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The Goo Goo Dolls in Manila…finally!
Many pop-alternative acts that first gained fame in the 1990s and early 2000s have swung by Manila in recent years, satisfying the desires of an entire generation of Filipino music lovers. Vertical Horizon have been here three times, Gin Blossoms twice, and even Smashing Pumpkins have been here once. Similar artists from that era that have performed locally include Ed Kowalczyk (former vocalist of Live), Lifehouse, Smash Mouth, Sugar Ray, Stone Temple Pilots, The Lemonheads, Moonpools and Caterpillars, Dishwalla and Third Eye Blind.
Last Saturday, one other name was added to that list. The Goo Goo Dolls made their Philippine debut at the Araneta Coliseum over 30 years since they first got together. The venue wasn’t exactly bursting at the seams, but enough people were there (mostly folks in their late 20s to early 40s) that it certainly felt like Manila was overjoyed that the band finally made their way over here.
Founding members John Rzeznik and Robby Takac were joined by touring musicians Brad Fernquist, Korel Tunador and Craig Macintyre. They opened with “Over and Over” then segued into “Long Way Down” before Rzeznik chatted with the crowd.
“Hello Manila!” he said. “It’s just so strange that we couldn’t come here 20 years ago. But here we are!”
It’s tough to write about a song without exposing my age, but the next song, “Slide,” is an essential track if I ever compile my college days playlist. On some parts, the 51-year-old Rzeznik was a little out of breath, but the vocal chops were still there. It was a thoroughly pleasant mini excursion back to the days of fishballs, leisurely road trips and after-class tambay sessions.
Although the band has produced newer material in the last few years, the nostalgia factor of their older songs was a definite come-on. People came to hear the songs of their youth so it was no surprise that the loudest cheers were reserved for their hits like “Here Is Gone,” “Black Balloon,” and “Name,” which Rzeznik said was the first song that got them played on national radio in the US.
The song was also an example of the triumph of persistence. Rzeznik said that, at the time, the band had been playing for about 10 years but had never quite reached any kind of success. He felt the pressure from his girlfriend at the time, which led him to write the song.
“Now she’s gone and the song’s still here,” he said.
I enjoyed the pop-rock fun of “Rebel Beat” and the wide-eyed optimism of the New Year’s Day anthem “Better Days,” but found myself siting down at a few unfamiliar numbers. Rzeznik and Takac ran around the stage and tried to engage the crowd as much as they could. After “Stay With You,” “Already There,” “Free Of Me” and “Come To Me,” Rzeznik introduced a fairly new song called “The Pin,” then went solo acoustic on “Sympathy,” which he introduced as a song about “doing a lot of drugs.”
“But not in a fun way,” he was quick to add. “It’s in the ‘holy sh-- I can’t stop doing drugs’ kind of way.”
The big one came right after. If there’s one song most people will recognize the Goo Goo Dolls for, it would be “Iris,” their monster hit that they contributed to the soundtrack of the 1998 film City Of Angels. Almost 20 years later, it still holds up as a tender, if a bit too-saccharine sweet rock ballad. While Rzeznik sang, The Coliseum crowd were doing one of three things: they had their arms up recording on their mobile phones, holding hands with their significant others, or caressing themselves and rocking slowly on their feet. It was a true concert moment.
If there was one thing I got out of the Goo Goo Dolls show, it’s that there’s definitely a market for the artists and bands of the 90s and early 2000s, because the people who grew up listening to them back then are the working professionals of today who can afford to splurge on the occasional concert ticket.
So quick, somebody bring over Toad The Wet Sprocket, Collective Soul and (gasp!) Dave Matthews Band over here ASAP! — BM, GMA News
Paul John Caña is a writer and live music geek. Check out his blog manontheotherside.blogspot.com. Email him at pjcana@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter and Instagram @pauljohncana.
