SPILL LIVE REVIEW: GOO GOO DOLLS w/ DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL @ BUDWEISER STAGE, TORONTO

GOO GOO DOLLS w/ DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL

@ BUDWEISER STAGE, TORONTO

AUGUST 10, 2025

By the time the sun dipped below Lake Ontario, the stage lights were already painting Budweiser Stage in gold and violet. A humid Toronto night, thousands of fans and a band that’s been soundtracking our lives for decades, the Goo Goo Dolls, were here.

The Goo Goo Dolls took the stage quietly and confidently, no over-the-top intro, just a single chord ringing out into the night. They opened with “Naked,” a deep cut that had long-time fans nodding in appreciation. It was raw, honest, and a gentle reminder that this band has always been more about connection than flash.

By the time they launched into “Slide,” the entire venue was on its feet, the chorus echoing off the lake. Couples held hands, friends threw arms around shoulders, and strangers sang in unison. If Dashboard Confessional was a warm-up, the Goo Goo Dolls were the ignition.

The heart of the show was where the Goo Goo Dolls shined brightest. “Black Balloon” floated through the night air with haunting beauty, while “Here Is Gone” reminded us of that early-2000s ache for something more. John Rzeznik’s vocals weren’t pristine; they were lived-in, weathered, and all the more powerful for it.

Robby Takac, brought levity and grit to songs like “January Friend” and “Big Machine.” His presence balanced out Rzeznik’s brooding energy, keeping things from ever getting too heavy.

They dug deep into the catalogue with “Acoustic #3,” a track that silenced the crowd in the best way possible. Just Rzeznik, his guitar, and thousands of quiet hearts. The new material, songs like “Miracle Pill,” “Life’s a Message,” and “Run All Night”, were received with genuine interest, if not the same fervor. The crowd was here for the classics, sure, but the band wasn’t phoning anything in. Every song was played like it mattered.

Of course, the night built toward “Iris.” You could feel the collective breath being held as the opening mandolin riff trickled out. And then… pure catharsis. Everyone sang. Phones in the air. Tears. Smiles. Arms outstretched. It was more than a song, it was a shared experience, and it washed over the venue like a wave.

The Goo Goo Dolls didn’t reinvent themselves tonight, they didn’t have to. They reminded us who they’ve always been: storytellers, heart-on-their-sleeve performers, and a band that still gives a damn. At a time when legacy acts sometimes feel like cover bands of their former selves, the Goo Goo Dolls came out swinging, honest, emotional, loud, soft, and everything in between.

And Toronto? We gave it all back.

(Photography by Mercedes Chircop)

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