Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW – The Goo Goo Dolls In Abbotsford Proved Great Songs Never Age
For fans who came of age during The Goo Goo Dolls’ 90s ascent, and for a younger generation now discovering the band through TikTok trends and algorithm-fed nostalgia, their sold-out Abbotsford performance felt like the perfect collision of past and present. It was a night built on timeless songwriting, crowd connection, and the kind of emotional payoff only a band with a catalogue this beloved can deliver. From the moment fans began filing through the Rogers Forum doors, there was already a distinct buzz in the air. The crowd was packed with longtime devotees and newer listeners alike, all united by one lingering question that seemed to hover over the venue before the lights even dropped: When are they going to play “Iris”?
That mystery followed the room into the opening moments of the set, but it did not stay front of mind for long. Once Johnny Rzeznik, Robby Takac, and company tore into “Naked,” any lingering fixation on the inevitable closer quickly gave way to the immediate thrill of the present. Fans were on their feet almost instantly, and the night wasted no time settling into full celebration mode. There was no slow burn here. The Goo Goo Dolls came out with purpose, and with the kind of confidence only a veteran act can carry.
That confidence was on full display when “Slide” landed as just the second song of the night. For a band with this many staples, dropping one of their most iconic tracks that early felt like a statement. It jolted the sold-out crowd to life in a massive way. Arms flew up, voices rang out, and every lyric seemed to roll off tongues like second nature. It was one of those moments where the line between performer and audience completely disappeared. The venue was locked in, and from there, the momentum never really let go.
The set moved with an impressive sense of balance, leaning into the band’s most enduring hits without ever making the night feel like a straightforward nostalgia run. “Big Machine,” “Stay With You,” and “Black Balloon” all hit with force, each one met with the kind of reaction that reminded everyone just how deep The Goo Goo Dolls’ catalogue really is. Song after song, they delivered with the ease of a group that understands exactly how to pace a room and keep an audience emotionally invested. Midway through the set, the energy shifted into something more intimate.
Rzeznik stripped things back for an acoustic performance of “Sympathy,” offering one of the night’s most memorable in-between-song moments before a single chord was played. Sharing a story from the previous evening in Victoria, he recalled seeing a beautiful woman casually crush a beer in one go, a moment that apparently left him completely awestruck. It was funny, unexpected, and exactly the kind of loose, off-the-cuff storytelling that makes a room feel smaller in the best way possible. The crowd loved it. And of course, the second “Sympathy” came to a close, with Rzeznik still holding the acoustic guitar, the audience made its move. “Iris!” The call came fast and loud, and it was impossible not to laugh when Rzeznik fired back, “If I play it, you’re going to leave.” It was a perfect bit of playful misdirection, and it only made the anticipation around the inevitable finale grow stronger.
By the time the band entered the back half of the set, they were fully in command of the room. “Ocean,” “Better Days,” and “Broadway” kept the pace high and the emotional stakes even higher, building toward the moment everyone knew was coming. If the first portion of the night reminded the crowd just how many hits The Goo Goo Dolls have, the closing stretch reinforced why those songs continue to resonate across generations. Then came “Iris.” Even before the first verse, the reaction said everything. There are very few songs that can genuinely claim generational status, but “Iris” has long since earned that distinction. It was a defining hit in the 90s, remained a staple through the 2000s and 2010s, and has now found a fresh wave of cultural relevance through social media, where younger audiences are once again pulling it into the spotlight. It is one of those rare songs that never really leaves. It just keeps finding new people to belong to. At Rogers Forum, that legacy was impossible to ignore.
The second those opening chords rang out, the venue shifted. Phones rose into the air. Faces lit up. Some fans were smiling, others were visibly emotional, and nearly everyone seemed to be singing as if the song had lived with them for years. The performance itself was everything it needed to be, but what elevated the moment was how fully the crowd gave itself over to it. When Rzeznik turned the mic outward and let Abbotsford take over a chorus, the response was thunderous. It was loud. It was emotional. It was the kind of full-body singalong that sends a shiver through a venue and reminds you why live music still matters as much as it does.
By the end of the night, one thing was abundantly clear: this was not simply a legacy act leaning on familiar material. The Goo Goo Dolls delivered a set that felt vibrant, assured, and deeply connected to the people in the room. They bridged generations with ease, turned beloved songs into shared memories, and reminded a sold-out Abbotsford crowd that truly great music does not expire. For one night, nostalgia met the present in all the right ways, and The Goo Goo Dolls turned that meeting point into something unforgettable.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Tour Dates:
March 22, 2026 – Kelowna, BC – Prospera Place
March 23, 2026 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
March 25, 2026 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
March 26, 2026 – Saskatoon, SK – SaskTel Centre
March 28, 2026 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
March 30, 2026 – Sault Ste. Marie, ON – GFL Memorial Gardens
April 1, 2026 – Oshawa, ON – Tribute Communities Centre
April 2, 2026 – Hamilton, ON – TD Coliseum
April 4, 2026 – London, ON – Canada Life Place
April 6, 2026 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre
April 8, 2026 – Laval, QC – Place Bell
April 10, 2026 – Halifax, NS – Scotiabank Centre
April 11, 2026 – Moncton, NB – Avenir Centre
April 18, 2026 – Georgetown, TX – Two Step Inn 2026
May 15, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theatre
May 16, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theatre
May 20, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theatre
May 22, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theatre
May 23, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theatre
More information here.
GOO GOO DOLLS
All Photo Credit: Marquise Monno
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Goldfinger Keep the Pit Moving and the Shoes Flying in Vancouver
On April 17th, the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver felt like a ska-punk time warp, with California punk legends Goldfinger supporting their new album, Nine Lives.
Sullvn got things rolling with a set that didn’t waste any time. Within minutes, hats were flying into the crowd like it was a merch-based game show, and the vibe quickly turned into organized chaos. They brought to the stage Dicky Barrett, former frontman of Mighty Mighty Bosstones for their hit “Raise a Glass”.
Next up was Broadway Calls, proving once again that a three-piece can absolutely shake a room. Their brand of fast, hooky punk tore through the crowd, with songs like “Call It Off” and “Back to Oregon” landing like instant jolts of energy. By the time they wrapped, the room was fully ready for Goldfinger.
Right away, frontman John Feldmann started doing crowd math. “How many of you are under 20?” A few scattered hands. “Over 40?” A lot more hands. He laughed and proudly stated that to still be doing this 32 years later as the best feeling in the world. This wasn’t a band clinging to nostalgia… but they also weren’t about to ignore it.
From there, it turned into the kind of chaos Goldfinger shows are known for, a non-stop blur of songs, crowd surfers, and, of course, the sacred tradition of shoes flying through the air. Somewhere along the way, footwear stopped being optional and started being part of the performance. Pairs were held up like trophies, launched across the room, or lost to the pit entirely. If you managed to leave with both shoes still accounted for, honestly, that’s a personal victory. The setlist leaned into exactly what people wanted. “Here in Your Bedroom,” “Chasing Amy” “Counting the Days”, all the hits, all loud, all sung back at the band like it was a group project. The floor barely stayed still for more than a few seconds, and the security team definitely got their steps in from the steady stream of crowd surfers.
During “Mable,” they pulled fans up on stage to dance, turning the whole thing into a slightly chaotic, very wholesome party. And then… “Superman.” The reaction was instant. Like, no hesitation, full-body nostalgia. The second it started, it felt like half the room got mentally transported back to playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 in their living rooms. Suddenly, everyone knew every word (even the ones they probably didn’t know they knew), and the energy somehow went up another level. It wasn’t just a highlight, it was the moment.
When it wrapped at the Commodore Ballroom, the place was wrecked in the best way – sweaty, shoeless, and buzzing. Still, no one seemed in any hurry to leave.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
GOLDFINGER
BROADWAY CALLS
SULLVN
All Photo Credit: Heather Horncastle
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Face to Face with Sevendust in Riverside, Iowa
For close to thirty years, Hard Rock’s Sevendust has graced hundreds of stages all over the world, playing sell-out shows to rabid fans. The band, fronted by LaJon Witherspoon, has been recognized for its soulful vocals, hard-hitting riffs from Clint Lowery and John Connolly, thumping bass from Vince Hornsby, and monstrous drum sounds and screams from Morgan Rose. Riverside, Iowa was treated to the full Sevendust experience on Friday night.
The Riverside Casino Event Center has played host to events ranging from poker tournaments to keynote speakers, but on Friday it served as the setting for an amazing night of rock. The show started off with Iowa City–local band NonGrata. NonGrata has become very well known in the Eastern Iowa music scene, having opened for bands like Alien Ant Farm, Norma Jean, Archers, and will be opening for DED this summer. Blending groovy guitars with crisp clean vocals and harsh screams, the band delivers a sound that makes you want to jump out of your seat and stage dive. Although Sevendust was the main attraction on Friday night, everyone enjoyed NonGrata. They were a great choice to open the show and get people excited before Sevendust took the stage. NonGrata will be playing shows in Eastern Iowa throughout the year, and Midwest locals should take the chance to see a new band.
After an hour pre-show delay due to the weather, fans were itching to get out of their seats as anticipation for Sevendust taking the stage rose. Riverside was the second show of the One Tour, but there was no sign of early tour woes as the band broke right into Home. The 1999 track off the album of the same name was a great opener, carrying a hint of nostalgia and a whole lot of feeling. Witherspoon made an early effort to cross from side to side, ensuring every fan had the opportunity to interact with him. Stage presence is always among the highlights of a Sevendust show. Fans know they are going to get two things when they go to a Sevendust show: amazing music and plenty of interaction. The great music kept rolling as the second track of the night was a crowd favorite, Denial. The band was joined by hundreds of backup singers who knew every word, creating an ambiance that added essential energy to the environment.
The band seemed emotional in response to how well they were received by the Riverside crowd. After spending significant time in Europe to start the year, Sevendust said it was good to be home. Because these were among the first U.S. shows of the year, American fans had not yet had the opportunity to hear songs from the band’s upcoming album, One, live. The first chance came with the third song of the night, Is This the Real You. Although the Riverside crowd had never heard the song live, that did not stop them from singing along. Sevendust also played two other new tracks from the forthcoming album, Unbreakable and Threshold. Both sounded great live, and anticipation for the new album is high. Based on the reactions to the new material, the album will likely be well received when it comes out in two weeks on May 1.
The focus on new music did not stop Sevendust from breaking into its classics. The setlist was full of songs a Sevendust show would be incomplete without; Praise, Enemy, Waffle, and Black all had their place in the night. It truly was the complete Sevendust experience. The night could not end, however, without an encore of Rumble Fish and Face to Face. Even though the crowd was treated to a 15-song main set and a two-song encore, they still yearned for more. Unfortunately, all good shows must come to an end, but with 25 dates left on the One Tour, there will be plenty of opportunities to see Sevendust again this year.
One comes out May 1.
Check out our favorite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming tour dates:
4/20 – Indianapolis, IN
4/21 – Lexington, KY
4/22 – Birmingham, AL
4/24 – Mobile, AL
4/25 – Destin, FL
4/26 – Atlanta, GA (supporting Alter Bridge)
4/28 – Dallas, TX
4/29 – Oklahoma City, OK
More information on the band’s website.
SEVENDUST
NONGRATA
All Photo Credit: Ryan Renger