By SANDY MASUO

Cast in the same scruffy mold as the Replacements and Soul Asylum, the Goo Goo Dolls specialize in gritty pop-rock forged from hummable hooks, a healthy dose of rock crunch, heartfelt playing, earnest if not particularly challenging lyrics and down-to-earth personalities.

The Goo Goos’ first album in four years, “Dizzy Up the Girl” packs an uncomfortably tidy commercial gloss. Still, when the upstate New York trio kicked off its tour Thursday in Santa Ana at a sold-out Galaxy Concert Theatre, the band demonstrated that it hasn’t lost the scrappy appeal that first drew people to its music at its debut 12 years ago.

The Goo Goos’ 90-minute set--rounded out by a second guitarist, a keyboardist, and a harmonica for one song (“Broadway”)--crackled with spontaneous energy. The group delivered quieter, moody tunes such as “Black Balloon” with just as much vigor as sassier, more punk-edged numbers such as “Full Forever.”

Despite the quintet’s full sound and lively playing, the Goo Goos actually packed the most firepower during the encore, when they played as the trio from Buffalo. Stripped down to the basics, singer-guitarist John Rzeznik, bassist Robby Takac and drummer Mike Malinin whipped up a more concentrated playing dynamic.

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But the 600-plus enthusiastic fans who filled the house were responding to more than just the music. Frontman Rzeznik took lots of time out for casual stage banter. His easy manner and charismatic stage presence enhanced the already warm rapport he and his bandmates shared with the crowd.

Sporting blond, spiky hair, a glammy ensemble of crushed velvet pants, a snug tank top and lots of jewelry, Rzeznik looked as if he’d borrowed Stone Temple Pilot Scott Weiland’s stylist in preparation for the tour. To the thrill of the female contingent, he strutted his stuff with a tongue-in-cheek flair, poking fun at rock star poses even as he struck them.

At one point, he invited a woman out of the crowd to provide guest vocals on “Name.” Thanks to Rzeznik’s tact and humor, it proved more fun than embarrassing for all involved. Even the rough spots that cropped up now and again worked to the Goo Goos’ advantage, with guitar glitches and rusty lyrics posing a few more opportunities to joke with the roadies and the audience.

Although it took a long time to break into mainstream success, the Goo Goo Dolls did it by sticking to the crowd-pleasing values that have been at the heart of its music, ones that certainly were at the heart of the Galaxy show.

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Athenaeum, as the opening act, turned in a set of spunky guitar pop that was just as genial and heart-felt, though ultimately the quartet’s lively attitude was more compelling than its songs.