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Finally, I've taken the time to write up an entire review from the Goo concert. I did it for a site that a woman runs, but I believe I will post it here too.
Happy reading :D
My Goo Goo Dolls Experience.
Our day started early. My friend and I went to the Jubilee Auditorium (The one in Calgary, not to be confused with the one in Edmonton.) and we waited outside. It was worth it to go early, because after about 3 hours, (still 4 hours before the show) Mike ventured out with a security guard, and signed some autographs, (He signed my DUTG, my GF and my EOAC) snapped a photo with me, and then went back in. The rest of the Goos didn’t come out pre-show, but we also did manage to meet John from Five For Fighting (another amazing band!) and we were lucky enough to get him to sign papers for us.
The show… the show was amazing. Five For Fighting was MUCH better then I expected. I was a little worried about the Goos touring with a “one hit wonder” band that I had dubbed FFF as, but I was sure wrong. Those guys sure can rock! A highlight from FFF was when they covered “Rocketman” by Elton John. It was amazing, and I was undoubtedly impressed with their performance.
After that, we were subject to be tortured by what they called an “intermission” which lasted nothing shorter than an eternity. During this time period, we sat in our chairs, and, hearts racing, we watched the stagehands tear down FFF’s set, and set up the Goos’ set. This was the longest ½ hour of my life. I have been a die hard Goo fan for a real long time, and this being my first show, I was very anxious to get it started. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore, and I left Veronica in the seats (She didn’t want to get up), and I went to use the washroom, and to walk around before the Goo part of the show began. I came back, and finally, it started. I remember the moment. Mike, and the back up guitarists came out first, then John and Robby came out with guitar and bass in hand (respectively ) and they began “Big Machine” Everyone stood up and was dancing along and singing along with the music. Now, the rest of the set list is a blissful blur in my mind, but I can confirm that the following songs were played (in no particular order): January Friend, There You Are, Lucky Star, Cuz You’re Gone/1000 words, Slide, Broadway, We Are The Normal, Sympathy, Iris, Name, Naked, Long Way Down, Here Is Gone, Burnin’ Up, What A Scene, and a few more, I believe. I remember being the only one singing along with a few of those. They were all performed amazingly, and with such energy. Robby was dancing, and jumping about the entire stage, John was a little calmer, but still moved around a lot. Our 8th row, centre seats were nice
Let me just say that John is one funny guy. He sure knows how to work the audience. Close to the beginning of the show, a woman threw a bra up on the stage. John saw it, and because it was between songs, he stopped to pick it up! He looked at it, and said “Wow! I only get these when I wear nice pants!!” After he stated that, he began to model the bra around over his shirt, and he stayed like that for a while, while we all snapped pictures. He did a whole lot of Paul Stanley impressions- which were terrific. He commented on how he loved Stompin’ Tom Connors and he listed off a whole lot of other Canadian artists that he liked, but he said that he just can’t admit to liking Rita McNeil. The audience laughed. Another thing, our beautiful John forgot the words to “Sympathy.” He was going along, on the stage alone, singing, guitaring, and he stops singing, and says to us that he forgot the words. Of course, we applauded him! Lastly, John played a game with us during the encore. He titled the game “I don’t f*** with you, you don’t f*** with me”. This needed to be demonstrated by our lovely Robby. John had to call him out, because he had gone backstage a bit again, but he came back quickly. The game was the following. John would strum his guitar. We were to clap our hands. John was to strum again. We were to clap again. And so on. During the demonstration, Robby kept missing his hands while he was trying to clap them. The punchline part was the following: it would go strum, clap, strum, clap, strum, clap, strum, clap. It would go on for a while, then John would not strum, but we clapped anyways, because we were… in a groove. John laughed, and said “hey, there, now I f***ed with ya!” and we laughed and applauded.
When the show ended, I was sad. My first Goo show was over! However, the best part of it hadn’t begun!
Veronica and myself booked it outside. We lined up outside of the building, and we waited. And waited. Security was yelling at us. They told us that the Goos were tired, stressed, and in a bad mood after the show, and that they weren’t going to do a meet and greet that night. I was not sure what to believe. Regardless, Veronica and I waited in line for a VERY long time. We had been at the Jubilee since 12:00 PM and it was post show. We were tired, sore, half deaf, grumpy at people who pushed their way in line, sunburned, and tired of security yelling at us. But we waited. And waited. I remember looking at my watch, wondering if security was telling the truth or not, and thinking about my Biology diploma exam I had to write at 9:00 am the next morning. Finally, after a very long time, security told us to line up and get the items that we wanted signed out so that there would be no delays. Security also made it clear that we had to leave directly after we met the Goos. As well, we were not to use flash on our cameras. One security guard said if there were any problems that he “will pick up Robby, and carry him back to the bus”. Veronica and myself were scared. We were at the middle of the line, and we didn’t want anyone at the beginning of the line to wreck the experience for anyone else. This was aside from the butterflies in our stomachs for getting to meet Robby, and John, and getting to see Mike again. Finally, Mike came along the line. He walked along, talked briefly with the people and then came by us. I had forgotten, earlier in the day to get him to sign my cover of EOAC (I totally forgot he was on it… well, half of it) and so he signed that one for me. Next to come along was Johnny. I had such nervousness in my stomach. This was one of the lead guys in the band, someone whose songs have made my cry, laugh, and remember special moments. And this man was standing right in front of me. He showed us his new tattoo on his leg, and told us that it hurt like a b****. Then he signed Veronica’s things, then mine. I handed him my pile of Goo album covers (8 of them!) and he signed all except for the last two. I asked him to smile for a photo, so he adjusted his gorgeous hair (which is getting long again) and he posed. Unfortunately, the photo didn’t turn out because we weren’t allowed to use flash, and it was rather dark. After that, my favourite man from Rock and Roll came along the line. This was none other than, of course, the adorable Robby Takac. He signed Veronica’s things, then I handed him my pile. I had my first release cover on the top, because I wanted him to sign that one for sure. He did, and then he went to move on. I said to him “wait, Robby, could you sign this one too? It’s my favourite album.” And I handed him SSCW. He smiled, said sure, and he signed it. On both of them, he used the first ‘O’ in “Goo Goo Dolls” as the o in his name. After he had signed SSCW, he reached up to me. I thought I was going to get a hug, but instead he kissed my cheek, smiled, and moved on to the next person. It was then that I melted into a puddle. This is why they are called the Goo Goo Dolls, I think. They can turn a girl into a puddle of Goo, and they are all absolute Dolls.
So that was my Goo experience. 25 June 2002. A day I will NEVER forget!
Happy reading :D
My Goo Goo Dolls Experience.
Our day started early. My friend and I went to the Jubilee Auditorium (The one in Calgary, not to be confused with the one in Edmonton.) and we waited outside. It was worth it to go early, because after about 3 hours, (still 4 hours before the show) Mike ventured out with a security guard, and signed some autographs, (He signed my DUTG, my GF and my EOAC) snapped a photo with me, and then went back in. The rest of the Goos didn’t come out pre-show, but we also did manage to meet John from Five For Fighting (another amazing band!) and we were lucky enough to get him to sign papers for us.
The show… the show was amazing. Five For Fighting was MUCH better then I expected. I was a little worried about the Goos touring with a “one hit wonder” band that I had dubbed FFF as, but I was sure wrong. Those guys sure can rock! A highlight from FFF was when they covered “Rocketman” by Elton John. It was amazing, and I was undoubtedly impressed with their performance.
After that, we were subject to be tortured by what they called an “intermission” which lasted nothing shorter than an eternity. During this time period, we sat in our chairs, and, hearts racing, we watched the stagehands tear down FFF’s set, and set up the Goos’ set. This was the longest ½ hour of my life. I have been a die hard Goo fan for a real long time, and this being my first show, I was very anxious to get it started. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore, and I left Veronica in the seats (She didn’t want to get up), and I went to use the washroom, and to walk around before the Goo part of the show began. I came back, and finally, it started. I remember the moment. Mike, and the back up guitarists came out first, then John and Robby came out with guitar and bass in hand (respectively ) and they began “Big Machine” Everyone stood up and was dancing along and singing along with the music. Now, the rest of the set list is a blissful blur in my mind, but I can confirm that the following songs were played (in no particular order): January Friend, There You Are, Lucky Star, Cuz You’re Gone/1000 words, Slide, Broadway, We Are The Normal, Sympathy, Iris, Name, Naked, Long Way Down, Here Is Gone, Burnin’ Up, What A Scene, and a few more, I believe. I remember being the only one singing along with a few of those. They were all performed amazingly, and with such energy. Robby was dancing, and jumping about the entire stage, John was a little calmer, but still moved around a lot. Our 8th row, centre seats were nice
Let me just say that John is one funny guy. He sure knows how to work the audience. Close to the beginning of the show, a woman threw a bra up on the stage. John saw it, and because it was between songs, he stopped to pick it up! He looked at it, and said “Wow! I only get these when I wear nice pants!!” After he stated that, he began to model the bra around over his shirt, and he stayed like that for a while, while we all snapped pictures. He did a whole lot of Paul Stanley impressions- which were terrific. He commented on how he loved Stompin’ Tom Connors and he listed off a whole lot of other Canadian artists that he liked, but he said that he just can’t admit to liking Rita McNeil. The audience laughed. Another thing, our beautiful John forgot the words to “Sympathy.” He was going along, on the stage alone, singing, guitaring, and he stops singing, and says to us that he forgot the words. Of course, we applauded him! Lastly, John played a game with us during the encore. He titled the game “I don’t f*** with you, you don’t f*** with me”. This needed to be demonstrated by our lovely Robby. John had to call him out, because he had gone backstage a bit again, but he came back quickly. The game was the following. John would strum his guitar. We were to clap our hands. John was to strum again. We were to clap again. And so on. During the demonstration, Robby kept missing his hands while he was trying to clap them. The punchline part was the following: it would go strum, clap, strum, clap, strum, clap, strum, clap. It would go on for a while, then John would not strum, but we clapped anyways, because we were… in a groove. John laughed, and said “hey, there, now I f***ed with ya!” and we laughed and applauded.
When the show ended, I was sad. My first Goo show was over! However, the best part of it hadn’t begun!
Veronica and myself booked it outside. We lined up outside of the building, and we waited. And waited. Security was yelling at us. They told us that the Goos were tired, stressed, and in a bad mood after the show, and that they weren’t going to do a meet and greet that night. I was not sure what to believe. Regardless, Veronica and I waited in line for a VERY long time. We had been at the Jubilee since 12:00 PM and it was post show. We were tired, sore, half deaf, grumpy at people who pushed their way in line, sunburned, and tired of security yelling at us. But we waited. And waited. I remember looking at my watch, wondering if security was telling the truth or not, and thinking about my Biology diploma exam I had to write at 9:00 am the next morning. Finally, after a very long time, security told us to line up and get the items that we wanted signed out so that there would be no delays. Security also made it clear that we had to leave directly after we met the Goos. As well, we were not to use flash on our cameras. One security guard said if there were any problems that he “will pick up Robby, and carry him back to the bus”. Veronica and myself were scared. We were at the middle of the line, and we didn’t want anyone at the beginning of the line to wreck the experience for anyone else. This was aside from the butterflies in our stomachs for getting to meet Robby, and John, and getting to see Mike again. Finally, Mike came along the line. He walked along, talked briefly with the people and then came by us. I had forgotten, earlier in the day to get him to sign my cover of EOAC (I totally forgot he was on it… well, half of it) and so he signed that one for me. Next to come along was Johnny. I had such nervousness in my stomach. This was one of the lead guys in the band, someone whose songs have made my cry, laugh, and remember special moments. And this man was standing right in front of me. He showed us his new tattoo on his leg, and told us that it hurt like a b****. Then he signed Veronica’s things, then mine. I handed him my pile of Goo album covers (8 of them!) and he signed all except for the last two. I asked him to smile for a photo, so he adjusted his gorgeous hair (which is getting long again) and he posed. Unfortunately, the photo didn’t turn out because we weren’t allowed to use flash, and it was rather dark. After that, my favourite man from Rock and Roll came along the line. This was none other than, of course, the adorable Robby Takac. He signed Veronica’s things, then I handed him my pile. I had my first release cover on the top, because I wanted him to sign that one for sure. He did, and then he went to move on. I said to him “wait, Robby, could you sign this one too? It’s my favourite album.” And I handed him SSCW. He smiled, said sure, and he signed it. On both of them, he used the first ‘O’ in “Goo Goo Dolls” as the o in his name. After he had signed SSCW, he reached up to me. I thought I was going to get a hug, but instead he kissed my cheek, smiled, and moved on to the next person. It was then that I melted into a puddle. This is why they are called the Goo Goo Dolls, I think. They can turn a girl into a puddle of Goo, and they are all absolute Dolls.
So that was my Goo experience. 25 June 2002. A day I will NEVER forget!
