Goo Goo Dolls

Johnny and the gang took us ‘90s kids back in time with a well-performed show of old hits as well as helped up appreciate their newer songs by rocking them live with passion. I greatly enjoyed the show, and my kids now have a new-found appreciation for the Goo Goo Dolls. Fitz and the Tantrums are always fun, and we are glad we traveled to Camdenton to see them as the opener instead of O.A.R. who opened for Goo back in our hometown of KC.

They were great as usual. Venue was fantastic but it was incredibly hot. OAR was an outstanding choice of opening acts. One thing I noticed was that John R mentioned OAR a couple of times during their set whereas when Blue October opened he never mentioned them. I think those that said there was some tension on that tour were correct. This tour everyone seems to be getting along. Always love seeing Goo Goo Dolls live.

They never let us down. Nice intimate venue for this particular show and I was privileged enough to be front row center. Meeting the guys after the show was over the top and capped off a great night of music from my favorite band who I consider friends at this point after all these years of seeing them in concert. Great band and even better people. Thanks for making memories that will be with me until the end!!!

The Show was AMAZING! YAY GOO GOO DOLLS! Live Nation Concerts Do better PLEASE! People work hard for perks/VIPS/M&G's at these shows. The promoters tell people be at the venues certain meeting spots to be taken to said meet and greet place. Live nation staff throws people out of the spot and says they do not care.....WHAT! Thank god we had the promoters name/number and they sent someone. This has happened at 2 separate venues ! No one cares who has what passes. 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️ Not ok! Please DO BETTER! Please share! #livenation

Goo Goo Dolls / O.A.R.: 8/1/23 “The time has come to for me to move into the 90’s as I continue my 2023 mini-tour beginning with Better Than Ezra and moving into Goo Goo Dolls, O.A.R., Smashing Pumpkins, 3 Doors Down, Candlebox, Shinedown, Papa Roach, and Jimmy Eat World. Back in January entering a LIVE NATION contest I won two general admission lawn seats for ‘The Big Night Out Tour’ which began last Monday in Tampa and ends in September in Irvine CA. The Simpsonville Heritage Park date was the 6th of a 31 date cross country trek and my first time seeing either band LIVE. My first thought was with the addition of 2,300 brand new reserved seats to the park how far would General Admission Lawn now be pushed back? That still remains to be experienced. As I presented my tickets at the gate I explained that they were L.N. comps and could they upgrade me to reserved. After inquiring my last name the ticket agent said, ‘Dave come around the corner and we’ll print you up two in section seventeen’ at no charge! The evening itself featured ideal weather for an outdoor event, sunny and 88° at gates open with a brilliant of orange/red super moon rising at the right side of the stage about 9:30 p.m. O.A.R. from Rockville MD (a contraction for ‘Of A Revolution’) were scheduled to open at 7 p.m. coming in with all four original members since 1996: Marc Roberge (vocals), Richard On (guitars), Benj Gershman (bass), and Chris Culos (drums). The band with 10 studio albums and 12 charted singles from ’97-’22 is well known for their live performances spawning six live albums. Goo Goo Dolls from Buffalo NY with 14 studio albums and 16 charted singles features John Rzeznik on lead vocals/guitar with Robby Takac on bass/vocals since the very beginning in 1986. The three additional band members are considered touring musicians. Upon entrance my eyes were immediately drawn to the stage. The back drop was set up as a checkerboard of mini square screens four layers high, between each screen were two spotlights facing outward towards the audience. Four layers of lighting were rigged on either side of the stage with three lateral stage length riggings above the checkerboard pattern. Abstract images, patterns, and colors would be broadcast on the squares during the performances however there were no actual video screens. With the direct sun shining on the stage silver tarps covered the bands equipment right up untill showtime. As the sun made it’s way just above the horizon behind a diffusion of clouds the tarps were removed revealing a very basic floor set with the exception of the drumhead which showcased a gorgeous sky scene with a skeleton surfing the clouds and the wording ‘.….of a Revolution. At 7:15 p.m. O.A.R. took the stage for a 15 song / 1 1/2 hour set beginning with ‘About Mr. Brown’ from their self released debut album followed by ‘Lay Down’ a released and uncharted single. Aside from a handful of known charted singles that pattern continued which is the beauty of an O.A.R. show, you never know what you are going to get —no two shows are identical. The evening featured the longest set of the tour thus far with each song noticeably building upon each other —a musical masterpiece. Not waiting till the very end, the third song in was their highest charted single #2 ‘Shattered (Turn the Car Around)’. Marc addressed the crowd, ‘We started out a when we were kids in the neighborhood, our first show was the eighth grade talent show and we moved on from there to the cafeteria at school… and now we get to be out here on tour with The Goo Goo Dolls man, so thank you guys so much for having us.’ A back-to-back trio of hits, ‘Love And Memories’, ‘I Go Through’ and ‘Heaven’ were inserted mid-set keeping the momentum going before the band dove into even more obscure territory. ‘Heaven’ featured Jerry DePizzo with some spiced up saxophone work, and ‘Hey Girl’ featured the Cuatro (a viola shape guitar with strings like a mandolin). ‘We’re gonna need your singing tonight you know that right? Don’t be shy, if you don’t know the words make ‘em up, I do it all the time I did it seven minutes ago and nobody knew.’ Well everyone knew the next one, ‘Peace’ and everyone sang along! Moving through a cover of Bob Marley’s ’Stir It Up’ a fan called out ‘This Town’ as a request. ‘Someone had a well timed request by a gentleman out there “Was that you?” and totally we’re gonna change the set list for it because I respect your timing and your volume was good too!’ Performed in similar reggae beat it fit in perfectly just as if it had been planned. ‘That Was A Crazy Game Of Poker’ completed the set with fans tossing playing cards in the air and singing along, ‘and I said, how 'bout a revolution? and he said right.’ Aside from the fact that the set was played in direct daylight (which can be a detractor) it was near perfect! With a half hour set change and the moon not yet risen, it was 9:05 and completely dark as John Rzeznik 57 hopped across to center stage with guitar in hand wearing a walking boot mumbling, ‘I f***ed up my foot’. Who saw that coming! Opening with 2000’s ‘Broadway’ the band performed a staggering 24 song / one hour and forty minute set. With a ‘It’s nice to be here and everyone in South Carolina is pretty that’s all I know’ and ‘Come on put ‘em up, come on’ John addressed the crowd taking it all in stride. Third song in, their #1 ‘Slide’ got not only hands but all the bodies up as well. Rzeznik seated a top a large road case where he would remain all evening continued as he introduced ‘Big Machine’, ‘Okay so thank you for understanding umm this show will probably be light on the shenanigans.’ ‘Alright let’s keep going.’ Each song brought out their tech center stage delivering a different guitar to John. Known for their different tunings, it was completely necessary. We could see the guitar rack all the way stage right —there had to be two dozen instruments in the waiting! ‘You guys all know this one’, it was ‘Black Balloons’ with fan inflated black balloons quickly being hoisted into the air. The staged turned to Robby as John informed us in jest, ‘I’m going to sit this out’. Takac in his energizing and head banging purple haired kind of way rasped out the 1998’s ‘January Friend’ bringing on a whole new energy level. It wouldn’t be the only song of the evening for Robby, he also sang ‘Lucky Star’ from ‘Superstar Car Wash’. Finally explaining the situation at hand John enlightened us, ‘This is what happened, okay we were playing last night and then I just walked off the stage and went “OW” and then a I have this ridiculous looking thing on’. Moving ever so slightly he turned slightly stage right and said, ‘I’m gonna work this side of the room a little’ then introducing 2019’s ‘Miracle Pill’ he exclaimed ‘I could use a whole bottle of these right now. I’m gonna eat the whole bottle here we go.’ Fact of the matter is that wasn’t entirely true, Rzeznik the former Next Great American Band judge has been in recovery since 2014. He stripped things back a bit acoustically beginning with a piano driven rendition of ’Sympathy’ followed by an appearance from ‘Tapey’ a forty year old tape recorder. Wheeling out the large open reeled machine on a rolling case with TAPEY spray painted on the front he performed a tour debut of ‘Lost’. John invited a nineteen year old fan holding a sign (unreadable to the audience behind him) on stage for the #2’ Name’ and gave him a guitar. ‘I have a feeling I’m gonna regret this. You’re serious you know how to play this? Ladies and Gentleman it’s Jake, alright Jake take it away’. It was just Jake and John and they began the song playing it phenomenally in its original tuning to the cheer of the audience. The band coming back on stage joined in for the finish. ‘I ain’t paying you’ John assured him as the audience shouted out ‘JAKE, JAKE, JAKE!’ An additional half dozen songs rounded out the regular set ending with the hits ‘Better Days’ and ‘Stay With You’. For the encore they simply stayed on stage. ‘I ain’t hobbling off my gimpy a** all the way over there so “Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s the Goo Goo Dolls again!”’ The band brought Marc Roberge from O.A.R. back on stage for a cover of Petty’s ‘I Won't Back Down’ recently released just this year as a non-album single. With a final ‘I wanna thank you guys again for being with us you kept this band alive for a long time, thank you’, the evening concluded with 1998’s #1 ‘Iris’. As the chorus repeated over again and again ‘I just want you to know who I am’ the crowd began to make their exit the out the main gates, hearts full and spirit’s high!” Review and photo by DAve (Concerts #805, 806)

Too Awesomeness!!! My Oldest Daughter, Angelica and I Nina! Had an unforgetable night Out With The Goo Goo Dolls! We couldn't Imagine what to expect! Everyone was sooo plesant sooo wonderful and kind!!! We got to see Goos upclose few songs. Had VIP Meet and Greet Thanks To My Daughter, Angelica! Got to say HI To Johnny and Robby my Old Neighbors from Off Broadway in Buffalo, N.Y. they are so down to Earth and just simply Nice! Like your Relatives. They performed Incredible and so did O.A R.! Yous Rock!!! Making memories for a lifetime!!! Audience was kind and Friendly everyone was full of Joy!!! Good vibes in Chastain Park! All the Workers, Security, Vendors, Jist sooo sweet and pleasure talking to them!!! Hope we experience this again! Just words can't describe! Like Two Cinderella's gone to the ball and just enjoyed everything, Concert, people!!! Beautiful Evening weather too Stars Full Moon! Thank you All from Our Hearts 💕 Love Yous Beautiful Souls! Nina L.A. Buford, Georgia Angelica R. A. Sandysprings, Georgia

First time at this new venue and it was pouring rain for a while, delayed the show nearly 1.5 hours so unfair to judge it based on that. Venue does need more food/drink options as lines were long and some vendors had food but no drinks so you had to wait in an additional line. Bathroom situation was good. Venue is covered but leaked in MANY places, dripping right on patrons so that's not a good thing. If it's covered it should protect you from the rain, maybe a drop or two here and there. That's NOT what happened, it dripped a lot in many locations, causing people to stand in the aisles before the show started to keep from getting wet. That should be addressed as Florida gets a lot of rain. Sound was really good and the sightlines were all good from what I could see. Goo Goo Dolls were very entertaining but I am an O.A.R. fan at heart and to me they were the better act. Can't wait until O.A.R. headlines another tour and stops opening for other bands.

Absolutely brilliant gig.. venue was spacious outside the venue room & plenty of areas for refreshments that were ok priced & amenities & somewhere you could go when it got too hot.. it was a sold out gig & all standing so it it was completely packed during the gig. There is disabled access upstairs on the balcony which offers a brilliant view of the whole room & also has a bar & is accessible via a lift.. it’s wristband only here so check how to obtain one.. staff were very organised & helpful.. cheery & chatty. It was a great experience attending this venue & the goo goo dolls were amazing.

I made a last minute decision to grab a ticket and drive to Buffalo from Harrisburg (and I am a very anxious driver so this was a big deal). Once I got there, I met up with other fans I had only ever met online, so that was awesome. Blue October was one of the best openers I have ever seen, and of course the Goo Goo Dolls were amazing as usual. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Great show! Blue October was way better than expected. They sound way better live! Goo Goo Dolls were awesome. Needed to leave out a few of the newer songs imo. Way better songs off of their older albums. Wasn’t a fun of ending the show with a Tom Petty song. Don’t get me wrong it was cool and sounded great, but end with one of your own smashes! Would’ve been cool to her Blue October and Goo Goo Dolls collaborate on a song at the end. All in all a great concert with great seats (8th row, center stage)!

It Was Sooo Awesome!!! We All !!!Loved Every bit of it! Everyone T The venue, "The Tabernacle", Atlanta, GA were Sooo Super Nice and took care of Us and Everyone! They were Fantastic 5 Stars Out To Them and All !!! Top Rated! From start to finish! Helped, being Polite and Friendly and Us As Well And Smiles to Everyone from Us To Them!!! Happiness! Beautiful Venue!!! Clean! Polished to Perfection! Great Food at VIP ROOM!!!! Great All Around! We Loved it!!! Enjoyed Our Time and Experience and "The Goo Goo Dolls" Sounded Sooo Amazing! Sound And All ! Everyone were Enjoying Themselves!

Incredible show as usual. Met John and Robbie before the show and they were in very good spirits which lifted me up even more. Love these guys more and more each time I see and get to meet them witch is around 5 times so far in just the last 4 years. Real good guys and down to earth. I appreciate that very much and admire what they have accomplished over the years. Have 2 guitars in my living room that were played on stage by John and signed by him and Robbie that I cherish. Have become basically my favorite band over the years.

Honestly despite The Goos being my absolute favorite band they always give an amazing show. Robby is awesome to watch on stage because he's always so full of vigor and Johnny is real. He shares his light with the rest of his band and with the crowd. The Unlikely Candidates were fun to watch and even if a lot of the people hadn't heard their music beforehand they definitely were enjoying the upbeat talent they were providing. All in all it was a great show to be privy to.

Allen Stone has a few new fans! Great choice for an opener. The goo goo dolls played a full set, the sound quality at the amphitheater was AMAZING! We had never seen Train live before, and really enjoyed them. Their stage presence is awesome. It was a great show. Sadly probably the last time I’ll see the GGD for a while, as I just checked prices for the miracle pill tour and there aren’t any affordable tickets, even in presale. It makes me sad because I’ve always been a huge supporter, have been to seven shows and bought several VIP and meet and greets, but this time I was excited they would be so close to home in Peoria IL and just wanted affordable seated tickets so I could take the whole family but it is not possible at these prices. Every seat is VIP price (without the meet & greet)

The music was great! Same with the band. I wish it wasnt GA thiugh. I had a VIP package, but with the GA ended up getting smashed with people pushing really close behind me. Had to leave the crowd due to almost fainting. Thank goodness for the security letting me go to the side to recover myself. That was before the music even started. Would be nice if the VIP had a section to the side too. If the wanted to

So much better than I could have ever expected, even with the crappy opening "comedian" and the matching hologram act, though it was cool seeing John sing to himself playing the guitar and vice versa (you had to be there for this to make sense). But not only did they do all of Dizzy, obviously, they went WAY BACK to Jed and Superstar Car Wash. Songs I *never* thought I'd hear live. Wish they'd done Naked and Long Way Down from A Boy Named Goo and I'd be on cloud 16 instead of just 9.

It Was Sooo Awesome!!! We All !!!Loved Every bit of it! Everyone T The venue, "The Tabernacle", Atlanta, GA were Sooo Super Nice and took care of Us and Everyone! They were Fantastic 5 Stars Out To Them and All !!! Top Rated! From start to finish! Helped, being Polite and Friendly and Us As Well And Smiles to Everyone from Us To Them!!! Happiness! Beautiful Venue!!! Clean! Polished to Perfection! Great Food at VIP ROOM!!!! Great All Around! We Loved it!!! Enjoyed Our Time and Experience and "The Goo Goo Dolls" Sounded Sooo Amazing! Sound And All ! Everyone were Enjoying Themselves!

Omg!!! I loved it so so much!! I was about 7 feet from the stage the entire time and it was absolutely incredible. I was singing along to every song, taking pictures, videos... It was amazing. My mom was with me and she says I was smiling from ear to ear. It was absolutely incredible and I loved it so much. They played amazingly well and they were funny and cool. I loved it and I would go see them again if I had the chance to.

Tribe Society was a great opener, I'm going to start following them. C.S. was great. Was hoping to hear them play Run but it is a slower song.G.G.D. started off a little disappointing; started about 30 minutes after the stage hands had the stage set up, which takes time and began their first song with bright lights flashing in the eyes of the audience, making it difficult to keep my eyes open for the entire song

The show was amazing!! Loved the new set list, especially having older songs. My only issue was that I had the package with a seat on stage during their part, but my ticket was second row. The experience itself was awesome, but we were back so far it felt kind of removed from the show without a whole lot of interaction and a little hard to see. I have two more shows with this package, but with front row, and now I am wondering if it'd be better to stay on the floor. Or maybe it was just because of that particular stage and maybe the others will be better.