12/17/18
By Alex Maluchnik Photos By Alex Maluchnik
Aqueous wrapped up their Color Wheel tour in Columbus, OH supported by Connecticut-based funk-folk band Goose, on Friday with an absolute barn burner of a show. Goose set the pace for the evening with a balanced, high energy set that was equal parts tight folk jamming and funky exploration. Tonight’s rendition of “Flodown” was the highlight jam of the opener’s set. Their ability to come in and completely command their environment is impressive, especially given the short amount of time Goose has been touring. Aqueous picked the perfect opener for the last 5 shows of their tour. There’s definitely something to be said about the relationship a goose has with water.
Aqueous’ close out show was a welcome return to central Ohio, their first set in the region since they played one of the most electrifying sets of the weekend at Resonance Music Festival this past September. A jazzy “Random Company” opened the set and you could immediately tell Aqueous was “on” this night. The crowd was packing in tight and feverishly dancing along with the band. The set progressed through stellar versions of “How High You Fly” and “Aldehyde” before seamlessly transitioning into an entrancing cover of the Gorillaz “Empire Ants” for the only cover of the night. Slowing down for a little heartfelt groove, the band took a turn for “Good Enough” off their new album Color Wheel. Mike Gantzer’s heavyhearted vocals wrapped the room in a warm blanket of self-reflection. The moments leading up to the transition into the next song were some of the most beautiful instances of the entire night. It would not last long before the unmistakable first notes of “Origami” came screaming down the track into one of the biggest dance parties of the night. With the mix of funk and pure rock and roll energy, even the band members were dancing around with smiles mirroring those of the entire front row. “Origami” built a grand stage for what was to come for a phenomenal second set.
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Set two started off with an “All In” that by itself felt more like an instrumental rock opera than a single song. If part of a song could ever encapsulate laying on a grassy hill staring up at the clouds passing you by, it’s the intro to this version of “They’re Calling for Ya”. The first few minutes of this song floated into an incredibly expansive metal jam before transitioning into “Numbers and Facts.” After “Numbers and Facts” the band took a moment to give a thank you to their production team, Goose, and their for an incredible run. The 4 song set finished with a face melting “Strange Times” jam that will be the first thing I revisit when this show makes its way on nugs. After a quick second off stage, the band came back out and asked the crowd for suggestions before deciding for what to play for an encore. After lots of hooping and hollering (and one “comedian” that yelled FREEBIRD) they decided on “Don’t Do It” even though Mike had admittedly broken or lost all of the band’s guitar slides. They proceeded to kick out the few remaining pillars holding the place together and launched the roof into orbit with an encore that capped off one of the best shows at Woodland’s Tavern this year.
Aqueous will be closing out the year in their hometown Buffalo, NY at The Town Ballroom with special guest lespecial. Tickets are available HERE
You can catch Goose at Cantiki in Norwalk, CT on 12/22/18 for their 5th Annual Goosemas!
Tickets are available HERE
Goose 12/15/18 Woodland’s Tavern Setlist:
So Ready, Butter Rum, Flee, Way It Is, Flodown, All I Need> Disco Inferno, Need
Aqueous 12/15/18 Woodland’s Tavern Setlist:
Set One
Random Company, How High You Fly, Aldehyde>Empire Ants *, Good Enough>Origami
Set Two
All In, They’re Calling for Ya> Numbers and Facts, Strange Times
Encore
Don’t Do It #
*Gorillaz cover
# played without a slide