Worlds Collide For Goose’s Jeff Arevalo

After moving to his new house in Connecticut, Goose Drummer/ Percussionist Jeff Arevalo was a little worried about the longer drive to his local disc golf courses. What was once a 10-minute commute is now more like 30-40 minutes. Not devastating news by any means, but still a bummer for avid disc golfer.

Luckily for Arevalo, a couple of DISCatcher Pro 28 Baskets were being shipped to his house. The plan was to set up a couple of fairways inside his two-acre wooded lot. Not perfect, but when the game isn’t nearby, you gotta bring it to you, right?

Arevalo: The Disc golf Linchpin

Arevalo, who was named an Innova Ambassador in 2022, has been key in developing the relationship between Goose and Innova Disc Golf. Earlier in 2022, Arevalo took advantage of a band travel day and dropped by Innova’s premier event, the US Disc Golf Championship (USDGC), where he got an inside look at a disc golf major tournament and the people that make it happen. Along with the tournament action he was impressed with the Championship’s growing musical element (Fresh & Now Concert Series), which has been expanded last few years.

Goose Disc Drop

And now in 2024, Goose, the USDGC and Innova have teamed up for a limited release of three discs featuring artwork from Goose’s 2024 Summer Tour. “It’s incredibly cool to see my band’s artwork on an Innova disc. My worlds are colliding right now. Never dreamed of having a relationship with Innova like this,” said Arevalo.

In between Goose’s summer and fall tours this year, Arevalo was glad to get a little time for disc golf at home. However, it’s not home where he plays the most. It’s on tour, where it’s not uncommon for him to play 3-5 times per week. He says concert sound check is not until 3 or 4 pm, which means he’s got plenty of time to find a nearby course on Udisc and get in a round before going on stage. Once the tour gets kickin’, so does Arevalo’s game, which specializes in the approach shot. His drives aren’t the longest (he averages around 225 feet) and his putting game is a work in progress, but his approach game is where he hangs his hat. “My best shot is the approach or the midrange. I’m a laser with a Mako or a Shark,” Arevalo said.

Here’s a look at Arevalo throwing a drive during some down time.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Jeffrey Arevalo (@orebolo87)

He’s hoping to dial-in the rest of his game with the help of his new baskets, YouTube, and maybe even a few actual lessons. He’s curious about the game, too. He loves discovering new courses and he recently found a website listing the five oldest courses in each state including Pennsylvania’s Segley Woods, which he was able to check off his list.

Sounds of Tunes & Chains Common at the Arevalo house

Like music, disc golf was instilled in Arevalo at an early age. His dad discovered the game on the way home from his honeymoon in 1992 and shared it with his family in their homes of Cincinnati and later Florida. Disc golf is something that Jeff has held onto and you might say has given him some balance. Over the years, he’s found that he’s more of an introvert and his “social battery gets really tapped on tour.” Playing disc golf (often solo) gives him a chance to recharge during a hectic tour schedule and find a little inner peace.

Goose & Disc Golf Just Make Sense

Chances are real good that either you or some of your friends have heard of the Connecticut based band that’s big on fluid rhythms and improvisations. You may have even heard one of their breakout hits like “Hungersite” or “So Ready” on the course, blasting from a cardmate’s Bluetooth speaker. The USDGC was actually permitted to utilize Goose’s music for the event’s broadcast in 2022.

Arevalo, a member of the band since 2020, is definitely Goose’s biggest disc golfer. He said he took bandmate Peter Anspach to a course in Wisconsin once and the band’s video director John “Coach” Lombardi is also known to throw the disc. He’ll have to inquire about his other bandmates: Rick Mitarotonda (vocals, guitar), Trevor Weekz (bass), and Cotter Ellis, who also plays drums.

Two drummers, you say?

The band utilizes two drummers on stage at once. Arevalo is one of them but also plays a number of percussion instruments as well. Drummer Cotter Ellis joined the band earlier in 2024 and Arevalo said it’s been quite an adjustment. “Double drumming is very hard. And Ben (former drummer Ben Atkind) and I worked on that for 3.5 years together,” said Arevalo, adding they had developed their own tricks and chemistry. It has been a new challenge with Ellis that’s included a lot of hard work, but it’s been a rewarding one, Arevalo said. “Like I’ve said before, I feel we had a sports car (before) and now we have a spaceship,” said Arevalo.

Arevalo Visting the 2024 USDGC?

Goose’s fall tour has a break from Oct 5-24, which spans the USDGC. Arevalo admits that he’s thinking about hopping a flight to Rock Hill, SC to attend the tournament. However, he said it’s easy to overextend yourself during a tour and he’s trying to avoid that. “TBD,” says Arevalo.