(4) Rockdale - 06/27/2025 vs. (5) Arrow - 12/12/2025

@capt_incredible oof

I am voting for the proper jam

Rockdale

It’s probably my favorite Arrow to date. I loved the sax and I was live.

But that Rockdale is something special. I’m voting for it in the next round too

Love both of these but the Rockdale was a 2 seed on my list, and I don't care how "recycled" some feel that it is, it rules.

This one's easy...Rockdale is far superior imho. I'm not a fan of the sax in Arrow....it worked in other tunes that night but not so much here.
And Rockdale is just too strong.

After relistening, I definitely enjoyed this Arrow more than any other previous listens. Sax makes it fun and unique, the last 6 minutes or so are really good.

That being said, I knew immediately in the moment that this Rockdale was super special. And that was well before the edibles had kicked in! Voting Rockdale, and although I doubt it will take JOTY I wouldn't be surprised if it somehow did.

Another double attendance bias. But it’s the Rockdale for sure.

Whew! This was tough! But I had to go with Rockdale. I even listened to Arrow back to back to back to be sure.
There’s something special and transcending about this jam. They break it down funky for us, get super blissful and just end with pure excitement-loving Rockdale. I was here for this show and I remember being so lost in this jam, and listening again months later has me feeling the same way. I could feel the emotion and almost words Rick was trying to portray through his notes both live and recorded. That speaks volumes to me over just heavy jam.
Arrow was stoopid crazy. Love a good hard jam, especially with horns, but that doesn’t always mean it’s the best ;)

Arrow. The last 4-5 minutes captured me. Had a moment. Yes Rockdale rose to a crescendo blissfully and all. But heard that before.

Don't @ me bro but I'm voting Arrow

Not a super huge fan of either of these, would've liked to have pushed 02/15 Hungersite through. Give me the Rockdale, just by a small edge.

@Creature - Rick's guitar string actually breaks in the very last section of finishing Rockdale...we would have gotten Dracul if not for this being the end of the set.

Hardest matchup to decide so far.

The arrow was my favorite jam of goosemas at the time and is so strong, love hearing bogie jumping in and out. And the jam just builds and builds.

The rockdale is special too. Fiery jam. I especially love how Rick makes a mistake at the end and comes in in the wrong key, they just laugh and walk off. Adds a little additional detail to a special jam.

I voted arrow but am happy with either jam that advances

Rockdale pretty easily clears here for me.

I remember being at Goosemas loving this Arrow, super fun live, loved the darkness, but upon each relisten for this bracket I never feel as blown away. It kinda just feels like a pretty standard type 1 Arrow with a sax and some fun darkness/tension at the end. Cool stuff but doesn't compare much to many other tunes in the bracket. Maybe I'm missing something. The Rockdale on the other hand is full of unique and effortless flow with fantastic tonal transitions all around.

This Arrow is wonderful, and deserves recognition. I can see myself coming back to it for Bogie's horns, and for the role it played in making Goosemas special. That said, I feel this Rockdale better embraces the spirit of the tournament, and gets my vote to move on.

Was coming here to say this is the first really hard vote for me, but I see that’s a common sentiment! I had Rockdale at #26 overall and Arrow at #27. I just did a full relisten and it’s still really hard, but I’m sticking with Rockdale by the thinnest of hairs!

Attended Goosemas, walked away from this Arrow (and subsequent Burn the Witch) in awe. But this Rockdale is firmly in my top 16 and have listened to it a ton this year. I’m anchored

Have highlighted this as a tough matchup since I started the bracket. Incredible rockdale; however, I’ve come back to the 12/12 arrow for several re-listens based on the sound the horn brings

This is a very close matchup. It’s a battle of uniqueness vs delivery and impact. I think I give the edge to this Arrow because of Bogie’s ability to elevate their sound and his dashing interplay with Rick. This Rockdale bliss jam is strongly executed and is impactful, but just falls short to a more memorable Arrow improv wise.

I know this arrow is show bias and the horns make it better, but it doesn’t hold any weight to this Rock.

I like bagels and I also like this Rockdale

Pleasantly surprised to see the Rockdale with an early lead. I have goosemas attendance bias but still prefer the Rockdale. Some of the most gorgeous bliss Goose of the year, on par with Westville AIN for me. Some of Rick's notes just cut straight through me.

Getting harder. Arrow by a tiny margin for me.

Both are great, hard match up but this Rockdale fux too hard to pass on

This is my hardest decision of the bracket so far. I really like both of these and want both to advance. After a listen of both of these jams multiple times each this morning I decided to cast my vote for Rockdale. It’s a bliss jam executed masterfully with some next level intensity. I won’t be upset by either result here.

I am a tad bit worried that recency bias is influencing me here, but all I know is that this Arrow has been on nonstop repeat for me and gets better with every listen. The back half gets locked into my brain and stays there for days. Outstanding Rockdale as well, but it didn't demand relistens to the same extent that this Arrow does.

Two of my favorites for the year. You got Stuart Boogie joining in for this melodic version of Arrow!! Sheesh it really took the Goosemas show to new heights by the -> 🔥 🧙‍♀️

Rockdale ending the first set was such an electric moment in NH! You could feel the pent-up excitement radiating through this jam! It's a tough choice! I have a feeling the winner is headed far in this bracket

Team arrow here, 10-14 minute section was one of the most interesting pieces of music I heard all year

🐐 Rock!!!

Rockdale is bliss perfection with no added fluff. Smash

Man it’s getting harder to choose. That Arrow > Burn the Witch was 🔥🔥🔥 Rockdale smokes though 💨

Gilford Rockdale supremacy to continue its run to the final 4

Sag band plays their big sag song at their big ol sag fest with a scorpio sitin on sax. What a jam what a journey. That 'dale tho, oh buddy.. this is a fine field for hooching indeed