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| Goo Goo Dolls @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Goo Goo Dolls delivered a hit-filled night at UC Berkeley's William Randolph Hearst Greek Theatre that showcased their nearly 40 years of memorable music with a few turns into new and more obscure songs. Founder John Rzeznik (vocals and guitar) and Robby Takac (bass and vocals) seemed to be energized by the full Greek crowd and weather that signaled the start of Fall in the Bay Area.
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| Goo Goo Dolls @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
After Rzeznik had led a version of "Naked" that began stripped down with him under a solo spotlight and then the band had the crowd buzzing with 1999's "Slide", he asked for the house lights to be brought up so he could see the audience. "Well, it's Berkeley. Of course you're all beautiful," he joked. 2006's "Stay with You" followed before the band went to big hits "Big Machine" and "Black Balloon" that saw black balloons emerge from the audience and end up on stage. "It's nice to be back in California. Always." Rzeznik told the crowd.
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| John Rzeznik of Goo Goo Dolls @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
"Miracle Pill" – the title song off their 2019 album saw the band appearing to have fun with a looser presentation of a lesser-known song. The song gave both drummer Craig McIntyre and guitarist Rzeznik a chance to stray from any radio formula singalong to more of a jam structure. "What I need is a new true love edible!" Rzeznik sang.
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| Goo Goo Dolls @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Many people might not know that the band that brought so many hits to VH1 and may have created the "adult alternative" niche, had a far different beginning. Back in 1986, Rzeznik and Takac started off as "Sex Maggots" a Buffalo, New York band that morphed from covers into a punk sound with Takac handling the lead singing role. Takac still takes turns at the microphone - evidenced at The Greek by his versions of "January Friend" (a song that truly shows their punk roots) and 2019's "Life's a Message." Everything took a distinct turn in the mid-1990's when "Name" and "Iris" both brought them mainstream radio and video success and saw them constantly charting top 40 singles – all with Rzeznik on lead vocals and little of the punk sneer on display.
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| Goo Goo Dolls @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Their DNA remains underneath the exterior. Rzeznik can still play guitar with a speed shredder's edge and Takac's bass lines and constant motion on stage are in keeping with their origins. Goo Goo Dolls simply evolved becoming one of the biggest songwriting bands of the alternative era and - as a result - selling more than 15 million records. "Here is Gone" from 2002's "Gutterflower" album was one of those top 40 hits and followed "Nothing Lasts Forever" from their new 2025 album "Summer Anthem."
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| John Rzeznik of Goo Goo Dolls @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Rzeznik introduced an acoustic swing through the set that also included the best interactions with the audience of the evening. "Are you guy happy?" he asked the crowd. "I want you to be happy because the world is f@#king insane and the best part of tonight is we are all in here and that s@#t is out there. Don't you all just need a minute to say "ENOUGH!"? Well, just hit your vape 10-20 times tonight and relax. OK, That's the end of John's Ted Talk. In summary: The world is f@#king crazy. Just stick together and smoke pot," he finished in semi-self-mockery.
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| Robby Takac of Goo Goo Dolls @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Rzeznik delivered a beautiful solo version of "Sympathy" and followed that up with "Acoustic #3" with only himself and Jim McGorman accompanying him on organ. He introduced "Name" with some personal reflections thrown in. "This song was (our) first song that was ever a hit on the radio. We'd been driving around in a van for 8 years before anyone gave a s@#t," he recalled. "It's funny because you go from having nothing to having too much and that can be worse for you…. The good part is I still get to play this for everyone, and you guys are the reason we are still doing this. So, this is OUR song tonight."
"Name" was begun as solo acoustic before Rzeznik went to acapella singing with the crowd and then the full band rejoined to bring the audience jumping to their feet. "Thanks for keeping us alive!" Rzeznik shouted at the end.
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| John Rzeznik of Goo Goo Dolls @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
From the acoustic moment, the set steered perhaps a bit too long into the new and/or lesser-known songs without a familiar anthem thrown in to the mix. A five-song stretch that began with "Over and Over" and then went through new songs "Ocean", "Run All Night", Takac's takes on "Life's A Message" and "Bringing On the Light" seemed to lose the audience energy a bit.
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| Robby Takac of Goo Goo Dolls @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
The familiar piano intro to "Better Days" (with Rzeznik throwing out a hilarious "Merry Christmas" as he began the song that was originally part of a Target Christmas album) shot the crowd with a bit of adrenaline and as the song built the audience began to sing along with the chorus. "Broadway" saw the band return to form with the power and energy of the early set before the band closed the set and encore with "Not Goodbye (Close My Eyes)", a surprise cover of Tom Petty's "You Wreck Me" and the band's gigantic hit "Iris."
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