There has been one group’s name going around campus this past week, and this time, it’s not an athletic team.
CAB announced on Monday night, during the Nelly’s Echo concert, that American alternative rock (alt-rock) band The Goo Goo Dolls will headline this year’s Spring Concert.
Now, I know what you are thinking. Who the heck are The Goo Goo Dolls?
While I’m not an expert on popular 90’s bands, I am one of the youngest of 11 cousins and siblings who grew up right in the middle of the 90’s. So, I’ve heard more than my fair share of the Grammy-nominated band.
If you have absolutely no idea who this band is, here are some things you should know before you decide if you want to see them in the Convocation Center:
- While the band got their start in 1986 in Buffalo, New York, their commercial success began with their 1992 album A Boy Named Goo
- Following the success of A Boy Named Goo, the band released Dizzy Up the Girl, featuring their most well-known song “Iris” (which you can listen to below). In fact, “Iris” is ranked #1 on Billboard’s “Top 100 Pop Songs 1992-2012” chart and was nominated for three different Grammy Awards in 1998.
- The band’s discography features a sizable 9 albums. Their 10th, Magnetic, is set to be released May 7th.
- The Goo Goo Dolls are made up of three members: lead vocalist and guitarist John Rzeznik, bass guitarist Robby Takac, and drummer Mike Malinin.
When I heard the news of the band coming to Buies Creek, I must admit I had mixed feelings. The Goo Goo Dolls is a little bit passed my generation of music. When my sister listened to “Sympathy” on repeat every afternoon while doing homework, I soon found my music interests elsewhere. Having said that, The Goo Goo Dolls have become a major influence in alt-rock music today, and while people may only know one or two songs now, they were able to create consistently catchy hits more often than their early 90’s counterparts. Not only did they gain popularity, they helped define the sound of an alt-rock power ballad, creating catchy tunes that would later define an era of the alt-rock genre.
My personal advice? If you can, listen to their well-known tracks. Take the time to get to know them, and just so you can say you didn’t miss anything, go and see them live this April. As a concert fanatic and someone with much respect for a band who contributed heavily to the sound of the 90’s, I will definitely be getting a ticket this year.
Written by: Emily McIntosh
PineBurr Blog 