- Goo Goo Dolls w/Neon Trees
- 08/06/2026 - BMO Harris Pavilion - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- ©Justin Nuoffer
A gorgeous day along Lake Michigan had the city of Milwaukee busier than ever. The walking trails along the water were full of picnickers and joggers. The sun’s rays were bright and warming, and the liveliness of the area was welcoming. The revitalized area around the Summerfest grounds was filled with restaurants and small shops. It was alive.
The entrance to the Summerfest grounds had lines pushing back into the roundabout in front of the box office. Once allowed to enter, the lines quickly moved through the security checks and into the courtyard area, which is completely open all the way up to BMO Harris Pavilion, sitting next to the massive American Family Amphitheater. Both open-air structures have a lot of fanfare surrounding them. Their revitalization was key to this portion of the lakefront’s rebirth as an entertainment district.
Walking up to the pavilion, the amphitheater is to the right, but to the left, the beautiful views of the lake and downtown immediately grab your attention. The cool breeze flowing through the air was its own character this evening as the stage opened toward the lake with simply a netting setup. On each side, large screens projected the show for those in general admission standing at the top of the setup. Below, 12 sections of seating filled up quickly as Neon Trees took to the stage and watched the sun set in front of them and behind the crowd. This moment was everything great about living in the Midwest and Wisconsin.
Neon Trees stood on the pavilion stage, basking in the waning sunlight, and with a simple kick drum hit, they opened the evening with “Songs I Can’t Listen To,” “Nights,” and “Recover.” That smooth and easy alt-rock sound they produce flowed over the entire venue. The band’s happy-go-lucky demeanor was instantly embraced by the Milwaukee crowd. They jumped to their feet and started singing along, especially when the band followed the opening songs with “Animal,” one of their biggest hits. At one point, vocalist Tyler Glenn took the time to crack a joke about the passing of time. He said, “When I was 22, I never thought I’d be 42 and in these fucking skinny jeans. Tiiiight.” The eruption of laughter set the tone for the rest of the night.
Glenn moved and danced around his mic stand as he belted out the words that made Neon Trees a household name throughout the 2010s. His sunglasses captured the sun’s glowing rays, and the reflection held the faces of the crowd. With songs like “1983,” “Secret,” and “Bad Dream,” the middle of the set was a plethora of good feelings. Drummer Elaine Bradley joined Glenn in belting out lyrics about love, life, and difficulties. Their pop sensibilities mixed indie rock and new wave to perfection, which made their cover of The Human League‘s “Don’t You Want Me?” all that much more fun. The small variations made it their own, and the crowd loved it.
Check out the Neon Trees concert photo gallery here:
Heading into the back half of their set, “Papercuts” and “Sleeping With a Friend” raised the energy one more time, and Neon Trees danced and bounced around the golden-lit stage. The waning sunlight added to the backdrop of the illuminated city skyline. Whether you were familiar with their songs or not, your body moved along with the beat, and to close out their time, they finished with “New Best Friend” and “Everybody Talks.” Neon Trees were at the top of their game.
As the lines for beverages and entrance into the seating areas moved smoothly, the lights running above the standing-room areas slowly began to turn on. The small bulbs illuminated the grounds, keeping that warm feeling as the cool lake air blew across the small amphitheater. Chants of “Goo Goo Dolls” rang out, and the stage lighting dimmed. The anxious crowd was on its feet, awaiting the band’s arrival. You couldn’t help but feel good inside. You knew the music and where you were in your life when you heard it. That is the impact the band made throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s.
As the Goo Goo Dolls took to the stage, the roar from the crowd was deafening. Fans around the seating bowl had their hands up in the air as the Goo Goo Dolls kicked into an opening run of “Over and Over,” “Dizzy,” and “Slide.” The energy was off the charts. Frontman John Rzeznik was armed with his acoustic and a voice that has transcended decades. Since 1985, he has written and created songs that have brought together generations, and the attendees proved that. With Gen Z and Alphas coming out in droves, the music has been passed down, and they’ve taken to the songs that struck the heartstrings of those before them.
The Goo Goo Dolls came out hot but took time to speak about the city, saying they drove around and took in the sights and even went to the Brewers game. The crowd erupted when Rzeznik mentioned that two Brewers were in the house at the soundboard. Christian Yelich and Brice Turang laughed and applauded. Rzeznik did say one very notable thing that sent the happiness and joy already established into the stratosphere. He said, “You have a beautiful city and don’t let those fuckers from California come here and ruin it.” Within an instant, he grasped the pride Wisconsinites have for their home state.
The commentary loosened the vibe even more, and off the rest of the night went. Robby Takac, to Rzeznik’s left, is his longtime writing partner and collaborator. These two are the Goo Goo Dolls, and with that track record between them, they offered up an array of pre-2002 tracks that molded the band into what they are today. Songs like “Fallin’ Down,” “Big Machine,” and “Long Way Down” offered a taste of their rock flair without losing any of the poppier edge they created with “Black Balloon,” which was used as a transition point. The release of actual black balloons from the pit had the crowd reaching skyward, trying to push them along. As the band playfully bounced around the stage, they performed a song that became one of the iconic tracks of the late ’90s.
The middle of the band’s set was another mixture of their long history, starting with “Nothing Lasts Forever” and “Miracle Pill” from their more recent releases. The crowd’s enthusiasm continued to soar, and the Goo Goo Dolls ate it up. It was obvious they appreciated every second. As they moved into an acoustic and stripped-down section, their attention to detail was impressive. The lighting moved with the artists but isolated Rzeznik for the acoustic renditions of “Sympathy” and “Name.” Those songs have a lasting impact on everyone, and hearing the entire seating bowl singing along once again drove home how significant their career has been.
Oddly, it felt as if the evening sped up once the whole band came back on stage and kicked in as a unit. The song selection was so impressive and had something for everyone, as the back end of the night carried songs like “Run All Night,” “Stay With You,” “Let Love In,” and “Ocean.”
The Goo Goo Dolls were clearly appreciative of all the love that the Milwaukee crowd poured on them. The smiles and complimentary comments between songs really said it all, but heading into the final run is when it kicked in that they have another home here in Wisconsin. Starting with “Better Days,” the lead single off 2006’s Let Love In, the album was successful and certified gold, so the fanfare around it was no surprise to anyone. Still, it was a fantastic buildup to the two mammoth hits that everyone on Earth knew were coming.
Check out the Goo Goo Dolls concert photo gallery here:
Dizzy Up the Girl was a massive success that went five times platinum. Its release was part of that late ’90s run of radio rock that forever sang to millennials and now their children. Rzeznik and Takac knew they had the audience in the palms of their hands and allowed the crowd’s voices to sing over them as they dished out “Broadway.” Not a single soul was seated, and the standing-room area all the way down into the general admission areas had fans dancing. However, with no encore break, Rzeznik quickly took to the microphone to say, “You know we have to play this,” then went right into the acoustic introduction to “Iris” under a lone spotlight. The song that made them a household name once again mesmerized as BMO Harris Pavilion lit up under a sea of cell phone lights and screens held up by fans trying to capture and enjoy the moment.
Whether you went for a night out, nostalgia, or simply a love of the Goo Goo Dolls, this evening had a little bit of everything for everyone. With the perfect backdrop and that unmistakable love of summer evenings, you couldn’t have asked for more.
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