By Joanie Cox-Henry
Photo by Larry Marano ©
The rain was no match for the droves of people who came out to see Goo Goo Dolls on July 26 at Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton. It was the second night of their freshly launched Big Night Out Tour, which kicked off in Clearwater, Florida.
O.A.R. opened the show and pumped out a lively 14-song power set with expected hits such as "Shattered (Turn The Car Around)," and "Hey Girl" and a rousing surprise cover of Billy Joel's "The Downeaster 'Alexa.'" Fusing elements of rock, pop, reggae, and hip-hop, O.A.R., which stands for "Of A Revolution," this band is known for its live shows and they've been going strong since 1996. From scintillating saxophone and mandolin solos to wicked bass beats, this band tours as a 7-piece act and is a joy to watch. While the rain sprinkled on the first half of O.A.R.'s set it started to subside by the last four songs and once Goo Goo Dolls came out, the waterworks stopped completely.
Goo Goo Dolls' set opened with a smattering of screens sharing chaotic news clips of what's going on around the world and then the band burst onto the stage with their 2000 single "Broadway." Guitarist, lead vocalist, and Goo Goo Doll's frontman, John Rzeznik is completely ripped and appears to have the same energy he did when I saw him perform in the late '90s. Jumping around the stage, maintaining eye contact and engagement with fans, and interacting with his bandmates throughout the show, Rzeznik is 57 now and it's something you'd have to Google to believe. He's as timeless as his catalog of anthemic songs that defined a generation raised on grunge. John Rzeznik's alternative rock lyrics gave us a light at the end of the tunnel as we stripped off our flannel and traded it for deeper self-reflection.
While I was very much looking forward to experiencing their old hits, I was eagerly anticipating their latest release "Run All Night" and it didn't disappoint.
Rzeznik has described the song as a tune about escaping one's circumstances and finding hope in the spontaneity of the night. It's their first original song since the release of their 2022 album Chaos in Bloom.
While the melody is extremely dynamic and appealing as the momentum of the song builds, it's the lyrics that got me.
"Don't let your dreams die young/
Don't let your heart go numb.
'Cause all we got is just one life/
You better run all night, better run all night.
So let's burn so bright/
While we're still alive.
And on this long, lonely mile/
We better run all night, better run all night."
Goo Goo Dolls bass player Robby Takac also took the lead on the mic for “Life’s A Message” and “Lucky Star,” from the band’s earlier days. Takac is a blast to watch on stage with his lavender-tinted locks. He's not only a founding member of Goo Goo Dolls but he also launched his own record label Good Charamel Records.
"It's only the second night of the tour so it's too late to get your money back," Rzeznik joked. "But why would you want to get your money back?"
Goo Goo Dolls unleashed their greatest hits such as "Slide" and "Dizzy" upon the adoring crowd. Black balloons bounced through the crowd as the band performed their beloved 1999 hit "Black Balloon." Their set impressively spanned 27 songs and included a dynamite cover of Supertramp's "Give A Little Bit."
Craig Macintyre killed it on drums while Jim McGorman did a stellar job on keys and backing vocals. Brad Fernquist delivered an outstanding slide guitar solo on the band's encore song "Iris." Fernquist previously toured extensively with The New Radicals and acts such as Lisa Marie Presley, Fastball, Hilary Duff, and Michelle Branch.
As I looked around at the crowd around, I noticed the majority of people remained on their feet from the first note and there was a healthy flow of multi-generational fans dispersed throughout the amphitheater. While "Iris" was undeniably the song everyone in the crowd seemed to be waiting for, and it didn't disappoint watching several thousands of fans singing every word while Rzeznik turned the mic on the audience, there was another fun collaboration at the end of the show. O.A.R.'s Marc Roberge returned to the stage to belt out Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" with Goo Goo Dolls. The two acts also released a studio recording of the classic single.
“It has been so great working with Johnny and the band on 'I Won’t Back Down,' Roberge shared in a statement. “Tom Petty’s music has been such an inspiration for us and a meaningful part of our musical journey. We’re looking forward to playing it out on the road for what will be a very special summer of music.”
The tour will continue through the United States through the end of September and then the band will fly to Australia and New Zealand in early 2024. "We decided we wanted to give our audience the best night of their summer," Rzeznik told Rolling Stone. Mission accomplished, Johnny.
All Photos By Larry Marano © Check out this photo gallery of the show:
Check out some highlights from their Boca Raton, FL show below:
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