added an additional layer of depth to the show. Most of the show the band was silhouetted, forcing the audience to focus more on the music rather than what was happening on stage.

Overall, Geese’s live show exceeded my expectations and was one of the best live shows I’ve seen all year. Anyone who gets the opportunity to see Geese live absolutely should take it.

— Sophie Anderson