Breaking: The Goo Goo Dolls just turned New Year’s Eve into a time machine. I watched John Rzeznik and Robby Takac stride back onto Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, about 30 years since their last turn. The guitars were bright. The harmonies felt familiar and fresh. It was the sound of the ’90s, but louder and warmer, right now.
They leaned into the classics. Name landed first, steady and strong. Slide lifted the tempo and shoulders in the crowd. Then Iris arrived, and the whole plaza sang like a choir. This band formed in Buffalo in 1986, and you could feel that grit and care. It was clean, but it was not polished flat. It still had heart. 🎸
The moment, and why it matters
A comeback on a stage like this does more than entertain. It gives us a shared checkpoint. We remember who we were when these songs found us. We remember a first car, a lucky break, a summer that still hangs in the air.
The Goo Goo Dolls understand that bond. They build sets that mix lift and hush. They let choruses breathe. They let verses tell the small, human story. That is why this hit tonight. It felt like a reunion without the awkward small talk.
Turn the music into a hobby
Nostalgia is not just a feeling. It can be a practice. If tonight stirred something in you, you can grow it into a weekly ritual that restores your mood and sharpens your skills.
Start simple. Set aside one night a week for a ’90s session. Put on the records that shaped you. Add one new deep cut each week. Take notes on what you feel, not just what you hear. That is how taste becomes a craft.
Learn Iris on acoustic with a capo on the third fret. Focus on steady downstrokes. Aim for clean chord changes before speed. Ten quiet minutes a day beats one long burst.
You can also make it social. Invite two friends. Keep it low stress and kind. Pick one song to sing together. Pick one to play air bass to without shame. Joy counts as practice.
- Hobby ideas to start now:
- Build a 12 song Goo Goo Dolls mixtape for a friend on a blank CD.
- Keep a setlist journal each time you watch a live stream or show.
- Hunt for Name or Slide on vinyl at a local shop.
- Try open chords for Slide, and record your progress once a week.
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A wild concert story, and what fans can learn
A long buried tale from the band’s past is making the rounds again. It involves methane gas flare ups near a massive crowd and serious safety concerns. The story sounds unreal, and that is the point. Live music can thrill. It can also surprise you in ways you do not want.
Use that lesson to be a smart fan. Know your exits. Read the room. If a space feels off, move. Your night should end with a hoarse voice and a happy heart, not a close call.
Concert safety checklist: scan for exits, pick a meet spot, carry earplugs, hydrate, and give yourself space near a rail or aisle. If the crowd turns tight, step out early. No song is worth a scare.
Keep the spark going for 30 days
You can turn this rush into a habit that sticks. Keep it light and repeatable. Here is a simple plan.
- Week 1, make a 30 minute playlist with Iris, Name, Slide, and one new track you have never heard.
- Week 2, practice guitar or voice for ten minutes a day, four days, no excuses.
- Week 3, visit a local record or guitar shop, talk to one person, and ask for a staff pick.
- Week 4, host a mini listening hour, two friends max, phones off, snacks on.
By the end, you will have more than memories. You will have a small craft you can keep building. That is how music moves from background noise to a life giving hobby.
Final note
Tonight’s set was more than a throwback. It was proof that simple, honest songs still land. The Goo Goo Dolls, the Buffalo boys who never stopped writing, showed why the ’90s still matters to our free time. Not because we want to live in the past, but because these melodies help us live better today. Put the guitar on the stand, not in the case. Queue the playlist. Text a friend. Then press play and sing. 📼
