Goo Goo Dolls – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview, Syracuse, NY- 08/16/2023

BY THOMAS S. ORWAT, JR.

Syracuse, NY- One of the most anticipated concerts of the summer played at the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview, yesterday evening. The ‘Big Night Out’ tour, featuring the multi-platinum selling band The Goo Goo Dolls along with the band O.A.R., performed for a captivated crowd of spectators of all ages.

The Goo Goo Dolls, which consist of the dynamic combo of founding band members John Rzeznik (vocals/guitar) and Robby Takac (bass/vocals) along with world class musicians, Brad Fernquist (guitar), Craig Macintyre (drums) and Jim McGorman (keyboards), performed their almost 2 hour long set with great musicality and energy.

The Goo Goo Dolls, who were established in Buffalo, NY in 1986 and are regarded as rock royalty in that city, oddly omitted a stop in Buffalo from their current tour. However, a sizable section of the crowd drove the extra two hours from Buffalo to Syracuse to witness this performance. Rumor has it that Buffalo, NY will have a Goo Goo Dolls show in 2024.

But just like their hometown, The Goo Goo Dolls did have an early history performing in Syracuse, as Rzeznik reminisced during the performance, at the club The Lost Horizon.

On to the show.

At approximately 9 o’clock, a news montage of various unpleasant current events aired on the video scene backdrop before the band began, and Rzeznik then stepped to center stage and cried, “STOP!” The group then launched into their hard rocking hit track, “Broadway.”

The Goo Goo Dolls proceeded with a well-paced 25 song set that was comprised of several fan favorites and essential songs from their extensive catalog, as well as a well-crafted, brand-new single called “Run All Night.”

Rzeznik and Takac enthralled the crowd with the typical dynamic performance that many of their fans have come to expect from these rock icons. Rzeznik, who recently suffered a torn fascia in his right foot (he sustained the injury at their July 30 gig in Atlanta, Georgia, and performed a few shows later while seated), displayed no symptoms of the injury. Even though Rzeznik and Takac are both in their mid-50s, they delivered on this evening’s performance as though they were half their age.

The band stormed through one hit after another, to the delight of the audience, which remained standing and singing along throughout this beautiful rock music filled summer evening.

Robby Takac declared, “We’re going to play some new songs, play some old songs, and this one is particularly dusty” before slamming into “Lucky Star” which features Takac on lead vocals and is from the 1993 release “Super Star Car Wash.” Takac took on the lead vocals for an additional 3 tracks during the evening: “January Friend,” “Life’s a Message,” and “Bringing On the Light.”

Midway through the performance, Rzeznik questioned the audience, “How many of you are from Buffalo, tonight? “He then proceeded to lead the chorus of the Buffalo Bills “Shout” anthem, with a “Hey, Hey, Hey Hey!” Rzeznik then quickly nixed it, laughing “Let’s not start this shit now.””

Rzeznik and keyboardist Jim McGorman then performed a haunting, stripped-down rendition of “Sympathy” from the certified gold-selling 2003 album “Gutterflower.”

For the next song, “Lost” a road case was rolled out on stage with an old tape deck on the top of it and the word TAPEY sprayed painted underneath it. Rzeznik explained that he had all these great musicians play on their most recent record “Chaos In Bloom” and he wanted to take them out on tour, but then when he saw the bill he said, “Fuck That” and he replaced them with technology, which was sarcastically a 45-year-old tape deck.

Rzeznik remarked to the crowd, “It amazes me that I still get to play for you,” before a passionate performance of the career changing mega hit “Name ” from the 1995 multi-platinum selling “The Boy Named Goo” record. The Goo Goo Dolls’ meteoric rise to fame was largely attributed to this song. Since then, Rzeznik and Takac haven’t turned back.

The second last song of the evening was the Tom Petty classic “I Won’t Back Down” in which the opening band O.A.R.’s lead singer/guitarist Marc Roberge joined the band onstage. The Goo Dolls and O.A.R. collaborated earlier this year on this track and released it as a single. John Rzeznik recently stated that he developed a new appreciation of Tom Petty’s music.

 The evening concluded with the band’s epic smash hit “Iris,” which was ranked #1 on Billboard‘s “Top 100 Pop Songs 1992–2012” (from wikipedia). This was a truly one of those magical concert moments in where the crowd and the performers unite as one.

In summary, the Goo Goo Dolls remain as one of the most consistent live rock music bands out right now. The combination of great songs, high energy performance and Rzeznik’s dry sense of humor make seeing the Goo Goo Dolls a truly great BIG Night Out.

Setlist 08-16-2023

Broadway
Over and Over
Slide
Big Machine
Here Is Gone
Black Balloon
January Friend
Yeah, I Like You
Going Crazy
Lucky Star
So Alive
Dizzy
Sympathy
Lost
Come to Me
Name
Miracle Pill
Run All Night
Life’s a Message
Bringing On the Light
Better Days
Stay With You
Tattered Edge / You Should Be Happy
I Won’t Back Down (Tom Petty cover)
Iris

O.A.R. rocked the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview on Wednesday night as part of the “Big Night Out” tour with the Goo Goo Dolls. The band played a mix of old and new songs, including some from their 2019 released album ‘The Mighty’. They also played a cover of Billy Joel’s “The Downeaster Alexa”, which they have included in their setlist many times since 2007.

O.A.R. was formed in 1996 in Rockville, Maryland consists of vocalist / guitarist Marc Roberge, drummer Chris Culos, guitarist Richard On, bassist Benj Gershman, saxophonist/guitarist Jerry DePizzo, and touring members, trumpet player Jon Lampley and keyboardist Mikel Paris. During this performance, Roberge was in good spirits and engaged with the crowd frequently.

The highlight of the night was their closing song, “That Was a Crazy Game of Poker,” which had many singing and dancing along. O.A.R. proved that they still have what it takes to put on a great live show after more than two decades in the music industry.