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Yet it was with the dimming of the lights and the wielding of green, staccato strobes emanating from screens covering the rear basement of the stage which sent the crowd into delirium as John Rezeznik, Robby Takac and Mike Malinin took the stage, took control and never let go.

Though disappointingly only on stage for 75 minutes, the band powered through a set that, quite simply, blew the crowd away, with songs holding the power of Stay With You and Without You Here.

Everything anybody can expect from a rock show was here, with the band interacting with the crowd, celebrating Robby’s Birthday and taking the Mick out of some of the bizarre banners on display: John I Want To See You Sing Naked?

Maybe not.

But it was the music that came through. Broadway and of course, Iris – sung out to full lung-busting capacity by the crowd after John took the rise out of Ronan’s version – were notable highlights. Yet it was the new stuff that lasts longest in the memory. Great songs such as Black Balloon, Slide and I’ll Be were more than ably backed up by the new breed, such as Let Love In, Feel The Silence and Better Days all of which have the capability of becoming classics to rival the status of even Iris in the band’s catalogue.

So did the experience of seeing The Goo Goo Dolls in action meet the expectation? Oh yes, without question, despite the fact that the crowd were just getting warmed up when they were waving their goodnights after just 1 encore.

The maxim might be “Leave ‘Em Wanting More”, but bloody hell, there are limits!
Still, it was Robby’s birthday. Perhaps he had a party to get to. The crowd at The Apollo, Manchester – surely one of the best venues in the country acoustically – certainly had a party of their own.

Cardiff University 12th October review by Diane Perry

www.googoodolls.com

European Tour 2006 Dates
09.29.06..........Leeds, UK...............................Leeds University**
09.30.06..........Manchester, UK..........................Manchester Apollo**
10.02.06..........Glasgow, UK.............................Glasgow Academy**
10.03.06..........Aberdeen, UK............................Aberdeen Music Hall**
10.04.06..........Newcastle, UK...........................Newcastle Academy**
10.06.06..........Cambridge, UK...........................Cambridge Corn Exchange**
10.08.06..........Southampton, UK.........................Southampton Guildhall**
10.09.06..........Nottingham, UK..........................Rock City**
10.11.06..........Liverpool, UK...........................Liverpool University**
10.12.06..........Cardiff, UK.............................Cardiff University**
10.13.06..........London, UK..............................SB Empire**
10.15.06..........London, UK..............................SB Empire**
10.16.06..........London, UK..............................SB Empire**
10.18.06..........Dublin, UK..............................Olympia**

 

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