Just what are the Goo Goo Dolls thinking?
Don?t they know that rock bands founded in the mid-1980s are supposed to slowly fade away, turning up only at some of the “remember your youth” shows and festivals that sprout like dandelions every concert season? Apparently, these guys missed the memo, because the Goo Goo Dolls, known for such hits as “Iris” and “Slide,” are hotter than ever with a new gold-certified CD, “Let Love In”; a song in a top-rated movie, “Before It?s Too Late” in “Transformers”; fan meet-and-greets; and a jam-packed tour schedule.
“It?s gotten so busy, it?s almost where selling albums appears to be an afterthought,” said co-founder Robby Takac (vocals, bass). “But we?re still focused on that because we know the whole thing has to grow more for us to move ahead.”
Moving ahead for the Goo Goo Dolls means supporting a host of charitable events ? including U.S.A. Harvest ? while promoting “Let Love In.”
Co-founder John Rzeznick (vocals, guitar) has stated a goal of raising enough food to feed 1 million people this year through U.S.A. Harvest. “It?s an organization and cause we are passionate about,” he said. The organization is “about moving food from people who have too much to those who have much too little.”
That sort of “back to the roots” philosophy ? which the Goo Goo Dolls have maintained since they formed in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1986 ? is why the band continues to thrive.
“We do whatever we have to do to work this band, to reach our fans,” he said, adding that it often comes with a very real financial cost. “We aren?t living in castles. We do this because it?s still incredibly satisfying to us. If we felt the lack of relevance, we?d break up.”
If you go
Goo Goo Dolls with Lifehouse and Colbie Caillat
» Venue: Pier Six Concert Pavilion, 731 Eastern Ave., Baltimore
» Time: 7:30 tonight
» Tickets: $34.50 to $49.50
» Information: 410-547-SEAT; www.ticketmaster.com
