Show biz and real life share one common question that Janet Jackson asked in a song: “What have you done for me lately?” With many bands touring to celebrate albums that were released years ago, it raises another question. Are fans in the mood relive their past glory days?
It has been 20 years since the Goo Goo Dolls’ album “Dizzy Up The Girl” was playing non stop on many radio stations. The State Theatre was sold out and the crowd reflected the wide appeal the Goo Goo Dolls still hold. The majority of the audience were couples who might have had their first date at one of their shows, but the next generation was well represented as well (so were fellows in brewery shirts and baseball caps).
As the lights dimmed, everyone in the crowd go to their feet even before the first note rang out. The intro was interesting – a deep drone with flashing lights – not what I expected. “Dizzy” the first song of the set made it seem like no time had passed since the band’s heyday. Everyone in the crowd was singing along – even the techs at the sound board who see this show every night. John Rzeznik paused after the first couple of songs thanking fans and said that the 20 year anniversary of the album left him both proud and at the same time amazed at how old he had gotten. He also mentioned being quite high on cold meds. There was an easy in his interaction with fans that I don’t recall from past shows. It added a good vibe on top of the nostalgia.
He jokingly mentioned that they had not played many of the songs in a long time. After the first set the Goo Goo Dolls returned for a second set featuring their hits. It started slow with Rzeznik performing the first two songs acoustic. In the end fans were treated to 24 songs. The audience certainly had a good time. Other than a couple of all ages shows, this was by far the most energetic crowd have seen at the State Theatre.
So are fans in the mood for some nostalgia? Well, in case of the Goo Goo Dolls, that question was answered with a resounding “Yes” last night.
Set List:
Set 1 – Dizzy Up The Girl: Dizzy \ Slide \ Broadway \ January Friend \ Black Balloon \ Bullet Proof \ Amigone \ All Eyes on Me \ Full Forever \ Acoustic #3 \ Iris \ Extra Pale \ Hate This Place
Set 2 – Hits and Deep Cuts: Better Days (solo) \ Sympathy (solo) \ Fallin’ Down \ Lucky Star \ Stop the World \ Name \ So Alive \ Notbroken \ Another Second Time Around \ There You Are
Encore: Big Machine
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