With the mellow songs of opening band Augustana still lingering in the audience’s ears, the lights go dark. Suddenly, the music begins as a mesmerizing pattern of strobe lights illuminate the stage. Then, with a flash of light, they appear — 21 years in the making.

Today’s Goo Goo Dolls certainly know how to make an entrance, and not just on stage. With the recent release of the band’s eighth album, Let Love In, they hit the road to play the classics and show that they haven’t lost their ability to move audiences with catchy lyrics and pop rock style.

The Buffalo, N.Y. band performed at the 9:30 Club on Monday to a sold-out crowd with the energy and enthusiasm of a teen pop band, even though the Dolls are each about 40 years old.

Alternative band Augustana opened for the Dolls, but could have headlined on their own. The band performed songs off their 2005 album Stars and Boulevards, ending their opening performance with an emotional rendition of “Boston” with lead singer Dan Layus on the piano.

But the highlight of the evening was obviously the Dolls themselves. Perhaps best known for radio-friendly songs like “Better Days” and “Iris,” the Goo Goo Dolls has much more to offer than just top 40 hits. The band began with “Dizzy,” setting the tone for the evening with their high energy, strong vocals and commanding stage presence. The Dolls moved around the entire stage, swaying to the beat of the music as lead singer Johnny Rzeznik sang each lyric: “Everything you are / Falls from the sky like a star / Everything you are / Whatever ever you want.”

It’s songs like these — “Dizzy” is from their chart-topping album Dizzy Up the Girl — that keep fans coming back for more. The members of the Goo Goo Dolls are well aware of the loyalty of their fans, and this concert was no exception: The Dolls actively engaged with the audience, asking fans to sing along, thanking the crowd and cracking jokes between bits. At one point during a rendition of “Broadway,” Rzeznik apologized to a female fan for making a joke about undressing her with his eyes.

But it was the music that the fans came to experience, and the Dolls did not disappoint. The band jumped right into classic Dolls songs like “Slide” and “Big Machine” then moved to pieces off their new album. All music is best performed live, but the Goo Goo Dolls went above and beyond, exciting fans with their strong percussions and creative guitar riffs.

The band also used the tour to promote the songs off their new album.

“I can’t make my mind up if I love this song or hate this song,” Rzeznik explained before playing “Can’t Let it Go.” By the roar of the crowd, the audience obviously approved.

The atmosphere of the show was at times dramatic. During “Iris,” for instance, the stage lights faded as the song wound down. Just as the audience grew quiet, the lights exploded on stage and the chorus picked up in a crescendo of guitar and bass.

The Dolls blended new and old, classic and fresh in over 20 songs. They gave a concert that would please any of fan of ’90s rock.

The encore was on a level all its own.

After finishing their scheduled tracks, the Goo Goo Dolls reappeared on stage with 9:30 Club owner Seth Hurwitz, who took the stage to play the drums for a cover of ACDC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long.”

“This guy’s the reason Washington’s had a music scene for the last 20 years,” Rzeznik said before playing.

And although they ended the concert with “Give a Little Bit,” the Goo Goo Dolls did more than that: They gave a whole lot to die-hard fans and occasional concert-goers alike.