Concert Review: Better Days Begin Here, Goo Goo Dolls Lift Buffalo for FeedMore WNY

Standing shoulder to shoulder in the sold-out Town Ballroom show Thursday night, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. I felt the pride of the community coming together to raise money for FeedMore WNY charity, I felt the love that was in the venue, and the weight of the Goo Goo Dolls returning to their roots for an intimate show. For a Buffalo-based band that has multiple global hits and just played a sold-out show at KeyBank Arena (Buffalo Sabres arena) back in August, you knew that this was going to be a night full of laughter, tears, lost voices, and memories we will never forget.

Upon my arrival, I encountered a line stretching 450-500 people long. I anticipated a line 15 minutes before the doors opened, but I didn’t expect it to be that big. To my surprise, when the doors opened, the Town Ballroom staff worked fast and efficiently, getting everyone through in a timely manner. An hour after the doors, you could feel the energy levels start to rise from anticipation, and the room started to warm up from the crowd. By the time the Goo Goo Dolls launched onto the stage, the crowd had already erupted.

The Goo Goo Dolls opened with “Long Way Down,” a deep-cut classic and one of my favorite songs by them. I never thought I would hear the song that got me into the Goo Goo Dolls and opened my ears to a whole new world of music. I took a moment to let the emotions run through me and listen as the crowd sang the lyrics back. I did get teary because, without that song, I would have never found bands like Pennywise, Rise Against, and so many others. And when I didn’t think the crowd could get any louder, they played “Slide.”

The Goo Goo Dolls played an incredible 25-song set that had it all: the global hits like “Slide,” “Black Balloon,” “Name,” hits that resonate with Buffalo like “Broadway” and “Better Days,” and the deep cuts such as “Two Days in February” and “Dizzy” that span their career. The nearly two-hour set ended with none other than “Iris.” Hearing the crowd sing “Iris” back to The Goo Goo Dolls in an intimate venue is something I will never forget. I had chills running down my spine hearing the crowd at times sing louder than John.

Some of the most memorable moments of the night didn’t come from the perfection of The Goo Goo Dolls, but the imperfections. The little mistakes we heard in "Symphony" or in “Two Days in February" where John jokingly said “that was close enough” and laughed it off. Those moments in an intimate show make it feel much more personable.

Another unforgettable moment of the night was seeing how genuinely happy the band was while performing. John and Robby’s infectious smiles radiated love and pride throughout the room. Few performances can take a veteran band like The Goo Goo Dolls back to their beginnings and make them feel youthful again, but on Thursday, you saw it and felt it.

The show was amazing from beginning to end, but something even more remarkable occurred. In under two weeks, the Goo Goo Dolls, with assistance from Town Ballroom, managed to raise $150,000 for the FeedMore WNY charity.

For people who don’t know, this local nonprofit organization's mission is to provide hope and a brighter future by delivering nutritious foods to people facing food insecurity in Western New York. The FeedMore WNY charity distributes millions of pounds of food annually to nearly 300 hunger-relief partners such as pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens. But the organization does so much more than just deliver food; they offer education classes to teach people how to make healthy food choices and have a workforce development program called RISE, which provides job training and skills to those in need.

I don’t think it comes as a surprise that most Americans are facing difficulties. Personally, I am struggling, but when I look around, I realize I have a home, nutritious meals, a caring family, clothing, and much more, so I can't complain because it could be far worse. However, with so many Americans experiencing financial hardship, food banks have been hit on both ends. Fewer people can donate, and more people need assistance. This is where The Goo Goo Dolls and Town Ballroom decided to step up and make a difference.

I am still emotional thinking about how, in such a short time, the Goo Goo Dolls and Town Ballroom were able to come together and raise $150,000 for a charity that does so much good. It also goes to show what Buffalo is all about. Buffalo may not have the tall skylines like New York City or have Hollywood or oceanfront homes, but we are a blue-collar city that wears its heart on its sleeve and shows up when the community needs it.

The incredible night left us with numerous messages and reminders. Ultimately, even when the world seems cold, full of hate and anger, and you may feel like there is no hope or faith in humanity, remember this: love exists, you are loved, and there is hope. When you're feeling down, just look around; there are people who will help you back up. Always keep in mind: know hope.

While what The Goo Goo Dolls and Town Ballroom did was truly generous, yet there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. If you live in Western New York, please consider donating to FeedMore WNY at https://www.feedmorewny.org/donate/. If you live somewhere else, please consider donating to a local charity and supporting your community.

Thursday night was one I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. It was a powerful call to action, a beautiful act of kindness that united an entire community. There’s no better way to close this article than with the words of John Rzeznik from “Better Days”: "So take these words and sing out loud, ’cause everyone is forgiven now, ’cause tonight’s the night the world begins again.”