The Goo Goo Dolls: 2025 Summer Anthem Tour

August 19, 2025 – The Astro – La Vista, NE

It was a Tuesday night and The Astro in La Vista, Nebraska was the place to be as the Goo Goo Dolls brought their Summer Anthem Tour to town. The weather couldn’t have been better for an outdoor show—we luckily dodged the rain earlier in the day—and the energy was high from the start.

Dashboard Confessional kicked off the night. Formed in 1999 by lead singer and songwriter Chris Carrabba, Dashboard Confessional helped define the early 2000s emo and acoustic-rock scene. The band even won the MTV2 Award at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards for their song “Screaming Infidelities” and has been nominated for multiple awards throughout their career. Today, the lineup includes Chris Carrabba, Scott Schoenbeck, Armon Jay, Chris Kamrada, Kenny Bridges, Elijah Wood, and Abigail Kelly.

Carrabba looked and sounded great, and the band had fantastic chemistry on stage. There was plenty of playful banter with the crowd, and the energy was contagious. Dashboard Confessional currently has over 1.8 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and their latest single with Boys Like Girls, “Watch The Fire” (2024), is definitely worth checking out.

Dashboard Confessional Setlist:

The Best Deceptions
The Sharp Hint of New Tears
Southbound and Sinking
Saints and Sailors
State of America
Remember to Breathe
Stolen
Turpentine Chaser
Again I Go Unnoticed
No More Bad Days
Vindicated
Screaming Infidelities
The Swiss Army Romance

After a quick intermission, it was time for the Goo Goo Dolls. When longtime bandmates John Rzeznik and Robby Takac walked onto the stage, the crowd went absolutely crazy. The Goo Goo Dolls, formed in Buffalo, NY in 1986, are one of the most successful alternative rock bands of the past few decades. They’ve sold over 15 million records worldwide, earned four Grammy Award nominations, and had 19 top-ten singles on various charts. Their 1998 ballad “Iris” spent 18 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart and remains one of the most-played songs of all time on radio.

The band looked and sounded incredible. Rzeznik, in particular, was in a great mood, full of energy, and constantly chatting with the crowd between songs. They played all their biggest hits along with a few newer tracks from their newest album Summer Anthem. The stage production was on point, with lights and smoke effects that added an extra punch. One of the coolest moments came early in the set during “Black Balloon,” when huge black balloons were tossed out into the crowd, creating a perfect sing-along moment.

For me, the highlight of the night was when they played “Name.” It’s my favorite song of all time, and hearing it live never gets old.

I’ve seen the Goo Goo Dolls many times over the years, and somehow, they just keep getting better. This show was no exception. Both bands delivered fantastic performances, and it was an unforgettable night at The Astro.

The Goo Goo Dolls Setlist: