The Goo Goo Dolls brought their 2026 summer tour to The Venue at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California, delivering a career-spanning set that leaned heavily on the songs that turned the Buffalo band into one of the biggest alternative-rock success stories of the 1990s. With Neon Trees opening the night, the show had the feel of a nostalgic rock night without becoming a simple trip down memory lane.
The Goo Goo Dolls hit the stage around 9:10 p.m. and played for roughly an hour and 45 minutes. They opened with “Long Way Down,” immediately establishing that this was going to be more than a greatest-hits run-through. Songs from different periods of the band's career were mixed together, giving longtime fans plenty of deeper material while still delivering all the major crowd favorites.
“Slide” arrived early, followed by “Here Is Gone,” “Can't Let It Go,” “Bringing On the Light,” “Big Machine,” and “Miracle Pill.” The set moved comfortably between the band's alternative-rock roots and the polished sound that made them radio staples. “Black Balloon” was another major highlight, with the audience instantly recognizing one of the band's most enduring songs.
One of the more interesting surprises was “I'm Still Here (Jim's Theme),” the John Rzeznik solo song originally associated with the 1995 film Treasure Planet. It was an unusual choice compared with the standard Goo Goo Dolls hits, and its inclusion gave the set a little extra personality.
The acoustic portion provided a welcome change of pace. “Acoustic #3” and “Name” stripped things back and highlighted the songwriting that existed underneath the band's bigger production. “Name,” in particular, remains one of the most important songs in the group's history, marking the point when the Goo Goo Dolls moved from alternative-rock cult favorites into mainstream success.
The second half of the show picked the energy back up with “Naked,” “Lucky Star,” and a surprise cover of Neil Young's “Rockin' in the Free World.” The band then headed toward the finish with “Ocean,” “Life's a Message,” “Better Days,” and “Broadway.”
Naturally, there was only one way to close the night: “Iris.” The song remains the Goo Goo Dolls' defining moment, and the Thunder Valley crowd treated it accordingly. Even after nearly three decades, “Iris” still has the ability to turn an entire venue into one giant singalong.
The 2026 Thunder Valley performance showed why the Goo Goo Dolls have managed to maintain such a durable touring career. The band's catalog is deep enough to satisfy longtime fans while still containing a collection of enormous songs that casual listeners know instantly. Add in Neon Trees, a strong venue atmosphere, and a set that stretched from “Long Way Down” to “Iris,” and Thunder Valley got a solid snapshot of the Goo Goo Dolls at this stage of their career.
Setlist:
00:00 Intro
01:05 Long Way Down
05:17 Stay With You
09:15 Tattered Edge/You Should Be Happy
13:43 Slide
17:54 Here Is Gone
21:29 Can't Let It Go
24:53 Bringing On the Light
28:04 Big Machine
31:13 Miracle Pill
36:03 Black Balloon
41:36 I'm Still Here (Jim's Theme)
45:32 Home
50:01 Over and Over
55:24 Sympathy
58:35 Acoustic #3
1:03:07 Name
1:07:50 Not Goodbye
1:11:11 Naked
1:14:43 Lucky Star
1:17:52 Rockin’ in the Free World
1:22:11 Ocean
1:26:13 Life’s a Message
1:29:05 Better Days
1:32:34 Broadway
1:40:30 Iris