(4) Rockdale - 06/27/2025 vs. (13) Fish In The Sea - 02/08/2025

oh, and wtf happened to Rick's guitar at the end of Rockdale?!? Sounded more than just a busted string.

Wow, that Rockdale is special...Trevorbass for the win! I hadn't listened to this show until now and, good lord, I see what all the hype was about! Peter holding down the fort while Rick does his usual insanity but, gd, Trevor and Cotter are on fire! And it continues after the break! It also helps that Trevor is way up in the mix...and I like it! More Tweekz bass plz!!
That said, FITS is no slouch but simply overmatched here.

Talk about a tough choice!! Arpeggiator>everything.
FITS!

This Rockdale was a #2 seed on my playlist and I didn't rank this FITS, so, easy choice here

This Rockdale is INCREDIBLE…I think this could go a couple rounds

I’m borderline regretting my vote for rock dale after listening to the FITS again. This FITS deserves a lot of love and it’s a closer match than the seeding suggests.

This FITS really slipped under the radar and totally deserves a higher seed. This dramatic Latin guitar by Rick overtop of the arpeggiator meshes really well. This is a jam where everyone is locked in and has something to offer whether it be Peter’s fuzzy synths and arpeggios, Rick’s perfectly executed playing, or the rhythm sections driving groove this jam truly feels like a great representation of February Goose. This Rockdale is joyous and blissy but this FITS is a more unique and complete jam in my opinion.

Seems clear I’m voting for the loser but I love this FITS. Rockdale is great but there’s a challenge to this Fish jam that gives it the creative edge.

Going Rockdale, as it made my bracket (and this FITS didn't). But I'm pretty stunned that it's ranked as high as it is, mainly because they've played this jam (or a version of it) many times before. When I'm at a show and hear a jam I've heard before, it usually bums me out, because, like... that's kinda the opposite of what I paid to see. But that's just me. Everyone enjoys Goose in different ways.

Rick Santana - either way both of these are awesome jams, tough for the Fish to be up against this Rockdale in round 1

Peter’s exploration combined with the Godde factor and the salute to the Midwest working class that stands in a line unified for rights .
Not at all biased that fish with phish in it😂wins😂

I’m still not quite over Westville Rockdale not winning JOTY 2024 😁 Neal, amirite?

Always love FITS and this one is really good, but this Rockdale is exceptional and easily gets my vote.

I like the Rockdale more as a whole, and it gets my vote, but Peter's keys on the tail end of that fish in the sea jam are just.... so fucking nice. Its a shame the first half of the jam is way too mellow and boring. Rockdale more fun throughout. Solid searching with a nice clarity found at the end.

I remember how much I liked this Rockdale when they played it… and then I kinda forgot about it. Listened to it again when I was putting my bracket together, and remembered how good it was. As good as this Fish in the Sea is… there's another one that will probably advance a few rounds. Nod to Rockdale this time around… and probably next round as well.

Rockdale in New Hampshire ❤️🪿💯🍕

Had this FitS on my list all year. Repeatedly moving it down, settling around a 12-seed. This Rockdale grew on me the last month. Seeding feels appropriate and I came around to this Rockdale just being better after sleeping on it.

I was at the Milwaukee show, and it’s a super easy choice to go Rockdale here. FitS is good, this Rockdale is epic.

Rockdale for me and it’s not particularly close.

I adore the semi-Latin Landlady-esque vibe from Rick in this FitS and it has great relisten value,, but it doesn't hold a candle to this monster of a Rockdale. Sure the jam has been done again and again (Cap Drive, and one day later with the MSG Thatch), but it's still quite strong.

Unique blues section in the early part of this Rockdale

This Rockdale is incredible. A familiar sounding jam which I know big pod doesn’t like but it’s an incredible piece of music. Rick has some incredible playing throughout. So good his guitar died at the end!

I have like zero emotional investment in either of these but the Rockdale is an objectively stronger jam

It pains me to vote against this FITS. The narrative is that this jam can be left to the dustbin of history because it was understandably overshadowed by the mighty gilford FITS. But this one is great too. Awesome dark latin style jamming.

But the Gilford Rockdale is in the same league as Westville AIN for me. Underseeded as a 4. Some of the notes Rick hits in this jam cut right through you.

Voting for Rockdale but will be listening to this FITS again later.

This Rockdale is pretty fucking supreme. Already voted for it.

I was at Milwaukee, this Fish in the Sea is good, the Rockdale is supreme by far.

Gilford Rockdale supremacy

Please listen to this salsa-ass fish jam before voting. It is a blast.

The Gilford NH show fucks hard, Rockdale being one of the standouts.. and I rate the Fish from that show above Milwaukee, so not a tough choice for me here.