Aug. 20-SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Goo Goo Dolls returned to the Spa City this weekend on the heels of releasing a new album.
Saratoga Performing Arts Center welcomed Goo Goo Dolls and opening act Blue October on Friday night, drawing fans to the venue for a summer concert amid a busy season filled with entertainment.
Texas-based rock group Blue October kicked off the evening with a set that included "Oh My My," "Hate Me," "Into the Ocean" and "Daylight." In between numbers, animated frontman Justin Furstenfeld expressed his gratitude for being featured on the Goo Goo Dolls tour. "Thank you for this opportunity," he told the audience from the amphitheater stage.
Next up, Goo Goo Dolls started off with "Yeah, I Like You" from the band's just-released 13th studio album Chaos In Bloom, which came out on Aug. 12. Recorded in upstate New York at Dreamland Studios just outside Woodstock, this is the first record of the group's career to be produced by vocalist and guitarist John Rzeznik.
Along with sharing this new Goo Goo Dolls material, this headlining tour also marks the band's first time out on the road since 2019.
"It's just so good to be in a room full of people," Rzeznik said during the show. "It's amazing."
He also spoke fondly of the location. "I love Saratoga in the summer - always a great stop."
Bassist/vocalist Robby Takac agreed. "It is always awesome to be here," he said. "It means we're close to Buffalo."
Before rising to national and worldwide fame, Goo Goo Dolls originally got started in the late '80s within the Buffalo music scene.
The fellow New Yorkers kept a casual tone while interacting with Friday's SPAC crowd, who enjoyed hearing Goo Goo Dolls songs from throughout the band's career.
Highlights of the performance included "Slide," "Black Balloon" and "Broadway" from 1998's five-times-platinum Dizzy Up The Girl as well as the group's debut hit "Name" from 1995 and some more recent ones like "Big Machine," "Better Days," "Sympathy" and "So Alive."
Takac, sporting bright purple hair for the SPAC appearance, entered the spotlight to sing lead vocals for a few tunes, followed by Rzeznik playing solo for love song "Come To Me."
From the new record, Goo Goo Dolls played "War" and "Going Crazy."
The guys ended the set with "Iris," which recently achieved seven-times-platinum status and re-entered the Billboard charts after going viral on TikTok, proving the timelessness of their illustrious catalog.
Goo Goo Dolls came back on stage for an encore of "Tattered Edge/You Should Be Happy" and a closing cover of Tom Petty's "Runnin' Down a Dream."
After more than 30 years of making music together, Goo Goo Dolls have found a way to keep fans engaged with both the early '90s favorites and the songs the band is still putting out today.
More information about Chaos In Bloom can be found online at www.googoodolls.com.
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