Stuck on Goo By Katie Baynes NeXt Correspondent 11/30/99 If Buffalo can't boast about its sports teams or the weather (it isn't that bad), well, there is certainly one thing we can be proud of. The Goo Goo Dolls. They went from playing at local bars downtown to touring the United States and No. 1 hits on MTV. "I saw them at Network downtown before they were big, they were great," said Steve Williams, a senior at St. Joe's. "It's amazing to see how much they have become, from such a humble beginning." On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the Goo Goo Dolls are playing at Shea's Performing Arts Center. They skipped right over Buffalo on their summer tour with Sugar Ray, but are coming back for three days to make up for it. Local fans are anxious for their homecoming. "I can't wait to go. My best friend gave me the tickets for my birthday. I am so excited!" said Ashley Hirshaur, a sophomore at Sacred Heart Academy. The Goo Goo Dolls are: - John Rzeznik, on lead vocals and guitar. His is the face that you always see in the videos and the swooning voice that always draws you into their songs. - Robby Takac on bass and vocals. - Drummer Mike Malinin, who joined the Goos in '95 just in time for their CD, "A Boy Named Goo." (George Tutuska, former drummer, just missed out on stardom but still deserves to be mentioned.) The Goos released their self-titled debut album in 1987, followed by "Jed" in '89 and "Hold Me Up" in '91. In 1993, "Superstar Car Wash" helped them gain a cult following outside of local fans. In 1995, they hit it big with "Name," the only mellow song on "A Boy Named Goo." John Rzeznik went a few years with writer's block until their hit "Iris" blew audiences away on the "City Of Angels" soundtrack. The song appeared on MTV's Total Request Live and boosted the Goos' immensely. "Iris," one of the Goos' most famous ballads, was featured on their latest album, "Dizzy Up The Girl," which also includes "Slide" and "Black Balloon." "Slide is my favorite Goos' song. It has a special meaning to me and it's just awesome," Ashley Hirshaur said. "My favorite is "Black Balloon,' " said Alexis Northwood, a student at City Honors. "The lyrics show that sometimes in life if you get stuck you have to look to the world around you for help." Not all teens like the Goos though. "I can't find any of my close friends to go with me to the show, though, most of my friends aren't big fans like I am," Alexis said. The song "Broadway" has special meaning for Rzeznik. He wrote from his personal experience at bars on Broadway in Buffalo, watching his father drink. With deep lyrics like, "See the young man sitting in the old man's bar, waiting for his turn to die," Rzeznik draws people in with his sincerity. The band has certainly come a long way from being just a bunch of teen-agers playing for the sake of the song. "They are a great-sounding band, I'm going to the concert on December 2, I love the "Dizzy Up the Girl' CD," said Adam Bavifard, a junior at Clarence High School. The Goos have a great variety of songs and the music is just so powerful. I love the lyrics, because they are so deep; they write about struggles and triumphs, regrets and acceptance. The Goos have inspired me in my own poetry writing and their success has proven that persistence will eventually prevail. "Their lyrics have really matured from their old CDs," said Rob Capozzi, a freshman at Williamsville East. "I wish I was going to the concert," he added. A big crowd will be at all three shows, and fans of all ages will be there. Even my parents like the Goo Goo Dolls. Katie Baynes is a sophomore at Williamsville East High School.