Live At The Opera House, Toronto, ON (1995) – Sean Hampson’s Goo Experience, Part II

Today we complete a riveting cycle in relation to this blog’s best contributor, Mr. Sean Hampson. This is the second part of his Goo Experience, which also comes with a very important message.

Before continuing any further, make sure to read Part I for a better understanding of what will be discussed below.

When I started this blog, I had a good number of pretty rare Goo Goo Dolls releases to share with other fans from all over the world. Obviously, there are limits to both the amount of stuff one has, and within it, the parts which can be diffused online. Hence, I had accumulated a string of interesting material but, in the long run, I wouldn’t have lasted long in terms of posting consistency.

A few months after Temple Of Goo officially began, I was contacted by Sean, who expressed his desire to forward me his bootlegs. He recognized this blog as a convenient platform to share some amazing Goo material in his possession, something he had wanted to do for quite some time but didn’t have a proper channel through which doing it so. As a consequence, he did indeed prolong this blog’s release output by a lot.

I have exchanged music and opinions with him ever since, almost on a daily basis. It is obvious that Sean has been a marvelous source of amazing content for this blog, and has also helped shape the latter in the form you are enjoying it today. I am sure the vast majority of our users have at least five or six releases of his, and love them for both their rarity and quality.

If you have missed on any of the content he has been sharing, don’t forget to check his dedicated, long category page.

The concert he sent me today is the second part of his Goo Experience. That is why the post is titled the way it is. After having checked out the first part, you already know the sentimental importance these shows hold in his heart. This performance, which took place in Toronto, CANADA, on August 18th, 1995, is some sort of rite which, once concluded, transformed his interested for the Goo Goo Dolls into a more definite and radical passion for the band we celebrate here. A “mission accomplished”, like he wrote in the artwork posted below.

All good things come to an end.

Sadly, this is also his last contribution to the Temple Of Goo. A well cannot provide water indefinitely. Sean has shared, with love and respect, all of the Goo material in his possession. That does not mean we will not hear from him anymore in the future. The Temple Of Goo’s doors are always open for him, and for all of you. Whenever he has thoughts to share, music, videos, or anything else, all he needs to do his reach out and his messages will be relayed here. The same concept applies to you, as well. I hope you will be inspired by Sean’s actions, and will decide to also contribute to this little project by forwarding to us whatever you feel like is worth presenting here, and to the world.

Before I paste his comment about the release below, I will briefly talk about it. This is your typical “A Boy Named Goo” tour concert, with plenty of songs (21 in this case and slightly more than 60 minutes of music) mostly focused on their then-newest release and the previous effort. Quality-wise, it’s quite good. Obviously this was recorded as he and his friends were in the middle of a crowd, so don’t expect soundboard quality.

Below are the personalized covers he created for it. The inlay also includes the ticket for the concert. Quite cool. This, I believe, is his best cover work. Certainly better than any of the official bootlegs artwork I’ve seen so far.

Sean has done his part with honor, and I hope you will leave a comment here or on YouTube to thank him for his precious service. As far as I’m concerned, I officially and publicly thank him, and wish him all the best with his future endeavors.

Below is the message he sent along with the show:

Well the time has come to share what might be the last thing I have to offer with the Temple Of Goo. First and foremost thanks so much to the site for giving the bootlegs and stories a home. Hopefully everybody can enjoy them as much as I have over the years. Now on to the show.

So this show is three nights later after the night I sang with them. Still riding the high of the show in Hamilton, we went to the Toronto show with great expectations and we were not disappointed. We were shocked that they weren’t frisking people at the door, so we managed to sneak in the tape recorder to capture the show.

We had no idea if they play our power set again, but sure enough they did when they pulled out our letter. My best friend’s brother who is taping the show can be heard often throughout the bootleg and it always puts a smile on my face. Warts and all, it is what it is. It’s a moment my life that’s never going to get repeated.. the end to one of the greatest weeks of my life.

Sean Hampson

You can listen to the concert below. Download links are provided at the end of this post.

TRACK LISTING:

1. String Of Lies
2. Just The Way You Are
3. So Outta Line
4. Million Miles Away
5. Burnin’ Up
6. Fallin’ Down
7. Lucky Star
8. Cuz You’re Gone
9. There You Are
10. I’m Addicted
11. Up Yours
12. Hey
13. Long Way Down
14. Only One
15. Already There
16. Impersonality
17. Eyes Wide Open
18. Naked
19. Name
20. Girl Right Next To Me
21. Another Second Time Around

DOWNLOAD (Main Source)

DOWNLOAD (Mirror 1)