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Goo Goo Dolls pack 'em in at Frostburg / review
« on: Apr 28th, 2007, 5:37pm » |
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Young, old and in between, Goo Goo Dolls pack 'em in at Frostburg
Daleen Berry
Cumberland Times-News
FROSTBURG - The Goo Goo Dolls sure don't play guitar like your daddy did.
But at last Sunday's sell-out concert at Frostburg State University, an attentive, approving audience proved that the Goo Goos are just as popular with people your daddy's age, as they are with the average college student. And with one of his Gibson guitars ever by his side, vocalist Johnny Rzeznik mesmerized everyone throughout the evening with his energetic movements and humorous comments.
A growing crowd swarmed the stage before the Goo Goos ever came out, and people seated in the floor section were on their feet before the first note was played. Colored lights at the rear of the stage changed from one intense shade to another almost in tune to the heavy bass beat that reverberated inside your chest, while 32 lights pulsating at the front of the stage made sure the audience was captured in the spotlight throughout the program.
Captured in the glow were people of all ages: Young and old, singles and couples, college kids, their professors - and even their parents.
Bob and Toni Holste were one such couple. Attending the Goo Goo Dolls concert turned into a family affair for them. Their son Rob, 19 and a football player at FSU, knew his folks liked the group, so he invited them to the concert.
"It's like a little date," Bob Holste said. But the bonus was in getting to spend time with Rob, he added. The Frederick resident said he likes the group's older songs, and commented that the crowd really seems familiar with the music being played.
Among the songs the Goo Goos performed were the ever popular, "Slide," "Name," and "Feel the Silence," a cut from the group's newest CD, "Let Love In." Buffalo natives Rzeznk, Robby Takac (bassist) and George Tatuska formed the rock group back in 1985, and in 1988, drummer Mike Malinin joined the team. Since then they have gained a growing popularity while writing their own music.
Their writing - which transcends into their songs - according to Oakland resident Greg Younger, is "very poetic. Byronesque. Moody." Younger teaches at Garrett College and said the band reminds him of REO Speedwagon, only "a little more sensitive."
Two Cumberland women, Denise and Connie (who were embarrassed to give their last names), were two of the more mature members of the audience. Denise said her husband saw them perform in Santa Barbara before they made it big.
She appreciates the band's versatility. "Their songs don't all sound alike," Denise added.
While the majority of those in attendence came to hear the music, many were there for another reason. The Goo Goos are involved in USA Harvest!, a social cause that helps provide food to people in local communities. Diana Loar, executive director of the Western Maryland Food Bank in Cumberland, was there to collect the food that the Goo Goos encouraged ticket holders to donate.
Her agency provides food for 130 other non-profit agencies such as food pantries and day care centers, "places that serve those that need assistance," Loar said. "They're not all starving but they need help."
Because this area has a large number of retirees, there isn't always enough money to keep up with rising costs, so "this is like a subsidy," she added.
The food bank has five paid staffers and 10 to 20 volunteers to serve the Allegany County area. A member of the Maryland Food Bank in Baltimore, it's affiliated with America's Second Harvest. The food bank has a warehouse where dry goods and non-perishables are stored locally.
Then any non-profit agency can come in and they, in turn, dispense the food to individuals who come to their locations. Last year, the food bank distributed 1.3 million pounds of food. At Sunday's concert, 140 pounds of food was collected, Loar said. "I've been doing this for 20 years and I love it. It's a mission for me."
Others who heard the Goo Goos play probably attended the concert with hopes of taking something home with them. That's because Commercial Sound and Music in Frostburg donated a Peavey Platinum Plus guitar, signed by the opening act, Copeland, and a drum head, which the Goo Goos signed. The two items were raffled off, netting the food bank $832 in proceeds.
The only bad part about the evening was that only one person got to take it home. But it was clear by the expressions on the faces of the crowd, that no one went home unhappy. But then, how could they? The Goo Goo Dolls were in the house.
Daleen Berry can be reached at [email protected].
http://www.times-news.com/entertainment/local_story_117153144.html?keywo rd=topstory
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