Phoenix, AZ — The Goo Goo Dolls took to the stage to a sold-out show in Phoenix on July 13, 2025, for the second night of their “Summer Anthem Tour 2025.” The show gave Arizonans a welcome break from the torrid summer heat, transforming Arizona Financial Theater into an epicenter of nostalgia, emotion, and rock-infused energy. From the moment the first chords reverberated through the crowd, it was clear: this was a celebration of a band whose music has woven itself into the fabric of countless lives. This tour covers the Goo Goo Doll’s discography of great hits and incorporates a few new songs, including their recently dropped single, “Nothing Lasts Forever.”
Dashboard Confessional Kicks Off the Night
You know it’s going to be a good show when most of the ticketholders were in their seats on time for the co-headers, Dashboard Confessional. Based out of Boca Raton, FL, the group’s name is derived from “The Sharp Hint of New Tears” off their 2000 debut album, The Swiss Army Romance.
Paying homage to their co-header act, front man Chris Carraba reminisced about the first time he heard the Goo Goo Dolls.
“I found myself that day,” Carraba says.
Indeed, Dashboard Confessional is an ideal musical match to tour with Goo Goo Dolls. Their music is a blend of acoustic and indie rock and roll, with emo-influenced lyrics about life, love, and everything in between. It was obvious concert attendees knew Dashboard’s music as much as they knew Goo Goo Doll’s music and sang along with the band throughout the whole set.
While Dashboard Confessional has had plenty of successes in their 20+ year career, Carraba expressed several times that he needed to take in the evening. He also infused humor into the set, getting the audience to stand and stretch in preparation for the evening, and transitioned into practice clapping. The audience willingly went along with the ruse.
As the opening set, Dashboard Confessional gave concert attendees their money’s worth, playing 11 songs.
Band members:
• Chris Carraba: piano, guitar, lead vocals
• Armon Jay: Lead Guitar
• Scott Schoenbeck: Bass, piano, keyboards
• Kenny Bridges: guitar
• Christopher Kamrada: Drums
Setlist:
• Don’t Wait
• The Sharp Hint of New Tears
• Saints and Sailors
• Turpentine Chaser
• No More Bad Days
• Screaming Infidelities
• Again I Go Unnoticed
• Remember to Breathe
• Stolen
• Vindicated
• Hands Down
Goo Goo Dolls Bring the House Down
First, whether you are a die-hard fan or a newbie, if you go to see this tour in your local town, you won’t be disappointed. The show has a fabulous vibe; the fans love them, and the band reciprocates it back to the audience. Additionally, the show is 25 songs, covering tunes throughout their discography, and paying special homage to their 30-year-old album A Boy Named Goo (yes, we are that old), to a few new songs. You get your money’s worth. And one thing that I really appreciated about the show–they don’t make you stand clapping and begging for an encore (a huge concert pet peeve of mine). They just deliver a solid performance, they engage throughout the show with the audience, and it’s just a damned good time.
The band infused fun into the show, whether through humor, or direct audience engagement. During “Black Balloons,” black balloons were released into the audience, which people gleefully batted around. It was a nice way of bringing out a youthful energy to the show.
The three new songs played during the show from the new release were solid tunes. I can easily see “Not Goodbye,” “Nothing Lasts Forever,” and “Ocean” making their way up the Billboard charts. The songs are catchy but polished and effective, and the audience seemed to thoroughly enjoy hearing the new music.
There are also several moments in the show when bassist Robby Takac takes over the vocals, delivering a nicely done performance of “January Friend,” “Life’s a Message,” and “Bringing On the Light.” I enjoyed these moments, because sometimes it’s easy to just focus on Rzeznik as the well-known vocals, and Takac’s warm raspy style is just as great.
There may have been a bit of early tour jitters during the conversations with the audience, but the audience was more than forgiving and just eager to hear the next song. During one such moment, the crowd laughingly applauded frontman John Rzeznik, and he graciously responded with, “Is that mercy applause?”
During “Name,” Rzeznik sang a capella for a bit and the crowd joined him. It’s moments like those in a concert that foment a bond between artist and audience, and Rzeznik knows how to build those moments and play on them.
The show culminated with “Iris,” which I think is the only way Goo Goo Dolls can ever end a show. Released 37 years ago, “Iris” remains one of those rock songs that enjoys renewed longevity thanks to the film industry, and appropriately is the career-long anthem for Goo Goo Dolls.
Band Members
• John Rzeznik: lead vocals, guitar
• Robby Takac: bass, vocals
• Brad Fernquist: guitar
• Craig Macintyre: drums
• Jim McGorman: keyboards, guitar, vocals
Setlist:
• Not Goodbye (Live debut)
• Naked
• Slide
• Think About Me
• Black Balloon
• Here Is Gone
• Bullet Proof
• So Alive
• Nothing Lasts Forever
• January Friend
• Feel the Silence
• Miracle Pill
• Sympathy (Acoustic)
• Acoustic #3
• Name
• Ocean
• Big Machine
• Stay With You
• Run All Night
• Life’s a Message
• Bringing On the Light
• Better Days
• Broadway
• Let Love In
• Iris
