Liberated Magazine

Goo Goo Dolls Perform Their Summer Anthem for Sugar Land!

Goo Goo Dolls headlined a show at Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land, Tx on July 17th, 2025 with support from Dashboard Confessional on their Summer Anthem Tour! Dashboard Confessional opened with their highly energetic heartfelt set. Chris Carrabba’s voice remained effortlessly clear, drawing the audience into each lyric with uncanny intimacy. Their performance set the bar high. It was a connective…

Brandon Castaneda

July 22, 2025

1–2 minutes

Dashboard Confessional, Goo Goo Dolls, Houston, Smart Financial Centre, Sugar Land, Summer Anthem Tour, Texas

Goo Goo Dolls headlined a show at Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land, Tx on July 17th, 2025 with support from Dashboard Confessional on their Summer Anthem Tour!

Dashboard Confessional opened with their highly energetic heartfelt set. Chris Carrabba’s voice remained effortlessly clear, drawing the audience into each lyric with uncanny intimacy. Their performance set the bar high. It was a connective experience that electrified the evening from the very beginning.

Setlist:

The Best Deceptions
Southbound and Sinking
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 is an American rock band originating from Buffalo, New York and was formed in 1986. Their current lineup consists of guitarist/vocalist John Rzeznik, bassist/vocalist Robby Takac, guitarist/backing vocalist Brad Ferquist, keyboardist/guitarist/backing vocalist Jim McGorman, and drummer/percussionist Craig Macintyre.

Goo Goo Dolls delivered an expansive nearly two-hour long set, blending their classic hits such as “Slide,” “Black Balloon,” & “Name,” with selections from new material. Rzeznik’s vocals remained rich and resonant, especially on fan favorites. The newer music, while earnest, lacked the emotional resonance of their 90s-era hits. Not to take away from their performance. It just didn’t resonate the same.

Between songs Rzeznik delivered anecdotes and shared intimate interactions with the crowd, such as the moment he wore a fan’s tiara during “Miracle Pill“. Vocally, John Rzeznik still delivers arguably stronger than ever.

The band ended their emotionally charged set with their massive hit “Iris“. For longtime fans craving sentimental hits and a communal sing-along, the Summer Anthem tour offered plenty of heart!