Savoring Chicago Summer Nights with the Goo Goo Dolls

As August nears its end, so does the gorgeous Chicago summer weather. Before residents, including myself, brace for the cold to come in the fall and winter, we are dedicated to getting outdoors and experiencing all the city has to offer, including live music. Thus, last Tuesday night, I found myself attending the Goo Goo Dolls summer tour at the Huntington Bank Pavilion on Northerly Island.

The Goo Goo Dolls began their summer leg of the “Big Night Out Tour” on July 24th in Florida and finally landed in Chicago on August 22nd.

The band, originally from Buffalo, New York, formed in 1986 as a cover band but later developed their own early punk/post-grunge sound. This later transformed into their more recognizable alternative pop-rock style. The current main members include John Rzeznik (rhythm guitarist/lead vocalist), and Robby Takac (bassist/vocalist) along with touring members on drums, keys, and lead guitar.

Goo Goo Dolls broke through the airwaves in 1995 with their song “Name,” and later cemented themselves as an American rock staple in 1998 with their chart-topping song “Iris” later noted as the #1 pop song by Billboard’s Top 100 pop-songs of the decade spanning 1992-2012.

Ready to hear these songs and more, I made my way through a bustling crowd of concertgoers ranging from mid-20s to those in their 60s; illustrating the music’s reach across generations. I heard other concert-goers mumbling around me eager for the show to start as it neared 9:00 pm.

Once the lights went down in the amphitheater, the crowd began to cheer. The show opened with flashes of news broadcasts and different lights as the band came out onstage opening with, “Broadway.” People began dancing and singing along enjoying the music and the clear night sky. The tune showcased Rzeznik’s raspy vocals alongside gritty guitar riffs. He ran across the stage to engage and greet the audience.

The band was wasting no time, quickly jumping into the next song on the setlist and feeding into the energy of the crowd. As I looked around, I noticed that not many people were filming, but simply taking in the magic of live music. This was something I really enjoyed about this crowd. They were there to create new memories without feeling the need to capture every single moment, rather they wanted to just experience the songs as they were played.

Their next song, “Slide,” a more well-known track, highlighted their incorporation of the keyboard player in their music and kept the dance party going.

At the song’s conclusion, Rzeznik looked into the crowd and said, “It’s as good as it’s going to get tonight.” And he was right. There were clear skies, a dancing crowd, and a venue right along Lake Michigan. It really could not get much better than this.

The set continued weaving through older deep cuts, new music, and their hits including “Black Balloon,” “January Friend,” which showcased Takac’s punk-style vocals, and “Yeah I Like You,” an acoustic-driven soft rock tune from their latest album.

The middle of the set showcased the versatility of the band’s musicality by using string arrangements, more technical guitar solos, and big breakdowns which highlighted how in sync the group was with each other.

The band reminisced on their first visits to Chicago and playing another iconic local venue - the Metro. After two more songs, Rzeznik decided to slow it down treating the audience to some of his best vocals and most introspective lyrics of the night on “Sympathy.”

After receiving whoops and cheers for the power ballad, Rzeznik brought the rest of the band back onstage to play “Come To Me;” stating “Sometimes you just have to write a song like this.” As it started I realized the tune was sonically different than most of the set — favoring a more folksy sound. Though different from many of the other songs played that night, the delivery was earnest and you could see the band was having fun with it.

At the close of the song, the band took the time to thank the fans for being with them all these years before playing “Name,” the song that helped the band get their start. The song rang through the pavilion as the crowd sang along to the lyrics before the band broke into a jam for the outro.

As the set was nearing its end, anticipation started to build in the air for the closing song. Before performing it the band captured the audience’s attention with a funk-sounding song, “Miracle Pill,” a new release, “Run All Night,” followed by “Better Days,” a more anthemic song that highlights the sound and guitar arrangements the band is most known for.

They then played a cover of Tom Petty’s, “I Won’t Back Down,” alongside the lead singer, Marc Roberge, of the opening act O.A.R.

The band closed out the show with their most notable song, “Iris.” As someone who has had this song on playlists, various iPods, and heard on the radio for the last decade and more, it was incredibly surreal to hear this powerhouse of a song live. Rzeznik’s vocals were powerful and sincere and the audience didn’t miss a beat singing the words back to him. For the final chorus, he put the microphone to the audience and let us sing the words. It’s moments like these that make me remember how incredible the power of live music is at bringing people together and why I keep going to shows.

The Goo Goo Dolls put on an incredibly good show cementing themselves as a classic band of their era. It was a wonderful way to spend a summer night in Chicago and if you get a chance to catch them on tour this Fall I wouldn’t miss it.