Here we have an exclusive show coming from our best provider, Mr. Sean Hampson. This is the first publication of a personal Goo experience split into two parts. Make sure to read Sean’s message included in this post to better understand the context of it all.
First and foremost, don’t forget to check Sean’s dedicated category to keep track of all the material he’s sent us so far.
On August 14th, 1995, the Goo Goo Dolls played at the Volcano Club in Kitchener, ON (CANADA), a performance which was part of their 1995 summer tour to promote the release of the famous “A Boy Named Goo” album. Sean and a friend of his were there, and so was a recorder in their possession which captured this amazing concert.
Before I leave you to Sean’s write-up for the event, I will quickly talk about the show itself. In terms of set list, this is your typical “A Boy Named Goo” concert mainly focused on the then-last three albums. During those days, they usually played one or two songs from their first two records. This time, they decided not to. Also, they played no unrecorded covers in this occasion. Running time is around 60 minutes, for a total of 18 songs.
As far as audio quality is concerned, I’d say it’s overall quite good.
This is Part I of Sean’s Goo Experience, which he relishes a lot, and in a way has changed his life to a certain degree. Below is a write-up I asked him to pen in order to better describe what it was all about. As a side note, make sure to listen to the end of the last song. Furthermore, in the following message Sean also provides an insight into what concert the upcoming Part II will feature.
Don’t forget to thank Sean for his efforts to provide The Temple Of Goo (and consequently, You The Viewers) with the chance to enjoy such rare and unique material.
Here are his thoughts about Part I.
Day One: August 14, 1995 – Kitchener, Ontario
So here’s the deal with the Volcano show in Kitchener. As much as I love it, listening back to the bootleg we made that night bums me out a little. Not because the show wasn’t good…it was fantastic.
Three months earlier, at Lee’s Palace in Toronto, was the first time I had seen them. That was the show when I officially chose who was my go-to band. Expectations were high for the Kitchener show, and they did not disappoint. The part that bums me out is remembering, and now hearing, the rest of the audience. It was lifeless and not even half full. (Minus a few old school fans.) The awkward silence in between songs in front of a very unenthusiastic crowd is hard to listen to, and it must have been deflating for the band. I couldn’t understand why everyone wasn’t as excited as I was. “Why is everyone not freaking out during So Outta Line three songs in?”
I would have expected this in the early days, but this is when they were somewhat known while still trying to make a “Name” for themselves. The performance isn’t lacking, but you can tell they couldn’t wait to be fucking done with it. It was also at this show that I met them for the first time and I just assumed that everybody in the crowd was just as pumped as I was to see them. This was certainly not the case.
The Volcano Club was not a big place, so my friends and I situated ourselves near the back, seated in front of some of Johnny’s family who was there. (Nice and friendly too.) I remember we kept the recorder hidden at our feet, so we were definitely the loudest audience members there. We were thrilled with the show, but we had two more to look forward to that week. Little did my friend and I know what was going to happen the following night in Hamilton, which then concluded with the “Mission Accomplished” show at the Opera House in Toronto two days later. This show marks the beginning of one of the greatest weeks of my life, and I hope all the fans can appreciate it for what it is. And yes…the opera house show is coming!
Sean Hampson
Here are the personalized covers Sean created for the bootleg.
You can listen to the concert below. Download links are available at the end of this post.
TRACK LISTING:
- String Of Lies
- Just The Way You Are
- So Outta Line
- Million Miles Away
- Burnin’ Up
- Fallin’ Down
- Lucky Star
- Long Way Down
- Only One
- Already There
- Impersonality
- Eyes Wide Open
- Naked
- Name
- Girl Right Next To Me
- Another Second Time Around
- Stop The World
- Flat Top
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