Concert Review
Goo Goo Dolls
Dashboard Confessional
Saturday August 9, 2025
KeyBank Center
Buffalo, NY
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
The Goo Goo Dolls made their hometown return Saturday night. The show at KeyBank Center was their first since 2022 in the Buffalo area. The atmosphere was electric as many fans were happy to finally see their hometown boys. This caused many to scarf up tickets to see them since it has been quite a while and it helped make it the first time the band ever completely sold out the arena.
The band started fast out of the gate with a blistering “Naked” from their illustrious album A Boy Named Goo. From there the set gained momentum further when “Slide” and “Think About Me” quickly followed. With no new album out one would have hoped to perhaps hear some older deep cuts but the band countered by playing some new songs. We will see if they make it on the next record.
The band has always featured guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Johnny Rzeznik and his partner in crime bassist/vocalist/songwriter Robby Takac. Joining them were the current touring members guitarist Brad Fernquist, drummer Craig Macintyre and keyboardist Jim McGorman.
Rzeznik reminisced about the first real apartment where him and Takac were finally on their own. “I loved that place” Rzeznik proclaimed when talking about their old apartment on Norwood. He told about how he was at the point of what should he do with his life. He sat down on the sofa and little later on “Name” is what came out. That song turned the band’s fortunes around and peaked at number five on the Billboard Top 100. The rest they say is history.
The crowd ate up every hit thrown at them. “Better Days” and “Stay With You” stood out. Of course the songs that really brought the crowd to life were “Broadway” and the show closer “Iris.” The latter is the only diamond selling single the band has in its catalog.
The band has played quite a few memorable shows in their hometown over the years. I believe the one to top for me was the one in the Bear’s Den in 2014 at Seneca Niagara. The one thing I can say is I never seen a bad show. It would be so hard to name my top five shows only because they put so much energy into each show and most of them are neck and neck. The band are unique in that they’re come a long way from where they were when they first started out. From playing covers morphing in to a punk rock band then becoming a multi-platinum artist. It will be interesting to see where they go from here. One thing certain is the Buffalo faithful will stand by the band wherever they choose to go.
Photos
Goo Goo Dolls
Dashboard Confessional
Set List
GGD
Naked
Slide
Think About Me
Here Is Gone
Black Balloon
Big Machine
Nothing Lasts Forever
January Friend
Feel The Silence
Miracle Pill
Rzeznik Acoustic
Sympathy
Acoustic #3
Name
Come To Me
Over and Over
Stay With You
Ocean
Run All Night
Life’s A Message
Bringing On the Light
Better Days
Broadway
Not Goodbye (Close My Eyes)
You Wreck Me (Tom Petty Cover)
Iris
Dashboard Confessional
The Best Deceptions
The Sharp Hint of New Tears
Southbound and Sinking
Saints and Sailors
State of America
Remember To Breathe
Stolen
Turpentine Chaser
Again I Go Unnoticed
No More Bad Days
Vindicated
Screaming Infidelities
Hands Down
