Norwalk, Connecticut rockers Goose are getting in the Giving Tuesday spirit with a new song to benefit homeless relief. Today the indie band released a cover of “Sinnerman,” the historical Black spiritual song made famous by Nina Simone, as part of label Secretly Canadian’s 25th Anniversary singles series. Proceeds from the series go to New Hope For Families, a homeless shelter in the label’s hometown of Bloomington, Indiana.
Goose trim a few minutes off Simone’s 10-minute epic, but at seven minutes, the cover still proves dynamic. And it’s no basic rehashing: While Simone interpreted the song with vigorous piano, the groove band slow it down before taking off in a wave of guitar solos, group vocals, and lively percussion.
Goose singer-guitarist Rick Mitarotonda discussed the band’s interesting choice of cover in a statement: “Nina Simone’s take on ‘Sinnerman’ has been a point of inspiration for many years. We’ve been wanting to play it for a while, and this seemed like a perfect opportunity. We’re honored to be a part of this compilation and be involved in the great cause behind it.”
