BY JANICE KWON ’27 & MIA SHU ’26
On January 24, 2026, lead singer Cameron Winter of the band Geese shocked a wide-eyed audience in Studio 8H, as well as viewers across the nation by singing, “I have a bomb in my car!” This ground-breaking performance of the song “Trinidad” marked Geese’s debut on “Saturday Night Live” and the band’s continuing rise toward mainstream success.
Formed in 2016, Geese is an alternative indie rock band from Brooklyn, New York. With many believing they’ll revive New York’s dying rock scene, Geese has been compared to iconic New York rock bands such as The Strokes and the Talking Heads. While they have only just recently gained mainstream popularity for the September release of their fourth studio album “Getting Killed”, Geese has been gaining momentum, recognition, and a strong fanbase in the indie rock world for years. While excited for Geese’s success, some fans worry about the band possibly sell out. However, if the band’s “SNL” debut is any indication of their future, it seems Winter is a wild card and has no intention of leading his flock too deep into the mainstream any time soon.
Currently, the band consists of lead vocalist Cameron Winter, guitarist Emily Green, bassist Dominic DiGesu, and drummer Max Bassin. In live performances, they are also joined by keyboardist Sam Revaz. Geese’s recent growth in popularity has been attributed to front man Cameron Winter’s voice. With Winter’s baritone voice sounding like a mix of Julian Casablancas from The Strokes, Tom Yorke from Radiohead, and Bob Dylan, he makes Geese stand out. But his voice isn’t the only thing that sets the band apart; mixed with his lyrics, Winter presents compelling songs to his fanbase. Rachel T. ’27 said, “I like the storytelling in each of [Geese’s] songs. I also like Cameron Winter’s vocals.” Geese’s experimental rock songs, such as “Trinidad,” and more underrated pieces, like “2122” and “Crusades,” are memorable due to Winter’s distinctive voice.
Geese’s SNL debut could be compared to Radiohead’s live performance of “Creep” on September 14, 1993, on the Late Night show with Conan O’Brien. With their unapologetic and chaotic stage presence, they received several reactions to their unusual show. Albion D. ’27 said, “Of the two songs they performed, I preferred their performance of ‘Trinidad’ because of the band’s energy.”
While he preferred their performance of “Trinidad,” Albion also said, “While the lyrical content is good, I have a big problem with the execution. Winter’s voice can feel forced and performative…You can tell they’re going for an organized chaos vibe, but it often comes out as disorganized and wacky.”
Despite receiving some criticism for their performance, many fans and music critics still raved about Geese’s debut, even going as far as saying that they’ll revive the rock genre as a whole. “I’m sure bands like Geese will go on to influence other experimental rock acts in the near future due to the popularity and critical acclaim of their latest album,” said Rachel.
With Geese’s progressive rise to stardom, one can only anticipate their next move. As fans await their next project, Winter’s solo works are also worth mentioning, especially as he has been compared to this generation’s Bob Dylan. It is worth noting that Geese will be playing many festivals this spring and summer, including Gov Ball. Until their next album and tour, Geese fans continue to flock.
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