Live in Buffalo July 4th 2004
is a double-disc set chronicling
the Goo Goo Dolls
' hometown concert on Independence Day 2004. One disc has the CD audio version of the show, the other the DVD video. About after two-thirds of the show was over, a torrential downpour descended upon Buffalo, and the group played the final third of the concert -- which featured the big hit
"Iris,"
among other
Goo Goo
anthems -- totally drenched. This is about the most notable thing about the concert, which is otherwise a very professional show, capturing a band running through its repertoire cleanly and efficiently. Even when the rain comes down, the group manages to hold it together and sound like pros; if you're listening to the CD, it doesn't seem like the weather much effected them at all. On the other hand, the DVD illustrates just what a major storm the band weathered, and it makes for some impressive footage. Nevertheless, this is one strictly for the hardcore fans. [The DVD does contain band and engineer commentary for the show, and it's loose, silly, and a little rowdy -- but not too rowdy, since the label has bleeped out any profanity that's uttered during the course of the commentary.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine