THOMAS S. ORWAT, JR.
Buffalo hasn’t won a Stanley Cup or Super Bowl …yet, but we do have the best band in the world!
Buffalo, NY – Last night at KeyBank Center, the Goo Goo Dolls reminded everyone why Buffalo will always be their kingdom. My wife and I had the honor of meeting up with Johnny Rzeznik and Robby Takac backstage-brief, but unforgettable. Johnny was warm and grounded, offering hugs that felt genuinely heartfelt. Robby was just as gracious, and though our time together was short, the moment was rich. We even got another photo with the band-a keepsake we’ll treasure forever from a group we’ve followed since their scrappy punk rock beginnings in 1988.
For the Goo Goo Dolls this wasn’t just another stop on their Summer Anthem Tour. It was a full-circle homecoming, and Buffalo showed up in force. Though the band has played KeyBank Center multiple times before, this was their first-ever complete sellout—proof that Buffalo still has their back, which Rzeznik mentioned later during the show. The last time The Goo Goo Dolls played in Buffalo, NY at the Keybank Center was on September 24, 2022. After that, they snuck in a free 2022 New Year Eve show at the Seneca Niagara Casino a few months later.
The Goo Goo Dolls on this evening started promptly at 9:10 PM, following a well-received set by the Dashboard Confessional. When Johnny, Robby, and their stellar backing band—Brad Fernquist (guitar), Craig Macintyre (drums), and Jim McGorman (keyboards)—hit the stage, they opened with “Naked” from their 2x platinum 1995 release “A Boy Named Goo.’
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One of the most memorable moments of this show came during the fifth song of the night, “Black Balloon.” As the opening notes rang out, a massive amount of black balloons descended from the ceiling, covering the audience in a surreal wave of floating latex. Rzeznik, clearly amused, joked, “So this is what $10,000 of balloons looks like.” It was a visual spectacle that lingered—funny enough, it took a few songs for all the giant balloons to finally disappear.
Other notable moments included Johnny Rzeznik opening up about the origins of their first big hit, “Name.” He talked about how the band was struggling to break through, approaching 30 and unsure if things would ever take off. “Before this song, a lot of people would call us bums,” he joked. But once “Name” hit the radio, everything changed—it became a massive hit and gave the band the momentum they needed to survive and thrive. Thirty years later, they’re still going strong.
The setlist itself was refreshing, featuring three new tracks- “Nothing Lasts Forever,” “Ocean,” and “Not Goodbye (Close My Eyes)”—all of which showcased the band’s continued evolution. With a deep catalog like the Goo Goo Dolls have, it was a bold move to steer away from a predictable greatest-hits lineup and instead spotlight fresh material. It paid off. The new songs held their own. They proved that the band isn’t just coasting on nostalgia. They’re still creating music that matters, and their audience certainly embraced this new music.
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Bass player Robby Takac took on lead vocals for three songs during the evening: “January Friend” (song eight in the set), followed later by “Life’s A Message” and “Bringing on the Light.” Takac is a ball of energy on stage, and his songs add another cool dimension to the band’s dynamic. I’ve always thought it would be great if the Goo Goo Dolls did a special show featuring an all-Robby set.
The final song of the evening was the band’s colossal hit “Iris,” and its performance was nothing short of epic. Although released in 1998, the song continues to grow in popularity—now boasting over 2 billion streams on Spotify, making it one of the most played tracks in the world. On this night, Rzeznik’s passionate vocals, the dramatic intensity of the music, and the entire band locked into the moment created a chilling, unforgettable experience. As the sold-out crowd sang every word back, it felt less like a concert and more like a shared emotional release—one that will live on in the hearts of everyone who was there.
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In summary, what can I say that I haven’t already said a million times about Rzeznik, Takac, and the Goo Goo Dolls’ legacy? This band is special, and we’re so thankful that they’re from Buffalo, NY. They’re just as important to the community as the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres. Mark my words-and this is no knock on the incredible talent we have in the Buffalo music scene-but there will never be another Buffalo band as big and as impactful as the Goo Goo Dolls. They built their career the hard way—slowly, steadily, and without ever backing down. Year after year, they’ve continued to grow, evolve, and get better. Today, they’re rightly regarded as one of the best bands in the world. Great job, Johnny and Robby—we’re incredibly proud of everything you’ve accomplished, and something tells me the best is still yet to come. Buffalo and all of Western New York will be right there, cheering you on every step of the way.
Special thank you to my friend Greg Grze for always helping out!
Setlist from setlist FM
Naked
Slide
Think About Me
Here Is Gone
Black Balloon
Big Machine
Nothing Lasts Forever
January Friend
Feel the Silence
Miracle Pill
John Rzeznik acoustic solo
Sympathy
Play Video
Acoustic #3
Name(started John acoustic, rest of band joined in after first chorus)
Come to Me
Over and Over
Stay With You
Ocean
Run All Night
Life’s a Message
Bringing On the Light
Better Days
Broadway
Encore:
Not Goodbye (Close My Eyes)
You Wreck Me (Tom Petty cover)
Iris
Thomas S. Orwat Jr.
RockMusicStar.com 
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