The Palomino stage at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival transformed into a wave of nostalgia on Sunday evening as the Goo Goo Dolls delivered a heartfelt, hit-packed set during their Stagecoach debut and, from what fans were excitedly sharing amongst each other, one of the most anticipated genre crossover performances of the weekend.
Frontman John Rzeznik wasted no time getting the crowd going, bouncing onto the stage with a quick “What’s up, people?” before going straight into “Stay With You.” The energy stayed high as they moved right into the sounds of “Slide,” with Rzeznik pausing to smile, saying, “I knew I liked you guys,” after hearing the crowd sing along.
As Stagecoach continues to embrace genre diversity more than ever this year — blending classic country, rock, and pop influences across its lineup — the Goo Goo Dolls’ set felt like a perfect reflection of that spirit. Most of the crowd gathered at Palomino were millennials and older Gen Z fans, many who grew up with the band’s late ‘90s and early 2000s hits, creating a sea of same-aged fans singing their hearts out to every word.
Bassist Robby Takac of the Goo Goo Dolls performs during the Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio on Sunday, April 27, 2025.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer) John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls performs during the Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio on Sunday, April 27, 2025.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer) John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls performs during the Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio on Sunday, April 27, 2025.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer) John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls performs during the Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio on Sunday, April 27, 2025.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer) The Goo Goo Dolls perform during the Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio on Sunday, April 27, 2025.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer) Show Caption1 of 5Bassist Robby Takac of the Goo Goo Dolls performs during the Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio on Sunday, April 27, 2025.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer) ExpandKeeping the momentum going, the band launched into “Here Is Gone” and “Miracle Pill,” before slowing things down to introduce “Name.” Reflecting on their early days, Rzeznik shared, “This is the first song we ever had that was quote-on-quote a hit,” and “thank you for keeping this band alive.”
Midway through, the Goo Goo Dolls elevated the emotional energy by bringing out a live string section — complete with violins and a cello — which accompanied the remainder of the performance, adding a nice, cinematic layer to hits like “Black Balloon” and beyond. “This is fun — there’s a lot of people who know us and some who don’t, but I hope we made you smile today. Take care of each other, alright,” Rzeznik said, earning cheers from the packed crowd.
One standout moment came with “Run All Night,” a standalone single released in 2023. Rzeznik, calling it an “orphan,” a song not attached to any album, thanked the audience for letting him share something deeply personal.
As the first piano notes of “Better Days” echoed across the festival grounds, Rzeznik laughingly shared, “Merry Christmas, everyone,” joking about the song’s longtime crossover into holiday playlists. And of course, they saved the biggest moment for last: “Well, we have to play this song otherwise we’d get killed,” Rzeznik said before launching into “Iris,” the massive 1998 ballad that had the entire crowd belting along.
At a festival built on country roots but increasingly celebrating crossover, the Goo Goo Dolls proved that timeless songwriting can find a home anywhere, even in the heart of the desert.
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