The Goo Goo Dolls live at the Ambassador, Dublin

Something occurred to me as The Goo Goo Dolls took to the stage Friday night, and I was elbowed aside by an avid fan whose eyes were glued to Robby Takac’s bass guitar. Theory: The Goo Goo Dolls are only half the age they claim to be. That would explain it all: their air of youthful enthusiasm, frontman John Rzeznik’s meticulously tousled hair, the brilliant energy reverberating off the Ambassador walls. They rock like kids, not like 20-year veterans.
A surprising highlight of the night was their ballad ‘Better Days’. Sure, we knew it was a good’un, but a wide-smile, hands-to-the-heavens hit? Well, why not? This is the band that’s earned the right to switch guitars nearly every song, and to ask for requests and then ignore them. And as if to remind us The Goo Goo Dolls are still going strong, they started wrapping up the night with the 2008 single ‘Real.’ Then it was ‘Broadway,’ a smile and a wave, and they’re off to the UK. Hurry back, boys.