Two American rock bands Goo Goo Dolls and Train are co-headlining this summer tour with support from Allen Stone. While Train last year released their Greatest Hits compilation and had their last studio album back in 2017, Goo Goo Dolls on the other hand just released a new song called Miracle Pill which will be part of their their 12th studio album scheduled to be released on September 13th. Though business wise the bands might have different perspectives for this tour, they both promote positivity through their music, and this tour provides just that.
Goo Goo Dolls literally ran on the stage to start their set in in particular there is literally no off switch for the band’s bassist and vocalist Robby Takac. Wearing no foot ware, and with jeans rolled up like sleeves on shirt, he ran and jumped all over the stage throughout the show. Lead vocalist Johnny Reznick was almost as livid as Robby. During the performance of Black Balloon, the crowd inflated many black balloons and launched them towards the stage while in good fun Johnny was chasing and busting them up with his guitar, one large enough hit him in the head while singing, which prompted him to exclaim “Are you guys serious!?”. After the song ended he went and finished the job, destroying the balloons.
In the set they had all their hit songs. The 1998 studio album Dizzy Up The Girl was most represented with Broadway, Iris, Slide and the already mentioned Black Balloon. Iris and Broadway were show closers, and by the reaction of the crowd, the most beloved songs too. However, I must say that all songs were warmly greeted and the band had no fillers in their set with Better Days, Name, Here Is Gone and Rebel Beat just to mention a few. The veteran act also performed their new song Miracle Pill, done with their signature style and fit their set perfectly.
Altogether Goo Goo Dolls had an amazing show. Energetic, full of passion and positivity, they passed that along to their fans. The band shows no signs of slowing down and with a new album and more touring coming up, fans are in for a treat many more times.
Train, while musically have a similar beat to the Goo Goo Dolls, are more conservative on stage. While not as acrobatic and pumped up, they still were fun to watch and listen. Opening song was their (and also Los Angeles Angels baseball teams) anthem Calling All Angels. They followed up with mariachi theme infused song 50 Ways to Say Goodbye and the more alternative rock style of If It’s Love. Two giant screens behind them, with some fireworks and confetti made the start of the show feel like a climax in itself, and it was all just the beginning.
Train’s vocalist and only remaining original member Pat Monahan walked around the stage while singing and multi tasked by taking selfies with crowd with the phones that were somewhat carelessly thrown up on the stage. So many fans gained priceless pictures of their favorite artist done by him personally.
Unlike Goo Goo Dolls set, Train played five cover songs including Led Zeppelin Heartbreaker and Queen’s Under Pressure. For Tom Petty’s American Girl, Train was joined by Goo Goo Dolls Johnny Reznik, and for JayZ Empire State Of Mind by Allen Stone.
The last song of the set was none other than the bands most successful Grammy winning mega hit Drops Of Jupiter. As usual for these kind of successful songs, it became a massive sing along from the crowd.
The next day in Massachusetts, the two bands wrapped up their co headlining tour. Goo Goo Dolls will soon head to South America and then come back to US for a Miracle Pill tour to celebrate their new album while Train have yet to announce anything immediate for the forseeable future.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Andris Jansons
