THERE is more to The Goo Goo Dolls than Iris – indeed, there is more to Goo Goo Dolls than Dizzy Up the Girl. The proof lies in a 22-song set played before a capacity crowd.

Glasgow’s O2 Academy was close to a sell-out as the soft-rock veterans made their return to the city. Twelve albums, over the course of more than 30 years – you’d forgive the band for simply turning up, walking on and playing at a leisurely pace. But they exude such raw energy that they could well be mistaken for a band two or three decades their junior.

Song choice is right on the money. They do, of course, pay homage to their most successful album with no less than six tracks from Dizzy Up the Girl. And it’s fair to say the likes of Slide, Dizzy and Broadway were well-received – but the response was rivalled by Here is Gone, So Alive and Name.

They also performed a handful of tunes from last year’s release Miracle Pill, with the title track and the opener Indestructible decidedly punchier than the recorded versions.

It was a night of fine moments and efforts to give the show a bit of a party atmosphere – dropping hundreds of Blacks Balloons during…well, one of their songs – were certainly appreciated. They also dove way back into the catalogue to dig Fallin’ Down from Superstar Car Wash, for fans of the ‘I liked them before they were big’ persuasion.

But it wasn’t just the on-stage performers that make the night work. It is a very slick, well-organised operation with very little messing around in between songs. It just never seemed to stumble. One of the busiest folks of the night would likely be the spotlight operator following singer John Rzeznik across the stage.

Hate them if you want, but The Goo Goo Dolls’ founding members are well into their fifties and are hammering out accomplished sets from records that span a long and varied career. And they are not complacent; if each of their shows are similar to this, then it's clear they earn everything they get.

SETLIST:

Indestructible
Home
Slide
Miracle Pill
Here Is Gone
Big Machine
Smash
January Friend
Fallin' Down
Naked
Black Balloon
So Alive
Name
Fearless
Life's a Message
Bringing on the Light
Tattered Edge / You Should Be Happy
Stay With You

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Dizzy
Iris
Broadway
Autumn Leaves