Goo Goo Dolls at O2 Academy Bristol

Posted on: 2023-06-19

Our rating:

"It was clear that the band were very happy to be there, and the crowd matched their enthusiasm tenfold"

As I approached the O2 Academy, the first thing I noticed was a potent feeling of excitement in the air as all walks of life flocked to the entrance.

 

Admittedly, I did not know what to expect. This was my first time seeing the Goo Goo Dolls play live. Despite being familiar with their continuously evolving sound, I had no idea what direction they would take their live show.

 

The opening act, Those Damn Crows warmed up the crowd with straight-down-the-line rock songs filled with booming guitar riffs - a perfect nod to the Goo’s earlier, heavier works.

 

With impeccable punctuality, John, Robby, and the rest of the band appeared on stage to roaring applause, demonstrating that their return to Bristol was long awaited by many.

They opened the show with the first track from their newest album Chaos in Bloom, confidently titled ‘Yeah, I Like You’. It was clear that the band were very happy to be there, and the crowd matched their enthusiasm tenfold.

 

As soon as John played the opening riff to ‘Slide’, the energy in the room elevated to new heights as a wave of nostalgic bliss rushed through the venue with the crowd passionately singing along to every word.

 

The band were in great spirits, especially Robby, who looked ecstatic to be there. After the first 3 tracks, John introduced the show by making some light-hearted jokes, mentioning how “the last time we were here, we gave you COVID.” which he followed with “You shouldn’t have asked for a hug!” Dangerous territory for obvious reasons, but it went down well.

Descending into more anthems from albums like Dizzy Up the Girl and Gutterflower, the Goos showed off their extensive back catalogue with a tight rhythm section, generously garnished with Robby’s infectiously positive energy.

 

Bristol had been experiencing a heatwave, so it was no surprise when John said that it was “hotter here than in California”. Still, donning an aptly named boiler suit, the 57-year-old frontman unflinchingly played on as the band continued to deliver tune after tune.

 

After John’s crowd-pleasing harmonica solo in ‘Broadway’, the band left the stage while an eager audience cheered relentlessly. Energy filled the room like electricity.

The drummer returned first, blasting an upbeat drum solo before the rest followed to play a couple of tunes from their 1995 album A Boy Named Goo, finally followed by the all-time classic, ‘Iris’ which hit 1 billion plays on Spotify last year.

 

It's not very often you hear so many people singing along to a song with such passion and vigour. It felt like everyone in the room had a personal connection to this song and it was beautiful to witness.

 

The guys took a moment to thank everyone before the final breakdown of ‘Iris’, ending the night on a high. As soon as they finished their biggest hit, they abruptly left the stage.

One particular high note was when they played the classic ‘Name’, where John thanked the audience for “remembering that one” before introducing ‘Going Crazy’ from their newest album. The solidity of their new sound against one of their biggest tracks proved that after all these years, they are still the same dudes from 1987, still having the time of their lives playing music they love.

 

All Images: Max Crowe

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Article by:

Max Crowe

Max is a writer, photographer and artist who has lived in Bristol since 2018. When he isn't creating impactful content for businesses, Max enjoys teaching yoga, making/listening to music and absorbing Bristol's rich and diverse culture. Contact him for enquiries at maximcrowe@gmail.com