The Goo Goo Dolls came to Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview on Thursday, September 3, as part of their summer tour. The Buffalo-formed band, which got its start in 1986, is known for songs like ‘Iris,’ ‘Slide,’ and ‘Name.’ The Goo Goo Dolls have remained a staple of alternative and rock music for four decades.
The night opened with Neon Trees, a rock band formed in Provo, Utah, known for their classics like ‘Everybody Talks’ and ‘Animal’. The crowd lit up with the classics, but Neon Trees shocked attendees by sampling ‘Taste’ by Sabrina Carpenter in ‘Secret,’ then following up by sampling ‘Semi-Charmed Life’ by Third Eye Blind in ‘Bad Dreams.’
Anticipation was high in the moments leading up to the Goo Goo Dolls entering the stage. As soon as the lights dimmed and the stage flushed with colors, everyone was on their feet. The notes of ‘Over and Over’ filled the amphitheater.
Before ‘Black Balloon, ’ John Rzeznik talked about the song’s meaning before going into the track. He talked about how it’s about watching someone you care about fight addiction, specifically heroin. Everyone was silent, listening to the significance, but the energy picked right up as soon as white balloons with black writing reading “Black Balloon” appeared in the crowd.
Rzeznik also told the audience before ‘Run All Night,’ “Check out the words; I want you to listen to the words.” You could see people still singing along, but really processing the song’s intended message. The song is about breaking free of a painful path and discovering hope in the unknown future.
The stage came alive with bright colors and carefully coordinated lighting, adding another layer to the band’s already commanding stage presence. Especially the founding members John Rzeznik and Robby Takac, who started each song together at the front of the stage.
Before going into ‘Better Days.’ Rzeznik joked, “Merry Christmas,” as the song was originally part of a Target Christmas album and has now been attributed as a Christmas song.
Closing out the night was ‘Iris’, the Goo Goo Dolls’ most popular single, and for good reason. As soon as the opening chord played, the crowd erupted in excitement. Some pulled out their phones; others covered their mouths in disbelief that they finally got to hear the song live.
The song served as the perfect finale to the night, bringing the nearly four-decade-spanning set to an emotional and memorable close as Rzeznik told the crowd, “Let’s get together and do this again.”
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