Geese and Dove Ellis Take Flight at the 9:30 Club

Despite their names, Geese and Dove are the most human artists playing today.

No more than a few steps inside the 9:30 Club, we were met with a sea of fans flooding the venue. Many were quick to converse, making even the most awkwardly packed-in attendee fit in. Some had paid hundreds of dollars or traveled far distances to make it to this show. This concert even became a major talking point in the ever-growing discussion about the absurdity of resale prices. After their massive breakout album Getting Killed (2025), every Geese concert sold out instantly across the country, causing a large surge in scalping. Even the supporting artists for Geese’s tour, such as Dove Ellis himself, saw a massive surge in popularity following their inclusion on the bill. Geese clearly has a magic touch on the music industry right now.

Dove Ellis may just be music’s next big thing. Dove Ellis stepped into the center of the stage, only surrounded by an accompanying soprano saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist and drummer, but quickly made it clear that he could fill up not just the 9:30 Club but any venue in the world with his powerful stage presence. Dove’s one-of-a-kind voice has drawn plenty of comparisons to greats such as Jeff Buckley and Thom Yorke, and after seeing him in person, it’s obvious why; he is quickly carving out a lane as one of the defining voices of a new generation. With only three songs out on streaming currently, Dove is just beginning his rise to indie stardom, but each of the plethora of songs he played on stage, mostly unreleased, created their own worlds of beautiful indie rock songwriting. The three musicians played off of each other exceedingly well, each complementing Dove’s energy immaculately, kindling the quiet fire of his music. As his debut album is set to release on Dec. 5, this is assuredly not the last any of us will be hearing from Dove Ellis.

Nobody is doing it like Geese right now. With a catalog as explosive as theirs, it would have made perfect sense to start with a bang. However, always defying expectations, Geese began their set with two of their most subdued songs, “Husbands” and “Cobra,” creating an intimate atmosphere throughout the place. Such subtlety did not last long, though, as tracks like “Getting Killed” and “2122” lit the venue on fire. Moshing and crowd-surfing ran amok throughout the audience as fans were electrified by the band's unparalleled energy. Emily Green’s guitar work was masterful, Dominic DiGesu’s basslines were rock solid, Cameron Winter’s vocals cut through to the soul, Sam Revaz provided excellent keyboard accompaniment, and Max Bassin’s drumming was genuinely unbelievable. Even when things went wrong, such as a guitar string and drum stick break during “Bow Down,” the band’s playing was so consistent that it was practically impossible to tell. Another incredible trait of Geese’s music is their ability to move people; their emotional lyrics and euphoric songwriting connect in a way wholly unparalleled at the moment. Geese ended the first part of their set with their instant classic “Taxes,” even letting the audience take the lead vocals on the chorus as the whole crowd sang each lyric with perfect clarity.

Though they only played two songs, Geese’s encore may be one of the most memorable in modern music history. Winter sang their hit “4D Country” like an evangelical preacher, pacing the stage and calling out to the audience with a drink in one hand and a microphone in the other. Transcendent grooves and catchy melodies filled the room, as every member flourished. However, it was their final song that really turned heads. “Trinidad” is one of the most polarizing songs in recent indie memory, a 13/8 explosion of unbridled screaming and chaotic energy interspersed with classic blues riffs. As Cameron Winter shrieked, “There’s a bomb in my car!” he felt like the loudest person in the universe at that moment. However, as the track closed, this raw anger poured out as Winter called out D.C. politicians in pure rage and spiked the microphone. For the first time, the tumultuous audience lay silent, in shock at what they witnessed as everyone streamed out of the venue. Yet, this outburst stood as perfect proof of why Geese is the defining band of the moment right now, expressing the anger so many are feeling across the country, and doing it in a way that truly no one could have expected.

Favorite Tracks: "Au Pays du Cocaine," "4D Country," Trinidad

Rating: INDY