Goose at Leader Bank Pavilion, Boston, July 1, 2026.

I discovered the fan spritzing water at 7:07 p.m., as the “feels like” temp hit 102.  It stood near a semicircle of coed porta-potties at the back of Boston’s Leader Bank Pavilion, and we gathered round it like wallowing water buffalo at a flooded rice paddy.

Still, despite the temperature, the weather was not the hottest thing in Boston last night. Goose was on fire.

Night 2 of their “Big Modern!” Boston run saw mostly old favorites. All fat funky jams and spectacle, it veered into the frantic — primal guitar and crowd whoops. You could’ve charged for the light-show alone. They made a case for frontman/Berklee alum Rick Mitarotonda as one of the great lead jam guitarists working today.

Now, sometimes the most selfless gift a band can give fans on a new album tour is to not play much off the new album. I’m thinking of how heartbroken my dad was when Neil Young indulgently played 2003’s “Greendale” in full. With costumed actors. Before most fans had the album (if they bought it).

As for Goose, I’m not a big fan of their slick, heavily produced (overproduced?) “Big Modern!,” released last month.  The record gives big “I said we’re not a jam band, Mom!” vibes. Whether it’s a new direction, a lark, something to get out of their system,  or a Bob Dylan-esque random venture into new territory, a la “Saved,” only time will tell.

But unlike Neil Young, Goose selflessly delivered the hits. They played just one song off the new album — the title track. For the record, they played only one “Big Modern!” song on night 1 in Boston: “Torero.”

Live, the artists’ DNA remains. Those funky, meaty jams, Mitarotonda’s smooth vocals and raw guitar that feels at all times begging to be let off the leash to run wild, howling — until it inevitably does.

Sorry, Goose. You’re a jam band. You cannot fight animal-nature.

When the powers of lead guitarist/vocalist Mitarotonda, multi-instrumentalist Peter Anspach — both natives of  Wilton, Conn. — combine with bassist Trevor Weekz and Bedford, Mass. native drummer Cotter Ellis, jams get electric. 

When that electricity combines with the Jedi-level mastery of their  brilliant lighting production team, including lighting designer Andrew Goedde — it feels otherworldly.  By the end of the night, my camera roll looked like a kaleidoscope.

The Connecticut quartet took stage at 7:39 p.m.  Anspach, typically the one to address the crowd, walked on stage with:  “Alright, Boston let’s do this. Drink your water tonight, man. It’s f—ing hot.”

They launched into a fiery “Iguana Song” with red and green lights which turned to green and blue, then epic white and red strobes as Mitarotonda’s guitar let out primal screams, and Cotter thwacked. The crowd got on their feet and never sat down.

“Iguana” reached two peaks and ended with all of us cattle-lowing “Goooooooooose” in the way that Springsteen’s fans shout “Bruuuuuuuuuuce.” (We’re not booing.)

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The smell of weed poured over me by 7:42. Yes, by God, in the age of ubiquitous vapes and pre-packaged candy edibles, a few old-souls brought skunky old-school pot.  The smell immediately took me back to childhood days at Great Woods. (Single tear in eye.)

Next: fan favorite “Royal” as a blue balloon was tossed in the crowd. Things slowed down a bit with “It Burns Within,” before launching into “Wisteria Lane” with Anspach playing both guitar and keys simultaneously, and lights shooting like UFO beams before breaking into greens and purples. 

The highlight of the night, though, was an incendiary version of “Electric Avenue” — a 1982 Eddy Grant song that’s become a repertoire staple — that had the whole crowd singing, then shouting as Mitarotonda’s lightning-fast fingerpicking became frantic.

Then Ellis took lead vocals on a funky “Draconian Meter Maid,” a Swimmer song Ellis apparently brought to the band when he joined in ’24. It ended in a cacophony of electric sound, warped beats building into a frenzy before slowing to almost a full halt as bands of orange and green light waved like seaweed in water. As it built back up to the frenzy, the crowd lost it, whooping and screaming, dancing in aisles. 

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Next came a bluegrassy hoedown “Flodown” to end set 1 around 9:06 p.m., with the “feels-like” temp a balmy 93 degrees.

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Intermission saw guys sticking heads under outdoor bathroom sink faucets, wiping faces down with paper towels, holding sweating beer cans to foreheads.

Set 2 kicked off at 9:35 p.m. with the only song they’d play off “Big Modern!” all night: the title track. The set started off spacier, adding to a slow trippy feel. It was now fully dark, and the lights popped even more, hazy light beams illuminating mist and smoke in the air. 

“Creatures,” had a sway-in-the-aisle feel, ending with some goosebumps-inducing vocals from Mitarotonda, as lights turned aqua blue.  “Jive II” was pure funk that proved they’re a jam-beast at heart. Set 2 ended with “Jive Lee,” but they quickly returned for an encore with “Doobie Song,” a pure reggae tune played for the first time in a year, which Anspach said was dedicated to their crew.

The mellow song was a beautiful way to bring everyone down off the mind-melting jams. It reminded me of how the Grateful Dead capped nights with a lullaby, “We Bid You Goodnight” as a chamomile tea for the mind. 

They capped with “Give It Time,” under a hushed aqua light, ending around 11 p.m. Mitarotonda sang, “Go ahead, give it hell.”

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They did.

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After 13 songs in more than three hours, they delivered something for every type of Goose fan in Boston last night — and every type of Goose fan was there.

There were the “Big Modern!” fans— one dude in a bright yellow and pink jumpsuit, to match the album colors. Young couples in Dead & Co shirts, gray-haired dads with polo shirts, khaki shorts and Keens drinking next to classic wooks. A white-haired grandmother-type in a long floral dress swayed next to a pack of teens with glitter on their faces.

I spotted half a dozen Celtics jerseys with “Walton” on the back, an homage to Boston Biggest Deadhead. Grateful Dead-themed Red Sox jerseys — some with Garcia on the backs — peppered the crowd. A man in Lululemon. A young girl with hand-made patchwork overalls. Bearded hippies with decades-old Neil Young tees.

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All of us here to happily dance in the 100-degree heat for hours of fiery jams.

Like it or not Goose, you’re a jam band. It’s coiled in your DNA. Your cells ring with it. You can put out as many bubblegum-slick albums as you want. Blood always tells. 

Full setlist for Goose at Leader Bank Pavilion, Boston, July 1, 2026:

Set 1:

• Iguana Song
• Royal
• It Burns Within
• Wysteria Lane
• Electric Avenue
• Draconian Meter Maid
• Flodown

Set 2:

• Big Modern!
• Creatures
• Jive II
• Jive Lee

Encore:

Lauren Daley is a freelance culture writer. She can be reached at [email protected]. She tweets @laurendaley1, and Instagrams at @laurendaley1. Read more stories on Facebook here.

Lauren Daley is a longtime culture journalist. As a regular contributor to Boston.com, she interviews A-list musicians, actors, authors and other major artists.

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GMC and their flagship Yukon brings all-around excellence with this week’s tester: the 2026 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate

This cousin to the Chevrolet Tahoe provides all of the space, comfort, style and luxury anyone could want.

In 2026, the GM brand worked wonders on their existing fleet and added nice trim levels to keep the competition always thinking about what they’re doing next.

Our Glacier White Tricoat tester was flawless and completely destroys the competition in the American Luxury market.

Known for its high MSRP and resale values, the Yukon Denali Ultimate has a base price of $103K and is powered by a 6.2L ECOTEC3 V8 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission. With 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, our weeklong tester had a 8,400 pound towing capacity.

The Yukon Denali Ultimate had a slew of standard features including a 16.8-inch premium infotainment system, 24-inch wheels and a 15-inch head-up display. Upgrades include second-row captains seats, BOSE performance sound system with 22-speakers and Night Vision – all totaling an additional $7,090. Boasting a Woodland Mahogany interior, the Yukon Denali Ultimate is certainly classy for all consumers and exemplifies the American Luxury that GMC provides.

In Grasso’s Garage, the Flagship GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate is the real deal. It looks stellar, rides good, and has good values. Although pricey for most consumers, the usage in this category is second to none. I was able to fit six adults on our way to dinner and heard a ton of compliments on its comfort and style, in addition to its spaciousness.

The GMC Yukon has a long-lasting history in the fleet, and in my opinion, having the Denali Ultimate package added is just the way it has to be to experience its full offerings.

Grasso’s Garage is here for you! Looking for more auto reviews or are you in the market for a new car? Head to https://www.bostonherald.com/tag/automotive/. Also, for honest input, reach out to me directly: marc.grasso@bostonherald.com.

2026 GMC Yukon 4WD Denali Ultimate

MSRP: $103,900

MPG: 14 city / 18 highway / 16.2 as tested

As Tested: $113,785

In a stunning, franchise-shaking move, the Celtics reached an agreement Wednesday to trade Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers, according to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania.

In return, Boston reportedly will receive nine-time All-Star wing Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks.

Brown had been the subject of rampant trade rumors in recent weeks, with Charania reporting earlier Wednesday that the Celtics were “strongly shopping” their longest-tenured player following a failed attempt to trade him and two draft picks for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

But the 76ers, who ended the Celtics’ 2022-26 season by upsetting them in the first round of the NBA playoffs, had not been mentioned as a potential suitor for Brown. He’ll now join the likes of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe on a talented Philadelphia roster, while the oft-injured George heads to Boston.

Shipping out Brown splits up one of the NBA’s most talented and successful duos. The tandem of Jayson Tatum and Brown led Boston to five Eastern Conference finals, two NBA Finals and one championship since they joined forces in 2017.

Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, played most of this season without his longtime co-star, and he thrived, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists — a stat line matched in Celtics history only by Larry Bird and John Havlicek — while Tatum recovered from Achilles surgery. Brown made second-team All-NBA and finished sixth in MVP voting, and the underdog Celtics far exceeded preseason expectations, posting the second-best record in the East (56-26) and the league’s fourth-best net rating.

But questions about Brown’s future began swirling after Boston blew a 3-1 series lead against seventh-seeded Philly, losing three straight — including Game 7 at home, which Tatum missed due to knee stiffness — to suffer their earliest postseason exit since 2021.

Brown, who was a minus-57 over the final three losses, made headlines after the series when he insisted that this was his “favorite season” despite Boston’s poor finish. Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady, a mentor of Brown’s, did the same when he said on his podcast that Brown had “frustration (that) lies deeply within the (Celtics) organization.”

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said in his end-of-season news conference that Brown had expressed no such feelings to him. But Stevens admitted Boston needed to improve its roster to compete with the NBA’s elite teams (New York, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, etc.). A month later, after the Milwaukee Bucks rejected Boston’s bid for Antetokounmpo, Stevens said he wouldn’t “predict the future” when asked whether Brown would remain with the Celtics.

“Jaylen Brown is a big part of us,” Stevens said last Tuesday. “I’m never going to predict the future, but every indication, everything that I think about over the past few years has been building around those guys, right? So obviously, you never know.

“But at the same time, the one thing I want to make very clear is how valued he’s always been. He’s been amazing. He’s been an amazing teammate, a great person to be around. And whether that run ends 10 years from now when he retires, or before, there’s a lot to celebrate. We have a great relationship, an open relationship where we talk about everything. But I don’t want to predict the future.”

George has enjoyed a long and decorated career across stints with the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers and 76ers. Over his 16 seasons, he’s averaged 20.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 44.0% from the field and 38.4% from 3-point range.

The 36-year-old is well past his prime, however, and has struggled to stay on the court, suiting up for more than 60 games just once in the last seven seasons. He played in 37 games this season, missing time for both injuries and a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy.

George did give the Sixers strong minutes during their playoff series against Boston, making 55.0% of his 3-pointers across the seven games. Still, he’s a substantial downgrade from both the Celtics’ original target, two-time NBA MVP Antetokounmpo, and Brown, who is six years younger.

The Celtics will inherit the final two years of George’s contract. He’s set to make $54.1 million this coming season, then has a $56.6 million player option for 2026-27. It was not immediately clear whether Boston plans to move forward with George or flip him in a subsequent trade.

This trade marks the third time in the last four offseasons that the Celtics made major changes to their roster. Ahead of the 2023-24 season, they shipped out Marcus Smart, Robert Williams III and Malcolm Brogdon in trades for Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday — deals that helped push their Tatum/Brown-led core over the championship hump after years of near misses. Last summer, the Celtics traded Porzingis and Holiday and lost Al Horford and Luke Kornet in free agency to escape the prohibitive second apron of the NBA’s luxury tax. (A subsequent series of in-season trades pushed Boston out of the tax entirely.)

Parting ways with Brown is the boldest swing yet for Stevens.

The 29-year-old (30 in October) was Boston’s longest-tenured player, having joined the C’s as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. He ranks 10th on the franchise’s all-time scoring list — one spot behind Tatum and two behind Bill Russell — and is coming off the best season of his career. Among active players, only Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Devin Booker, Nikola Jokic and Antetokounmpo have appeared in more games without changing teams.

Brown, whose No. 7 likely will hang in the TD Garden rafters one day, also built a strong connection with the Boston community through his 7uice Foundation, Boston XChange initiative and other philanthropic efforts.

“I love Boston,” he said in a May 6 Twitch stream. “If it were up to me, I would play in Boston for the next 10 years.”

Brown was set to become eligible for a two-year, $140 million contract extension with the Celtics next month. His current deal, which runs through the 2028-29 season, was the richest in NBA history when he signed it in 2023 (five years, $304 million). He is set to make $57.1 million this coming season.