The Goo Goo Dolls are back on the road in the U.S. supporting their ninth studio album, "Something for the Rest of Us."

The band's spring tour kicks off in Oxford, Miss. on Sunday and includes stops at the Gerhard Fieldhouse in Lewisburg and Thomas Fieldhouse in Lock Haven.

Members Johnny Rzeznik, Robby Takac and Mike Malinin have played together for about 15 years, which is weird to think about, Takac said. He reflected on the group's history during a phone interview from Buffalo, N.Y., where he and Rzeznik formed the group in 1986.

Back then, the group was still learning how to be a band and make music. Years of experience have refined their sound into hit songs like "Name," "Iris" and "Slide."

"I think we learn a little bit more about making records each time we go to make one," Takac said.

The band released their latest album last year. During production, singer and guitarist Johnny Rzeznik was inspired by some of the heavier global issues plaguing the country, including war and economic decline. The record reflects those issues, Takac said.

"Most of the time when you're writing for a record, you're writing about things that are going on around you," he said.

Takac, who used to sing most of the songs when the band first started, performs the lead vocals in two tracks on "Something for the Rest of Us." His vocal contribution gives the record a little more dimension, he said.

Takac said he's looking forward to the band's spring tour because a lot of the stops are college campuses, and the crowds that come to college shows know how to have fun. The best audiences are comprised of fans who seem engaged and who participate in the show, he said. The chemistry between the band and the audience is invigorating for performers.

"When that process starts to happen, I think that's where the energy comes from," he said. "It's the sparks that fly between two groups, the band and the fans."