Review: Matchbox Twenty and Goo Goo Dolls Tour

Local Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox Twenty fans were amped at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion last night (July 30).

The show kicked off with opener Kate Earl, who fastened fans’ seatbelts for a rock out summery night in Houston. From “Fly Away” to “California,” the singer engraved her name in the back of minds blown. Earl provided a gentle atmosphere during her 30-minute stretch of pre-show poppy rock tunes, as fans grabbed their knick-knacks and headed to their seats.

The banner dropped and Goo Goo Dolls stormed the stage triggering a circulation of whews and yeahs around the pavillion. From “Iris” to “Bringing On The Light,” the band worked their way through a set spanning the length of their career.

The Goo Goo Dolls vanished, and anxiety began.

Fan jitters came to a halt when Matchbox Twenty hit the stage at approximately 9:27. The band explored the boundaries of memory, with throwback tracks “How Far We’ve Come,” “3:00,” and “Unwell,” sending currents of energy soaring back to the lawn of the venue. The band mixed in raw sounds like “Our Song,” the latest single off their recently released album North.