‘GETTING KILLED’ BY GEESE: THE ROCK REVOLUTION GEN-Z HAS BEEN WAITING FOR
What began as a group of high school band kids making music in a Brooklyn basement has evolved to be one of the most innovative bands of our generation.
October 10 marked the beginning of Brooklyn-born band Geese’s “Getting Killed Tour.” Unafraid to be complex, frontman Cameron Winters, alongside drummer Max Bassin, bassist Dom Giseau, and guitarist Emily Green, challenge the pre-existing genres in our music that have formed over time. They play with layers stacked on top of each other that on paper wouldn't normally work, but when combined, create a unique harmony that is foreign, yet transformative to the classic rock-listener's ear.
Geese released their first album, A Beautiful Memory, in 2018 on SoundCloud. Their next album, Projector, was released in 2021, followed by Cowboy Nudes in 2023. Alongside Geese’s sound, their lyrics tell a non-linear story that can be confusing to those who don’t deeply interpret them. Their newest album Getting Killed has done something much more blunt, and it was released at the perfect time.
“If you want me to pay my taxes / You better come over with a crucifix / You're gonna have to nail me down,” Winters sings in "Taxes,” the album's hit single.
“Taxes” has dominated the charts since its release, landing them as the musical guest on one of the first episodes of Jimmy Kimmel Live! following the show’s infamous discontinuation after Kimmel’s comments about the shooting of Charlie Kirk.
During the performance, Winters sang, “I will break my own heart from now on,” refusing to break eye contact with the camera.
Watching the performance felt as if he was speaking to the audience himself, and the executives who made the decision to discontinue Kimmel. At that moment, Geese made history. They crossed the line that separates a modern indie-rock band, to a historical documentation of feelings of the people living in a world where their government no longer caters to their needs.
Other tracks on the album include “100 Horses,” where Winters sings,
“There is only dance music in times of war”.
And in “Husbands,” he sings
“There’s a horse on my back / And I may be stomped flat / But my loneliness is gone”.
Something special happens in the rock music community when a song has the ability to unite people during tense political times. Geese may just be the Pink Floyd, Credence Clearwater Revival or The Clash of our generation, and it is absolutely worth staying tuned in for.
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Geese recently performed in the Chicago area on October 15 and 16 in Pilsen’s Thalia Hall, which has a predominantly Hispanic/ Latino population. Pilsen, a longstanding vibrant art neighborhood in the Lower West Side in Chicago, has undoubtedly felt the effects of the deployment of ICE and the National Guard. However, people in the community have been working hard together to establish “ICE-free zones” which are areas that will emphasize protection and support for immigrants living in Chicago, following an executive order signed by mayor Brandon Johnson.
Whether Getting Killed was intended to be a political piece or not, it is the first record in a while that feels familiar of the rupture that is needed to make change. Music has, and always will have, a place in a healthy democracy, and it is little strides like these that will collectively come together one day when the big picture of our current political scheme is being examined.
On October 15 and 16, Geese came to Chicago alongside Racing Mount Pleasant.
“Hello,” Winters said, before the band immediately began the show with “Husbands”.
A girl with a flip phone in front of me snapped a photo of the band.
“Will it wash your hair clean / When your husbands all die? / Will you know what I mean?” he sang.
The crowd was one of the most engaged I’ve seen at recent concerts. Geese sounded almost exactly like they do on record. While a majority of tracks played were from Getting Killed, Geese also revisited 3D Country, their second album released in 2023.
“Keytar!” someone in the crowd yelled as the iconic instrument entered the stage, as if it was a member itself.
During live performances, Geese is joined by Sam Revas who plays the keyboard. 3D Country, the title track of the album, has always been played using the keytar, which really gets the people going. I had a moment of realization during the live performance about ‘Getting Killed.’ As mentioned before, the album contains a lot of lyrics that could be interpreted as anti-war. However, they can also be interpreted to be dedicated to lead guitarist Emily Green's transition.
“We love you Emily!” multiple people from the crowd shouted throughout the night.
In “Au Pays Du Cocaine”, Winters sings, “You can be free and still come home / Like a sailor in a big green boat”.
However it was not only Geese who left their mark on Chicago. Racing Mount Pleasant took the stage first, and they took the crowd by the hand.
Originally from Michigan, the 7 piece band features 2 saxophone players, a violinist, and a trumpeter accompanied by the lead singer with a guitar, bassist and drums. Not one instrument was put to waste. Similar to Geese, they layered their instruments beautifully, and weren’t afraid to make an impression.
Samuel Uribe Botero, the alto saxophonist got on the mic after one song and announced the band had just recently moved to Chicago.
“You guys know how to protect your neighbors.. Fuck ICE,” he said followed by a message in Spanish.
Everyone in the crowd cheered, and it was one of those special moments where unity and empowerment came together to be celebrated. It felt like a movement. We were a group of people in our modern generation there for entertainment, yet also a determined desire for change in our world.
Geese ended their setlist with Taxes, then abruptly exited the stage, but nobody was ready for the end, and in sold out concert fashion, they weren’t ready either. They came back on, and absolutely showed the crowd their full potential. Winters got behind the keys and sang, which was the original intent when the band first formed.
When they finished their jam, the room went dark, but they weren’t done. The peak of the night was just about to start.
Dim blue lit up the band and their shadows as Winter’s began to sing “Trinidad”. Everyone went tense with anticipation as he got closer and closer to the peak.
“THERE’S A BOMB IN MY CAR,” Winter’s screamed, and immediately after a giant mosh pit formed. A dude did the worm to start, followed by cartwheel, a backflip, another worm, and a final backflip that unfortunately did not land gracefully. It completed the chaotic vibe.
Geese is continuing their North American tour through November 21. Accompanying them is Racing Mount Pleasant and Dove Ellis.
Keep up with Dove Ellis and Racing Mount Pleasant as they continue to grow.
Keep up with Geese:
Website / Spotify / Apple Music / Instagram / YouTube
