Chelsea Miller ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Issue date: 1/20/11 Section: Features

Youngstown State University Penguin Productions announced their pick for the big spring concert of the semester at Thursday's Penguin Pre-Party after much anticipation. The Goo Goo Dolls are the scheduled band to play April 12 at the Covelli Center.

Black balloons hung in Peaberry's as a symbol of the Goo Goo Doll's song "Black Balloon" - a clue to the band that Penguin Productions would later announce. Students were pleased after hearing the pick.

Freshman Lee Beitzel let out a cry of excitement at the announcement. A longtime Goo Goo Dolls fan, Beitzel said she will be attending the concert in April.

"I'm pumped, like super pumped!" she exclaimed.

Chris Yasinsky, sophomore psychology major, did not attend last year's Third Eye Blind concert, but said he will for the Goo Goo Dolls.

"I've been a fan of theirs for a long time," he said.

Formed in Buffalo, NY in 1986, the Goo Goo Dolls are composed of lead singer and guitarist John Rzeznik, bassist Robby Takac and drummer Mike Malinin.

The band broke into the mainstream in 1995 with their hit song "Name" from their fifth album, "A Boy Named Goo". The song that catapulted them into stardom, however, was "Iris". The song was featured on the soundtrack for the movie "City of Angels" and spent 18 weeks at #1 and nearly a year on the Billboard charts.

The band tours now after 25 years together. Danielle Long, student programming intern, said the Goo Goo Dolls touring schedule worked well with YSU's.

"Basically they were looking for a date in Ohio within a certain amount of time," Long said. "So we just kind of contacted the Covelli Center because we've been working with them, and we suggested it."

The concert will be held in the Covelli Center and is open to anyone who wants to attend, but students will receive special privileges.

"The whole floor is going to be general admission just for students, so that will just be a YSU section, and tickets are ten bucks," Long said.

For all others attending, the cost will be $29.50.

Students can purchase their tickets for the event at the Covelli Center box office at 10 a.m. on Jan. 28. Students also have opportunities to win tickets throughout the month.

"We're giving away a lot of tickets. At each one of these Pre-Parties we're giving away a set of tickets. A lot of different student organizations have tickets to raffle off however they want. So there just going to pop up anywhere basically after today," Long said.