Goo Goo Dolls, Thirsty Merc @ Entertainment Centre Theatre, Adelaide 27/2/2025
If anyone said that we would be seeing the Goo Goo Dolls for the second time in Australia within twelve months I would be saying you are kidding. Well, that was a reality with the Goo Goo Dolls venturing back to Adelaide as part of their Summer Anthems Tour. This was a stellar night of music and support from Thirsty Merc added so much more to what already was a great night.
Thirsty Merc might have only played for thirty minutes but it’s what they did with those thirty minutes that really matter. They did a terrific job of engaging the crowd, getting singing and warmed up for the Goo Goo Dolls. Thirsty Merc have plenty of great tunes and have proved that they can really elevate their performance to the big stage compared to where we usually see them at venues such as The Gov. With Rai Thistlethwayte taking the stage saying “so, here we are” opening with My Completeness. The crowd took a bit of coaxing to get involved with Thistlethwayte saying “don’t be afraid Adelaide” encouraging them to clap along to The Good Life.
Swapping out the guitar for the goanna (insider talk for piano) playing a heart felt rendition of Someday Someday followed by the zippy Tommy and Krista. The ‘Merc got all sentimental on 20 Good Reasons followed by the crowd lifting In The Summertime which got the crowd involved with a huge sing-a-long. Really good set with a hint that there is an upcoming show announcement at The Gov. As an added bonus fans were able to meet the band at the impromptu signing in the foyer which was an awesome touch.
Goo Goo Dolls hardly need an introduction and tonight’s performance is a case example of a great band with great songs. When you have that everything doesn’t matter opting for a simple production, no laser light show or excessive visual just rock solid musicianship. John Rzeznik meant business when he took the stage stating that it “sounds better when your arses are out of the seats”. With that everyone was up for first song Naked. Absolutely majestic opener building the vibe with one of their biggest hits Slide which went down a treat. There were some sound issues early with Rzeznik being quite animated about it.
Taking a moment to comment on how good the crowd looked and how beautiful Australia is and how we “mind our business” compared to the “dicks who have taken over the whore house back home”. One by one the great songs kept a coming with Big Machine, Home, Black Balloon and Here Is Gone. Rzeznik’s partner in crime Robby Takac, with trademark coloured hair, was full of smiles from start to end. Rzeznik promised in a recent Hi Fi Way interview that they would go deep in to their highly acclaimed back catalogue and that they did. One of those being The Pin which was like a diamond in the rough.
Musically, there was nothing out of place with the likes of Miracle Pill standing out and equally as powerful was Feel The Silence which was written in an empty room when Rzeznik was trying to get off everything adding “I’m not whining, just saying”. Sympathy was played acoustically in all its glory and another moment of gold was Name. So good! A fan down the front held up a sign wanting to proposal to his girlfriend to which Rzeznik obliged giving him some air time and fortunately she said yes otherwise that would have been pretty awkward.
Over And Over was great as was Stay With You but its songs such as Run All Night which connects and resonates strongly with the crowd. With Robby saying it wasn’t going to tale twenty years to come back he took the lead on Life’s A Message and Bringing On The Light. Better Days and Broadway brought the main set to a close riding the wave of emotions of these songs stir up. The encore was epic starting with Tattered Edge / You Should Be Happy topped off magnificently with that song Iris which does not get any bigger than one of the biggest songs of the last thirty years. What a moment! Fantastic show, let’s hope it’s not another twenty years for a return.
Live Review By Rob Lyon