Goo Goo Dolls Wow Crowd In Boca Raton

Despite the sweltering heat, there was a sold out crowd and then some, at the Mizner Park Amphitheater

The most commonly asked question last night was “how do we get tickets”. The answer was the same. “There aren’t any, it’s a sellout.” There’s no denying the Goo Goo Dolls are on a revived wave of enthusiasm from fans. With the release of their Thirteenth Studio Album “Chaos In Bloom” in 2022 now they have scored the love of fans loyal and new generations, solidifying their place in music history.

“Chaos In Bloom “ Available here

The one thing I truly like about Mizner Park and its intimate setting is there isn’t really a bad seat in the house. This natural grass floored amphitheater isn’t always the best choice in the summer as it is completely open, however it just has a great vibe to it. The feel of the entire area is just inviting. The somewhat Italian meets Greek revival design is reminiscent of the design of older open air theaters. As they were doing sound checks I couldn’t help but think this is one of those places where it would be perfectly natural to start quoting Shakespeare over the PA. Sitting outside listening to the rather long sound check, I wondered to myself what exactly  were they hearing I wasn’t.  Even the sound check was perfection.

The heat was brutal upward of ninety five degrees. Severe weather was threatening so much so the opening of doors was delayed for a bit in order to keep people safe from what looked like yet another summer in Florida rain delay. Then it just happened, the sky opened up and what looked like it would be a direct hit of horrendous weather just went away. I don’t know how or why, but it was a blessed relief from what has become the regular ritual of walking out in pouring rain whilst trying to keep expensive equipment dry and then photographing in what can only be described as a tarp. Most people would call it a rain poncho. However, I am 5’3″ and they are all designed for much taller folks. The downside of not having the rainstorm is the blanket of humidity that seems to dehydrate you even faster. It didn’t stop the Goo Goo Dolls from putting on an outstanding performance.

From the first note of Broadway to the last notes of the encore Iris SEE FULL SET LIST HERE the energy, the musicianship and the vocals were all there. The crowd had the energy to make it through. John Rzeznik and Robbie Takac seemed to give nothing but love and received it back ten fold. Brad Fernquist, Craig Macintyire and Jim McGorman rounded out the current touring line up. Rzeznik and Takac have made sure to surround themselves with outstanding musicians and it shows. While photographing from the soundboard has its downside, hearing the best quality of the songs isn’t one of them. It is literally the best seat in the house for enjoying all the subtle nuances sometimes lost with reverb and echos from surrounding structures. As not only a photographer, but a music fan, it is absolutely the best seat in the house.

I try my best to be fair in my reviews and this is no exception. I just can’t find anything major to complain about. Mother Nature and the heat, maybe. I love the venue, I wish there were a better covered section, but you’d lose the aesthetics and the overall feel of the place. Of course I’d prefer to photograph from the pit. Dodging the crowd and schlepping a ladder around is a bit of a task, but otherwise a great venue. Parking is readily available for free in adjacent garages, they are well hidden on the next block by some brilliant architecture. Those who didn’t score a ticket flowed out into the adjacent park with their lawn chairs, blankets, dinners and beverages from the local restaurants.