Phoenix Concerts Review

Concert ReviewFebruary 11, 2012Examiner.com

The Goo Goo Dolls are the kind of band that excites fans time and time again when news comes out they are coming to play live. They never seem to age and their live show holds that same timeless joy like it’s the first time you are seeing them. So it was with that same excitement that I set out on a Thursday night to brave the crowds at The Bird’s Nest (part of the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Open) to see the one and only boys from Buffalo.

The Bird’s Nest is Mecca for young hot party-going twenty-something’s and is even pretty cool for the getting older, eye-cream-wearing forty-something’s! It’s actually a blast and is something to look forward to every year. The four-day music fest always attracts great acts and is sure to have something for most everyone every year.  This year was no exception with Slightly Stoopid, Will.i.Am and a string of other great acts, topped off with (at least for me) The Goo Goo Dolls show.

They boys hit the stage with a track from their most recent release (2010’s Something for the Rest of Us), “Still Your Song,” which was well-received by the huge throng of a crowd pressing up against the stage barrier. Still was followed by the now classic “Slide,” which never ceases to elicit a huge roar from the crowd. The set continued to rock strong with “Here is Gone,” one of my favorites, “Big Machine,” and the rocking, “Dizzy.”

Before, I go any further, I should just mention how great John Rzeznik looked –he’s as cute in person as he is on TV!

The next tune was “Smash,” from the 2002 album, Gutterflower sung by bassist and founding member Robby Takac. Another Takac tune followed, “January Friend,” is said to be inspired by a trip the high-energy bass player took to Hawaii.

“Home,”   was followed by the crowd favorite, “Black Balloon,” a song that, for me evokes an emotional response every time I hear it. “Can’t let It Go,” from the brilliant Let Love In album was a nice add to the set and it was during this song I noticed something I think must be some kind of record or something – the Goo Goo Dolls travel with and keep on hand for use during the show an insane number of guitars. There had to be at least 50 guitars on the stage – maybe more!

Next was a beautiful song that Rzeznik said is “going way back,” and he shared, “changed my life.” “Name,” is a song that is a bit debated among fans as far as what it’s really about—that is the beauty of music, it means something different to different people. I have no inside information, but tend to agree that it is something from the songwriter’s childhood.

Not sure if it was the overzealous packed crowd of imbibed bird’s nesters maybe combined with the fact that the previous night, the band Slightly Stoopid actually fought with a crowd members, but Rzeznik joked that “…you guys are making me nervous, I don’t want to forget the words…” He did not forget the words and for me this was a set highlight song.

“Now I Hear,” and “Tucked Away,” two more Takac tunes gave the energetic bassist cause to rock. Takac’s tunes tend to be a bit different in style that those songs penned by Rzeznik and give the set a shake up and a chance for Takac to shine, show his joy of playing and connect with the crowd, something he does well.

“Stay With You,” another one of my favorites, kicked off a string of crowd pumping Goo Goo Dolls hits. “Become,” and “Let Love In,” whipped the already adoring crowd into a little bit more of a frenzy with Rzeznik praising fans, “…you guys are awesome tonight, thank you.”  “Naked,” from A Boy Named Goo was next and Rzeznik’s intro of “ …this is a song about hope,” “Better Days,” was a highlight -  and after a little plea from Rzeznik to “Sing it…..I didn’t think Phoenix was a shy town,” the crowd delivered in force.

Heading into the end of the set was the now iconic, “Iris,” a song whose opening chords are as unique as the song is loved and Rzeznik teased those chords, letting the crowd excitement build before launching into the full song that had the crowd singing along as loud as the band.  

My personal all-time favorite Goo tune, “Broadway,” closed the set with a really cool guitar break from Rzeznik whose solo was more a mellow bluesy kind of love song played with guitar stings – a beautiful and unexpected treat during a simply fantastic song.

After a brief break off stage, the boys returned with news that they plan to “…be back sooner than later,” and that they are currently “…in the studio working on a new record right now.”  Rzeznik joked that he was excited to be making some new music because he is “really fucking sick of playing all these old songs,” and while he was joking, I can only imagine that someone with such a gift does truly want to keep playing the music in his heart and sharing that with all of us.

“Sympathy,”  and a fantastic  cover of the Supertramp classic, “Give A Little Bit,”  a cover song that I think is actually done better by the Goos and was an awesome way to end the set, leaving us all wanting more .

Overall, this was one of the better shows I have seen from The Goo Goo Dolls – it was full of energy and a great, well-planned set list helped this show shine.

Thanks to Amy H. for the set list!
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012:

Still Your Song
Slide
Here is Gone
Big Machine
Dizzy
Smash
January Friend
Home
Black Balloon
Can't Let It Go
Name
Now I Hear
Tucked Away
Stay with You
Become
Let Love In
Naked
Better Days
Iris
Broadway

Encore:
Sympathy
Give A Little Bit

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