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Phoenix show review from examiner.com
« on: Sep 6th, 2010, 7:11pm » |
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Phoenix concert review: Goo Goo Dolls - 8/28/10 - with Switchfoot, Dodge Theater
September 6th, 2010 10:54 am MT
John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls onstage at the Phoenix Dodge Theater Agust 28, 2010.
Photo: Traci Baker, used with permission
There are a few things that make me proud to say I am a native Buffalonian…the obvious Chicken Wing fabulousness, the fact that I know about and have consumed Labatt’s Blue, the Sabres, Niagara falls and, of course, the Goo Goo Dolls!
It is always a treat to see the boys when they are in town. I was really happy to hear that they would be at the Dodge Theater, a venue I prefer for its great site lines and good acoustics.
Equally enticing this year was the fact that Switchfoot would be opening the show. What I didn’t know and what became a pleasant surprise was the additional opening act, Green River Ordinance. A super, young band from Texas whose sound is original, but with a little bit of Third Eye Blind a pinch of Gin Blossoms thrown in to that sound. Super nice guys and really good performers…watch out for this band…great things are in store for them. Check out their music at: www.myspace.com/gro
Switchfoot was awesome. Front man Jon Foreman is an enigmatic performer who carries with him the intensity we saw Bono bring to the stage in the early 80s; a true hunger to be among the crowd, to connect and be present. The band did a nice well-rounded set that went like this:
Meant To Live (Intro)
Stars
Mess Of Me
Dare You To Move
Won’t back Down (Tom Petty cover)
Your Love Is A Song
The Sound (John M. Perkins’ Blues)
This Is Your Life
Free
Meant To Live
After the show, Foreman did an impromptu acoustic set outside the Dodge, check out my three-part segment (Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3) with full video of this rare and unscheduled performance where he does previously unheard new tracks and some cover tunes as well.
The Goo Goo Dolls hit the stage a bit after 9 pm to the roar and delight of the full house crowd at the Dodge. Supporting a new album, Something For the Rest Of Us, the guys opened with the first track on the record, “Sweetest Lie.”
Both John Rzeznik and Robby Takac looked great, in fact Rzeznik has never looked better. He almost looked like a younger version of Jon Bon Jovi—which coming from me is ultra high praise (wink). Seriously, success has been good the boys from Buffalo – Cheers guys!
I often talk about a show being good or not so good based on the pacing of the set (the order in which songs are played) and this show was most definitely good for that reason and many others! The set was well-put together and delivered when it needed to.
The boys knocked the rest of the opening out with a one-two punch of the kick-butt, “Big Machine” and “Slide” and followed those up with “Dizzy” and “Here Is Gone.”
While most of the Goo Goo’s songs are written and performed by front man John Rzeznik, bassist and founding member Robby Takac has his share of tunes to perform and did “Second Time” from 1993’s Super Star Car Wash and “Smash” from 2002’s Gutterflower.
Rzeznik returned to the vocals with “Can’t Let It Go” and the hauntingly beautiful, crowd favorite, “Black Balloon.” A sad song that reminds me of a friend I lost who loved the band and this song -- always makes the Goo Goo Dolls show extra special for me.
The new single “Home” was next, with the heartfelt “Better Days” and “Stay With You” both from Let Love In.
Two more from Robby Takac were next, the new tune, “Now I Hear” and “Tucked Away” from Gutterflower. Robby’s gritty voice and grungier style of playing is so different from the songs that made the Goo Goo Dolls famous, it is sometimes a bit jarring to go back and forth. But Kudos to the band for placing the songs back to back, like little mini sets within the set to make that transition a bit easier.
“Name” came next and is another song that evokes emotion and reflection. So many of their tunes seem so personal, yet remain vague enough to keep you guessing, although I think this one does speak to Rzeznik childhood. It was nicely played and fit well before the more upbeat “Let Love In.”
“As I Am,” from the new record, “All Eyes on Me” and “Acoustic #3” from the band’s hit-filled Dizzy Up The Girl album filled the end of the middle of the set.
It is worth noting that this particular stage set up was one of the best I have seen for the band, with a really nice light show. The wide-open feel and the ability to see all the players clearly made a difference. Even though John Rzeznik and Robby Takac really are the show, it is good to see what else is happening on the stage.
Closing out the show was the band’s mega breakthrough hit, “Iris,” with its beautiful guitar opening and intense lyrics; the live version of the song is a highlight, especially when Rzeznik asks the audience to sing along—good times.
The encore started with the new tune, “Not Broken” that Rzeznik said was “…a love letter to someone very far away who needed to get home soon…”
The awesome “Broadway” closed the show. Broadway is such a cool song and it makes me wish I had grown up with these guys hanging out in those ‘old man’s bars’. The opening was really cool to this with Rzeznik a cappella and lots of great lead guitar by Brad Fernquist and some very cool Sax playing from Jason Freese.
This was a really fun show from the boys from Buffalo—who by the way gave props to the old hometown a few times throughout the night.
What I like most about a Goo Goo Dolls show is the range of emotions, feelings and memories that happen for me during the show. Their music evokes so much, it makes the evening very special.
A standing ovation to the Goo Goo Dolls for yet another fantastic show!!
Stay tuned to your Phoenix Concerts Examiner for all the latest concert news and reviews.
For an exclusive interview with the Goo's Robby Takac, chcek out my friend the Tucson Concerts Examiner.
http://www.examiner.com/concerts-in-phoenix/phoenix-concert-review-goo-g oo-dolls-8-28-10-with-switchfoot-dodge-theater
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