The boys are back in town, the boys are ba… Oh! Wait! That’s a different group! Hmmm? Anyway, they’re back and anytime the Goo Goo Dolls come back home you know it’s going to be a great show. There’s just something about playing in front of your hometown crowd that energizes the senses and gets things going right from the first step onto the stage. Despite the medium sized crowd of five to six thousand (5,000 to 6,000) at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Saturday, August 24, 2013, these boys cooked from the word “go.”
After over 28 years of making music and touring, they’re still rocking and have sold more than 10 million records. They have also been nominated for Grammy Awards twice. Their 1998 mega-hit “Iris” is probably one of the songs they are best known for to this very day. The restless crowd roared as the lights dimmed and the stage displayed several LED boards lit with old televisions displaying various works or artistic expressions. The boys opened with “Last Hot Night” from their newest album, “Magnetic.” The venue was filled with deafening cheers and praise. Guitarist John Rzeznik and bassist Robby Takac love to work the crowd while drummer Mike Malinin holds down the beat while the crowd loves them right back, flying black balloons during the song of the same title, “Black Balloon.”
Also touring with the Goo Goo Dolls for a number of years now are Brad Fernquist (guitars, mandolin and backing vocals since 2006) and Korel Tunador (keyboards, guitar, saxophone and backing vocals since 2010). After seeing them tonight, one can see their success as they have blended grunge and power pop in a way that broke through to the mainstream, and continues to build much earned success and admiration from both new and long-time fans. From what started as a simple band in a Buffalo, NY, basement, escalating to a one-hit-wonder with “Name,” and later going on an epic launch to success with “Iris,” this band is now writing hit after hit flawlessly.
The Goo Goo Dolls performed their new single “Rebel Beat” also from their “Magnetic” album. Loyal fans already knew the words. Just showing that the band is still delivering hits today says a lot for the writing style that has lasted close to 30 years and is still widely received.
The Goo Goo Dolls never fail to deliver a high energy show and for those of us who remember the early days at the Continental in downtown Buffalo, we could not be more proud of this band! Rock on!
Set List:
Last Hot Night
Slide
Naked
Here is Gone
Rebel Beat
When the World Breaks Your Heart
Black Balloon
Big Machine
January Friend
Smash
Let Love In
Cuz You’re Gone (with a snippet from “A Thousand Words”)
Come to Me
Name
Bringing on the Light
Another Second Time Around
Better Days
Stay with You
Iris
Broadway
Encore:
Sympathy
Give a Little Bit (Supertramp cover)
We would like to thank Jill Augusto at WBR for the credentials to review the show.
