BETHLEHEM, Pa. — After nearly 30 years of releasing hits, with 10 that have sold gold or platinum, alt rockers Goo Goo Dolls certainly have earned the right to make its concerts greatest-hits outings.
And, indeed, its headline concert Wednesday at Musikfest's Steel Stage included all of its hits.
- Goo Goo Dolls played a concert of 25 songs in 107 minutes at Musikfest that included all of its hits
- It also played deep cuts and new songs, all with the same intensity
- Co-headliners O.A.R. also gave a strong performance
Even better, Goo Goo Dolls performed all of those hits with fervor and intensity that could hardly be expected at this late stage of its career.
And it played several new songs, also very well.
And deep cuts, also with intention.
All of that added up to a show of 25 songs in an hour and 47 minutes that was astoundingly good — all a fan, or anyone else, could ask for.
"Some things never change. It's not summer unless you come here."Goo Goo Dolls singer Johnny Rzeznik, talking to Musikfest crowd
Playing to a sold-out crowd of 6,400 (the band also sold out Musikfest in 2019), the band started with its 2000 hit "Broadway" — singer Johnny Rzeznik delivering strong vocals as he acknowledged the band's frequent stops in the Christmas City.
"Hi, Bethlehem," he said. "Nice to see you, as always."
It was among several times Rzeznik spoke about Goo Goo Dolls' relationship with the city. He later said, "Some things never change. It's not summer unless you come here."
Injured, but intense
Rzeznik performed that song, and nearly all the others, sitting on a stool. Late in the show, he explained "I screwed up my foot" by "walking on it funny."
But it did nothing to diminish the performance.
The intensity of that song only continued with the 2016 single "Over and Over," as Rzeznik virtually yelled out the lyrics, and when, without hesitation, the band jumped into its hit “Slide.”
It seemed that all the hits brought out the best in Rzeznik, and the band — three players behind Rzeznik and bassist Robbie Takac.
On the 1999 platinum hit "Black Balloon," for example, Rzeznik's voice soared and the music was sweeping and majestic.
Even more amazing was the 2003 gold hit "Sympathy," which Rzeznik performed backed only by piano. "Come to Me," the band's last gold hit, from 2013, was almost as good, gentle but thumping.
Rzeznik started its 1995 breakthrough double-platinum hit "Name" alone on acoustic guitar, then sang a segment a cappella, before the full band kicked in behind him.
But it wasn't just the hits that connected well. So did some deeper cuts, and some new songs.
Deeper cuts, new songs
"Big Machine," a 2002 lessor hit that was offered early, was very good, as was the 2002 gold hit "Here Is Gone," with Rzeznik on acoustic guitar, as he was most of the night.
Takac, who sang some of the band's earlier songs in its more punk days, sang five songs during the night. "January Friend" from 1999 showed the band's strength from those days that has been largely forgotten.
During the 2013 song "Bringing on the Light," which Takac also sang, Rzeznik even stood briefly to play guitar.
Takac, too, showed his fondness for Musikfest. Before singing "Lucky Star," he said, "This is one of the greatest festivals in the country, man," and told the crowd they were lucky to have it.
"How many times have we been here? Twenty?"Goo Goo Dolls singer Johnny Rzeznik to Musikfest crowd
"How many times have we been here? Twenty?" Rzeznik said at one point, and seemed to be enjoying himself.
When the sound of another band playing nearby at Musikfest bled over into Goo Goo Dolls' set, Rzeznik said, "We're cooler than they are," then attacked "All That We Are" with even more intensity.
The band's new songs also were strong — even in such as loaded setlist. Its latest single, "Run All Night," was particularly good.
Rzeznik liked the 2019 album title cut "Miracle Pill" so much, that when it ended, he said, "Holy sh-t that was fun, let's do it again," and played another minute of its music.
Goo Goo Dolls wound down the show by bringing out the saxophonist from co-headliner O.A.R., Jerry DePizzo, to play a very good solo on Goo Goo Dolls' 2004 gold hit cover of Super Tramp's "Give a Little Bit."
Then it closed the main set with its 2005 platinum hit "Better Days," which sounded like the recorded version, and right into the 2006 gold hit "Stay With You."
Because of Rzeznik's injury, the band simply feigned stopping for the encore, then brought out O.A.R. singer Marc Roberge for a great, forceful version of Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" that Goo Goo Dolls and O.A.R. recently released as a collaborative single.
Then Goo Goo Dolls closed with its biggest hit, 1998's seven-times-platinum hit "Iris," and gave it all of the power and presentation it deserves.
Rzeznik even stood and walked a bit as he played and sang, declaring, "It's like a miracle!"
That also could have described the whole concert.
O.A.R a strong co-headliner
O.A.R.'s opening set of 12 songs in 72 minutes also was very good, starting with its opening "Lay Down," "Love and Memories" and "City On Down," with the crowd taking its lyrics of "Got to get up and move your own soul" literally.
O.A.R. got more jam-band oriented as the set moved along, giving solos to the bassist, sax player and drums — all of which got cheers from the crowd.
Even singer Marc Roberge took a guitar solo on a mash-up of "Night Shift" and the Bob Marley/Johnny Nash hit "Stir It Up."
The band closed with a very reggae/jammy "That was a Crazy Game of Poker."
