The Goo Goo Dolls closed out the second night of their special two-night benefit concert at Town Ballroom with the kind of heart, hometown pride, and musical polish that only Buffalo’s own could deliver.
What began as a charitable effort became something bigger, last week—a reminder of how powerful it is when a band returns home not just to play, but to give back. By the end of the run, the Goo Goo Dolls helped raise a remarkable $150,000 for FeedMore WNY, turning two evenings of music into a meaningful boost for the community they came from.
FeedMore WNY’s mission is to offer dignity, hope and a brighter future by providing nutritious food, friendship and skills training to our Western New York neighbors in need.
Night two carried a sense of celebration and gratitude from the moment the lights went down. John Rzeznik and Robby Takac seemed energized by the intimacy of the event, leaning into stories, smiles, and moments with the crowd that you don’t always get in a full-scale tour show. Rzeznik’s vocals sounded warm and steady, and the band’s setlist mixed nostalgia with emotional weight—fitting for a benefit built on giving back and looking out for one another.
The band delivered the classics that shaped a generation—songs like Iris, Slide, and Name—and the crowd responded with the kind of full-voice singing that makes even the biggest hits feel personal. But it was the atmosphere around those songs that made the night special: the sense that everyone in the room understood how much this band means to Buffalo, and how much Buffalo still means to them.
Still, each night offered a slightly varying setlist. On night two they played the song “Two Days in February,” which they hadn’t played live in years. Rzeznik introduced the song by saying, “I have to take you back in time, because we gave up playing this fucking song a long time ago…but it’s still relevant to the evening.” Then Takac interjected with, “We did record this song on a front porch in Buffalo, NY,” to which the crowd went crazy.
Robby’s energy was infectious as always, bouncing across the stage with the same joy he’s had since their early days, and the band sounded tight and confident whether they were playing stripped-back or full-throttle. Between songs, the Goo Goo Dolls kept the mood light but sincere, thanking the audience and spotlighting FeedMore WNY’s mission—providing food, resources, and dignity to people who need it most. They even hinted that they might continue to do something similar to this in the future.
By the end of the evening, the show felt like much more than a concert. It was a hometown reunion, a celebration of generosity, and a reminder of how music can bring people together for something that makes a real-world impact.
The Goo Goo Dolls have always carried Buffalo with them, and on this night, Buffalo showed up right back.
Setlist: Long Way Down, Slide, Dizzy, Here Is Gone, Black Balloon, Nothing Lasts Forever, Lucky Star, Feel the Silence, Miracle Pill, Sympathy, Name, Come to Me, Naked, Big Machine, Ocean, Stay With You, Run All Night, Life’s a Message, Bringing On the Light, Better Days, Broadway, Two Days in February, Not Goodbye (Close My Eyes), You Wreck Me, Iris
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