Goo Goo Dolls plays all the classics in Santa Barbara

On September 3rd, the Santa Barbara Bowl was blessed to host early 2000s alt-rockers the Goo Goo Dolls, along with special guests Blue October.

Blue October, an American rock band from Houston, started off the evening with their authentic and brand of rock-and-roll. Their sound varies from dark and depressing jams to upbeat and danceable bangers, and the crowd was certainly along for the ride. They did a great job of getting the audience to sing and dance along to all their songs! Going into the show, I didn’t know much about the band, but my friends kept raving about them. Boy, was I glad to finally catch their set! It definitely lived up to the high expectations that I had gotten from my friends’ recommendations. Fans especially enjoyed hearing their most recognizable single, “Hate Me”. After the band went through all their hits from an impressive 11 album discography, it was time for a short intermission before the headliner of the show!

Finally, it was time for Goo Goo Dolls.

This was my first time seeing them, but I had heard how they put on a great performance! By the time they went onstage, the Santa Barbara Bowl was packed with fans who were eager to see them perform and ready to dance and sing the night away! The Goo Goo Dolls thrilled the crowd by playing classic hits such as “Slide”, “Iris”, “Black Balloon” and many more. Hearing them play all their classic hits for the first time in person was such a fun experience that I would recommend it to anyone, especially those who used to sing along with “Iris” on the radio back in the day. The two bands both put on a great show; the concert is a great event that the whole family can enjoy. Be sure to catch the next stop on their tour in a city near you!

Photography by Gunnar Velten

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