Grounded with the Goo Goo Dolls Live Review.
In a few days, New York rockers Goo Goo Dolls release their Christmas album “It’s Christmas All Over” but, on Saturday, Christmas came early for fans worldwide as the band held a full-production immersive live stream concert from Thunder Studios in California.
Prior to the show, the band sat down with rock personality Matt Pinfield and chatted candidly about all things Goo Goo Dolls. From their early days through to their future plans, listening to the band talk about their career provided the perfect appetizers for fans. Recalling their early days of touring colleges and photocopying posters to their new Christmas album and their memories of Christmas, to their future plans including a Goo Goo Dolls rock musical on December 12, this was a real insight into the world of the rock legends.
Revealing details of a special show coming up in time for Christmas, the band also talked about what it was like to tour opening for rock giants Bon Jovi and how they survived playing in front of the hardcore Bon Jovi crowd. While it was strange hearing the rock stars talk about playing support in front of tens of thousands of fans, a few moments later they’re talking about meeting their fans and the connection they have with their own hardcore fanbase.
Ahead of the band taking to the stage, their video for hit single and live fan favourite “Black Balloon” was given an airing. Described as a highlight of their live show, the bands huge fanbase will be hoping their June 2021 tour gets to go ahead so those black balloons can get dusted down again.
Now, we all know the Goo Goo Dolls put on a real rock show and, as they launch headfirst into “Indestructible”, fans get to enjoy the full slick, multi-camera angled show in all its glory. For over an hour the band plunder their twenty+ song hit-laden back catalogue for a career-spanning set live from Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California. From new tracks like “Miracle Pill” to the big-hitters from their career like “Black Balloon” and “Broadway”, this was the Canadians giving fans as much of the full Goo Goo Dolls experience as they can given the circumstances.
The use of canned crowd effects to provide empty venues with an atmosphere is something sports fans will already have endured but, while it hasn’t gone down well with sport fans, it has to be said it did its job here. Yes, it gave the viewer the feeling that they were watching a live DVD rather than an actual live gig but there was none of that weird awkwardness that comes from watching a musician chat to an empty room.
The addition of giving fans the option of viewing the show from different angles was also a nice touch. Couple that with the slick, polished production the band used, the twenty-plus song set featuring a plethora of hit singles and all the other bits that came with the “virtual ticket”, you could hardly fault the band in terms of giving value-for-money to their fans.
Of course, the best was left until last as the band powered through their mammoth hit “Iris”. One of the most well-known rock ballads of modern time, their hit ended the gig on a massive high.
Talking after the show, the band had clearly enjoyed the experience as they took questions from fans viewing from all over the world. Fans from far and wide joined the band in their virtual “aftershow” getting to ask their idols those burning questions they’ve always wanted to ask. A fun way to end a brilliant evening that hopefully sets up 2021 to be another big year for the rock favourites.
You can find out more about their holiday album due out on October 30th here and you can read our review here.
