From: Mark Cy

The Fillmore
Jul 18, 1996
San Francisco, CA


The Goo Goo Dolls played in San Francisco for only the 2nd time since 1993 with an 
absolutely FANTASTIC 24 song killer set that totally wowed a crowd made up of some 
serious Goo Goo Dolls fans and a stunned general audience. The band AND the sound-mix 
jelled from the very beginning into a searing & scorching rockerous assault. The 
meatiest chunks of rhythm-pop currently available courtesy of Johnnie Rzeznick. Slabs 
and more slabs of thick crunch-coated rhythm with little lead-lines interspersed created 
gem after gem of some of the best up-tempo music of the 90's. Anyone unfamiliar with the 
band probably thinks that they're just another new band who became popular out of 
nowhere. REAL GG Dolls fans know that they were constantly touring for the better part 
of the last 9 years. This show was the incredible result of the tightness that can 
develop when a group stays focused on a CONSISTENT basis for a LONG period of time. As I 
speak they are raising the alterna-pops musical standards. I won't get into the actual 
songs in particular. I can only state that they played the very best combination of 
their discography that I could possibly imagine. Even though the more mellow-paced song 
'Name' was the band's break-out recognition single, it's the follow-ups 'Long Way Down' 
that can best be described as the Goo Goo Dolls signature-sound. The faster-paced songs 
rock early and OFTEN and are as pleasant to listen to as it is to just FEEL a ray of 
sunshine. They made a HUGE statement of their musical worth with a set that you never 
wanted to end. The constant bobbing and weaving of the crowd was a joy to see. And it 
WAS constant!! I'd like to see the Goo Goo Dolls next WEEK, but I guess I'll have to 
wait and see. It will be a HARD wait. The Goo Goo Dolls are contagious in an addicting 
kind of way. It should be hard for any open-minded, music-loving person NOT to get 
hooked. Don't say you haven't been warned. SEE and HEAR The Goo Goo Dolls. OH YEAH!!! 

Submitted and written by Mark Cy SF CA