Hello In Rockers and Welcome to The Lobby, a chance for us to catch up here in the pages on the mighty In Rock as we have for over 10 years, and as always, thanks for stopping in and checking up on us! I’m back home in Buffalo, NY after a busy month of touring and recording during what we mistakenly call the “quiet time” after the Sumer Tour cycle. I’ll fill you in on a bit of the action as well as some of the unique situations surrounding the various cities we visited on this run as well.

Goo Goo Dolls performed a handful of shows around the US, flying from coast to coast a few times to perform for a variety of audiences around the country. The first show was in Charlottesville, VA and a set to conclude The University of Virginia’s 200th Anniversary celebration, we performed along with a full orchestra and multi media presentation in front of the famed “Rotunda” one of the most historically recognized structures in the US. Charlottesville has a great tradition of education at UV, but they are also embroiled in a controversy over removing US Civil War Statues because of their historically “racist” overtones. Supporters of both sides of the issue have met this with some unrest and there were political rallies outside the event with people being removed earlier in the day for protesting inside the event. It was a pretty intense moment, but once the dust settled it was a great show despite the controversies and after speaking with students and faculty it was obvious to us all that the attendees and organizers were aware of the unrest and eager to see it brought to a peaceful and amicable solution if there is one.

We then flew to Napa Valley in California for a show the next day at The US Safeway Golf Open at The Silverado Resort. This was an amazing dusk/nigh time show amongst the vineyards and palm trees after a full week of PGA golf tournaments and the corresponding events that make these tournaments so special for the golfers and attendees. We finished the show and the crew packed up our gear to head to Fresno, CA for the next show and when we woke up the next morning we saw that hours after we left the show the resort we just performed at hours earlier was evacuated as well as hundreds of miles surrounding the venue due to forest fires that eventually spread throughout Napa causing over 50 deaths and over 30,000 people to evacuated from the area. We sat in the next town as we watched the venue we just performed in become engulfed in flames. Another narrow escape from a natural disaster for The Goo Goo Dolls, we’re getting pretty good at this ……

The show in Fresno, CA was great, we played The Big Fresno Fair, I got to pet some cows and pigs, never a bad day when it involves hanging with farm animals, eating carnival food and playing rock. One more long flight brought us to he House of Blues in Chicago for a private event and days later we were off to Las Vegas for another private event that was scheduled at the Las Vegas Village, that was where the horrible mass shooting happened last month during the Rout 91 Country Western Festival, the gig was moved to another venue and went on despite the tragedy. Las Vegas is a very powerful city and they are moving on with their lives, but this is a tragic moment that will be felt by our industry for a very long time. A truly senseless act that will be followed by harsh consequences for the future of live music gatherings here in the states I’m afraid.

On a lighter (and much more fun) note, I’ve also been spending time in Buffalo working with the Tokyo based band Molice on a new album as well as producing/shooting/editing a Music Video at an abandoned Grain Silo on the Buffalo River for promotion. Molice finished up a successful trip to the US and did 7 shows in support of their latest “Signs” EP released on my Good Charamel Records label. Their label mates and fellow Tokyo residents Pinky Doodle Poodle also have a new EP out this month called “Poodle Boogie” available November 17th,, the band has also just returned to Tokyo after finishing up a 40+ city tour of the US.

BUT, lo and behold, I’m home now,it’s 5:45am and it’s Daddy time soon! Wakey wakey, Breakfast, Hamigaki, Homework, Ponytail, Backpack and then drop off at Kindergarten ….. That’s the plan for the next few hours!

All the best to you and please enjoy yourself this month, see you soon!

Peace!
Robby