Atlanta � October 31, 1999�Atlanta finds itself surrounded by ghouls, goblins, and creatures that go GOO in the night!� Well, not all were ghouls and goblins, but definitely creatures that go Goo!� And these creatures that go �Goo� also play some pretty damn good music and know how to put on a show!� And who are these creatures�.� They are the GOO GOO DOLLS!

A private party was thrown at The Swiss Hotel Halloween night for an exclusive group (invitation only) of Atlantians.� It was sponsored by WSTR-FM (Star 94) and the only way to go to this party was to win tickets from the station or know how to pull some strings, (which is the category I fall into).�

Out of all the concerts I�ve ever been, I would pretty much say that this was the absolute best!� I want to try to be detailed enough so as to create the �almost there� sensation; however, I am afraid that I will go on too long.� Let me apologize now if I do!� Being succinct is not one of my strong suits.�

Blessed Union of Soul (BUS) opened for the Goo Goo Dolls�I have to admit that I didn�t watch the entire opening act, but I do like them.� They just aren�t my favorite!� They played for about an hour.� And they did do a great job!

My friend and I were walking around at this time doing the cocktail thing and were talking to some of the radio industry people there (I�m also in the radio industry).� As we were socializing, John Rzeznik was walking around everywhere, but no one noticed him.� Why?� Because the bonehead was in complete costume.� I remember seeing �him� but had no idea it was �he��I can remember seeing his costume and thinking, �that is so wrong!�� (He was dressed up like one of the dead Kennedy�s, and I don�t mean the Group �The Dead Kennedy�s.�)� I later figured out it was him when I saw them first come out on stage where the entire group except for Mike Malinin was in costume.� Costume descriptions to follow!

Well, being the tenacious person I am, my friend and I made our way to the very front�.� We saw the last minutes of Blessed Union of Soul.� Then at about 9:30pm, the lights dimmed and then you heard the funkiness of �Dizzy� and out they jumped.�

At first I had to adjust my eyes because they WERE ALL IN COSTUMES!� We were CRACKING UP!� I was like �Oh my God!� That was John Rzeznik in that costume!�� My friend and I just looked at each other w/ complete amazement.� They were all laughing so hard that they could barely sing�well they did sing, of course, and they did do a great job, but they were definitely amused with the whole event.� It was DAMN FUNNY!� I can assure you that this concert was different than any one they�ve done thus far�..

So here are the costumes and the men who wore them:

John Rzeznik������

He was dressed as one of the dead Kennedy�s.� I believe it was John F Kennedy (not Jr.).� He had a mask of him on with a bullet though his head and along with it he was dressed in a gray, pinstriped suit with some funky fusia silk shirt on beneath it.� I know the man was sweltering hot!� He kept saying that he couldn�t remember being �hotter� (and I was like you can say that again, dude!� Ha!)

Robbie Takac

Too cute�he was wearing a Batman Pez dispenser costume.� It was hysterical.� He didn�t keep it on the entire time probably because he too was about to die of heat, but he had his PJ�s on underneath�.� Cracked me up (oh and, of course, the man was barefooted).� His hair looked awesome.� He�s gotten a few layers in it, which really made him look great.

Mike Malinin

He�s so funny!� He dressed up as himself!� And he was quite the doll!� He started off, however, w/ a Frankenstein mask but didn�t have it on long at all.�

Dave Schulz

He was, I believe, in costume as �Grinch.�� If I am wrong about this feel free to correct me, but he was decorated in major green costume paint and his hair was a �muck.� ��I suppose that it what a Grinch looks like.

Nathan December

I think he had some kind of Halloween-type makeup on but couldn�t tell really what he was supposed to be.� Sorry for this but I just couldn�t tell.� I don�t believe he had anything on but he was in a dark area of the stage.

Dave

Okay, I am a true GGD fan, but folks, I can�t for the life of me remember the guy�s name who plays the harmonica.� But he was dressed as a Beanie Baby�that was funny.� He was an original one so I suppose his �tag� read �Goo Goo Doll�!� ?

Okay, the show:

Sorry guys, I�m not going to give the set list because I don�t remember it, but it was pretty much what you could imagine (Dizzy, Broadway, Slide, Iris, January Friend, et el).� By the time we got to the concert, I had already consumed several martinis.� I wasn�t exactly in the frame of mind of �memorizing� anything.� (Not sure if it apropos for me to mention my state of intoxication, but seems to be worth noting considering since I can�t remember simple things like names of songs, and the name of one of the �extras� in the band�. etc�ha)

The Boz� were obviously a little tipsy themselves; they were celebrating Halloween in style.� John told tons of jokes and seemed like he was having the best time.� I hope they were having fun because we were all cracking up!� I took tons of pics, and I met a woman who is a photographer for a local magazine in Atlanta.� She said she had tons of pics of them�I was like cool�then you are my new best friend!� I got her card!

John finally took his mask off after Dizzy and said he was about to pass out�but then he would put it back on again.� I think he liked the attention he was getting from everyone.� Of course, for the guy who is suppose to be so shy, I think he has overcome that obstacle.� He was not shy that night.� He was telling lots of jokes and was laughing constantly.� He apologized for dressing up as a Dead Kennedy but�would ask us �Isn�t it funny?�� He wanted our approval�.and he got it, and okay, John it was funny.� You wear it well!

During the concert, Drummer Mike Malinin came to the front of the stage to stand by John.� He had to �help� John w/ a joke.� John had a �WRESTLING� joke.� It was a little off-color, okay, but quite humorous.� He asked the audience if they knew anything about wrestling.� Some did; some didn�t!� So he grabs Mike from behind and holds him in the �half-nelson� position.� He asks the audience what that was�the audience screamed �A Half Nelson!�� Then he grabs both of Mike�s arms from behind and then asks the audience what this position was.� The audience screams �A Full Nelson!�� Then he grabs mike and pretends he is well doing the deed from behind�.� And then he says this is the �Father Nelson�.�� Get it?� Father Nelson, Catholic Priest or should I say a Lonely Catholic Priest!� Okay, I told you that it was off-color!�

He didn�t tell any big, elaborated stories, but he did involve the audience in many songs, etc.� He did this a lot more than he did at the Atlanta Lakewood concert.� They seemed very comfortable in this smaller setting and didn�t seem as exhausted as they were back in September, which is when the Atlanta Lakewood concert took place.�

Anyway, they played their hearts out and were cocktailing on stage and their performance was absolutely the most entertaining one for me.� They really put on a terrific show.�

The set ended and everyone screamed for an encore�they obliged�they actually played four more songs (I wish I could remember them all).� They wished us all a Happy Halloween and then confetti feel from the ceiling.� It was terrific.� THEY REALLY ENTERTAINED US!

And guys, this venue was very small.� It was General Admission, and I believe there were only about 200-300 people in the ballroom.� It was absolutely amazing.� A small concert like that one was really cool.� I was right up front and took MANY pics!� Too many b/c I didn�t have any film left for later on�.

After the show, my friend and I made our way out of ballroom and then down to the Mezzanine.� That�s when we ran into Mike Malinin.� He�s a cool guy!� Did not get a chance to meet any of the other guys in the band.

Anyway, I hope that I was detailed enough to image out the evening.� The costumes were too funny!� I could tell they were having fun, as so were we!� They always put on a great concert (I saw them in Atlanta on 9/2 and yes, I�m a slacker, I didn�t post a review).� I look forward to seeing them again.� I have to tell you that I use to be very �shy� about my interest in this group.� The reason is that �I�m suppose to not be into groups like this at my age� (I�m 32); however, I�ve had so much fun reading about these guys and attending their concerts.� I have always been so career-focused ---- almost to the point to where I had zero balance.� The music and the characters in the group have brought some fun in my life�They have truly DIZZIED up this GAL!�

Glad I could share my �experience� with you guys.� If I have left anything out then I will try to add an addendum�ha!� Hope my review gave you the �almost there� experience.� I do have tons of pictures from the show.� Once I get them developed, I�ll get my friend to help me do whatever you have to do to have them posted on this site.� I am sorry for the length, but felt compelled to include everything written.�

I am so glad that I was able to go.� It truly was the best Halloween!� (And B�day � It�s today 11/1!)