Goo Goo Dolls, What Were You Like in the ’90s?
Buffalo legends kick off Las Vegas residency with surprise deep xuts, rapturous ‘Iris’ singalong, TED Talk and swanky pants for John Rzeznik
“Robbie and I have been doing this for 40 years. My back hurts!” John Rzeznik told a rowdy sellout crowd on opening night of the Goo Goo Dolls’ residency at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. “I’m kidding. I’m actually in splendid physical condition.”
It would only be fair if Rzeznik’s back ached. During a pre-show production tour, I learned something I never knew in my 30 years of Goo Goo Dolls fandom — that Rzeznik’s guitar tuning’s so intricate and song-specific that he goes through a different set of strings (sometimes two) for every song.
“Can anyone guess how many guitars John has?” quizzed production staffer Savannah, who runs the tours as part of VIP packages offered by Superfan Live. “There’s 24. John writes all of his own music and tunes his guitars in a very unique way.”
So, at 4.30 a.m. in Vegas (while kept awake by a neighboring hooligan spending 30 minutes pleading for his girlfriend to let him into their room), I did the math. Forty years. Thousands of shows. And 20+ guitars for each gig. That equates to a colossal amount of weight to be carrying on one’s back.
I’ve often wondered how Rzeznik, 60, and bandmate Robby Takac, 61, continue to consistently churn out fresh and infectious anthems and ballads that resonate and rock. At 44, I have newer songs like “Misery,” “No Goodbye (Close My Eyes)” and “Beautiful Lie” on repeat as much as teenage me had “Slide” and “Name” bouncing around my bedroom walls. Maybe it’s that complex — some might say ingeniously pedantic — musicianship behind each track (even if it means removing strings and recreating guitars to Rzeznik’s liking) that’s part of the answer.
Those 24 guitars were lined up and ready to party on Friday night, as was the crowd, who were on their feet before Rzeznik had sung the opening line of 2017’s “Tattered Edge /You Should Be Happy.”
Rewinding to 1995 single “Naked,” then 2010’s “Home,” Rzeznik, Takac, drummer Craig Macintyre, keyboardist/vocalist Jimmy McGorman and guitarist Sammy Boller then cranked out the night’s first big hit, “Slide.”
“It’s nice to be in a room full of love,” Rzeznik said afterwards.
Surprise throwbacks “Lucky Star” and “We Are the Normal” from 1993’s Superstar Car Wash followed, but Rzeznik declared the latter wouldn’t be on the set list on Saturday.
“At least it got some conversation going,” he laughed, when we later told him fans on Facebook groups were expressing disappointment the track wasn’t sticking around.
VIDEO: Goo Goo Dolls “We Are The Normal”
The throwbacks represented a pivotal time for the Buffalo band, given that Superstar Car Wash didn’t break out the way they had hoped. Rzeznik previously told Rock and Roll Globe that while working on follow-up, A Boy Named Goo, he was contemplating quitting music to study political science. Then “Name” exploded.
The hit came at the expense of many fans, who declared Goo Goo Dolls a sellout for going from “indie rock darlings” to commercial chart-toppers. “It was scary because people had come to expect a certain thing from us and that song’s way out-of-the-box,” Rzeznik told us in 2020. “But it was like, ‘This is where I’m at and this is what I’m writing.’ And it worked out.”
They clearly didn’t lose all their OG fans, judging by the number of concertgoers who looked as thrilled to hear old songs as new. Fans also cheered for tracks lead by Takac, like “Bringing on the Light,” with McGorman’s energetic backup vocals amplifying the headbanging beats. The song also brought the EDM vibes of nearby EDC as the picturesque Venetian Theatre lit up in strobe lighting. The colorful visuals continued as a disco ball effect illuminated the audience during “Here Is Gone.”
Of course, it was the balloons floating through the theatre during “Black Balloon,” which proved the most picture-perfect moment. The props were handed out as part of the band’s VIP packages, which come in four tiers, starting with the Black Balloon option, which includes a prime concert seat and fun merch like customized YETI drinkware. The Eyes Wide Open package throws in a meet-and-greet and better seats, while Iris boasts a front row spot and the production tour, during which we were also escorted past Rzeznik’s “Quiet Room,” where he was having a vocal lesson. Of course, the ultimate splurge is the Lucky One, which includes a Fender Player II Stratocaster electric guitar played and signed by Rzeznik.
The VIP crowd reflected the band’s wide appeal, with fans of all ages and one attendee waving an Australian flag. Rzeznik and Takac took time to chat, hug, secure gifts for kids and even do viral meme/gesture 6-7 – a reminder the rockstars are just dads behind the scenes (Rzeznik has a nine-year-old daughter Lili with his wife Melina, while Takac and wife Miyoko have 14-year-old daughter Hana).
With the black balloons settling on stage, the guys launched into “Nothing Lasts Forever” and “Ocean” from 2025’s Summer Anthem EP, before Boller strut his strings skills during “Miracle Pill.” The Detroit native stepped in after longtime guitarist Brad Fernquist suffered a back injury last year.
The pace slowed with “Acoustic #3,” “Sympathy” and “Name.” “You guys sure you want to hear this?” Rzeznik said about “Name.” “It’s really depressing. That’s sort of my brand. Sad!”
After 2002 Gutterflower anthem “Big Machine,” “Let Love In” and “Run All Night,” the room lit up as pink as Takac’s hair for “Better Days”. “Broadway” followed before the night’s inevitable “Iris” singalong, during which five male buddies rocking matching Rzeznik-style wigs linked arms and swayed while belting out the track.
The 1998 chart-topper has had a relentless, year-long resurgence which saw it dubbed 2025’s “song of the summer” by Wall Street Journal. Rzeznik then performed it at popstar Demi Lovato’s December wedding, and in April, Lovato and her new husband Jutes dueted on the ballad at her Madison Square Garden show. Stirring up a new tornado of interest in the three-time Grammy-nominated song, there was also a viral trend, which saw fans and celebrities using the song to post montages of their 90s lives.
The 90s is when Goo Goo Dolls made one of their earliest stops to Sin City, recording a show at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts, which was re-released for A Boy Named Goo’s 30th anniversary. Back then, the band were on The Sixteen Stone Tour with Bush and No Doubt. And just as they’ve returned three decades later for a residency, so have No Doubt, who were meanwhile playing neighboring Sphere Las Vegas.
The 90s vibes honoring both bands filled The Venetian Resort, with guests enjoying themed cocktails like Minus5 Ice Bar’s Hella Good rum concoction and wandering the casino in 90s outfits – although it was hard to tell if pink-haired concertgoers were emulating Takac or Gwen Stefani. Speakeasy Close Company even transformed into a 90s bar, lined with Blink 182 and Backstreet Boys posters, ring pops and Furbys.
Fans returning for Saturday’s Goo Goo Dolls show were rewarded with a set list shake-up, which kicked off with “Long Way Down” and “Dizzy.” Rzeznik threw in another surprise deep cut with “Two Days in February” from 1990’s Hold Me Up.
Saturday also saw Rzeznik glamming up for Sin City by swapping his YoungLA joggers for subtly pinstriped dress pants. “I got fucking dressed up for you people,” he said. “I wore a pair of pants that cost more than 25 bucks, so it’s a big night out for me.”
And the big nights aren’t ending anytime soon. The band, who got the Vegas party started at a private show at Mandalay Bay Beach days earlier, are preparing for a summer tour with Neon Trees, which commences at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California, on 24 July. On the same day, they’ll release a 2-CD 20th anniversary edition of Let Love In. Rzeznik also revealed new music’s on the way.
“I was working in the studio, so that we’ll have a new song to play this summer, and somebody showed me how they’re making music with AI,” he said, sparking a chorus of boos. “I know! People need human interaction and to me, besides a couple of other things, music is the most visceral connection we can have to each other.”
“I write songs because I need to be heard and you need to be heard. We all need to stick together, look at each other and be kind to each other. I wish I had one of those headsets, so I could pretend I’m giving a TED talk and stroll about the stage citing facts on my PowerPoint.”
For fans who can’t attend the mini-residency or summer shows, the band have released an immersive VR show on Meta Quest, using a performance from New York’s historic Beacon Theater. Word is that Vegas also hopes to get them back given the engagement’s success.
“We couldn’t have done this shit without you,” Rzeznik told the crowd. “It’s been amazing to have this with you guys for so long and I hope we get a few more years. You guys keep us alive.”
So alive.
- Matchbox Twenty Announce 30th Anniversary Tour - October 13, 2026
- Tony Kanal’s 40-Year Road to Rocking the Sphere in Las Vegas - June 4, 2026
- Goo Goo Dolls, What Were You Like in the ’90s? - May 22, 2026
You May Also Like
-
September 5, 2021 -
November 11, 2020 -
