BY ROBYN SIDERSKY

After 25 years cranking out catchy pop-rock melodies, The Goo Goo Dolls are on the road again, promoting their latest album, "Something for the Rest of Us."

Released in August, it is the band's ninth album.

Lead singer John Rzeznik said he wrote the songs after the banking crash, but thinks it might have been premature.

"I sort of wanted to talk about those issues but I think it was a little too early," he said. "It seems like those things are starting to get noticed now."

With the Occupy Wall Street protests swelling to cities around the country, the album is timely.

Rzeznik said he regards those protesters the same way he sees the tea party protesters.

"They're mad as hell and don't want to take it anymore," he said.

Not all of his music has a political undertone.

Popular songs like "Iris," "Slide," "Black Balloon" and "Name" resonated with fans throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

Rzeznik said he often hears people say how much they relate to his music.

"That's a real gratifying moment," he said. "Just to be there in some sort of small way when somebody needs something to comfort them. That's a great thing about writing songs."

Rzeznik said he draws inspiration from everywhere.

"Sometimes I'll jot down lyrics and sort of build from there," he said. "I take inspiration from wherever I can get it--things I read, see on TV, people I see, people I meet."

The band stopped at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville yesterday and will be in Richmond at The National on Nov. 7.

The tour will take the band around the country over the next few months. For New Year's Eve, they'll play at Caesar's in Atlantic City, N.J.

Rzeznik said he enjoys playing really big shows the most.

"The best show to play is one that's sold-out," he said.

And selling out shows shouldn't be a problem for the band.

Over the years, the Goo Goo Dolls have racked up four Grammy nominations, 13 consecutive top-10 hit songs and have sold more than 10 million albums.

In 2008, Rzeznik received the Hal David Starlight award and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

After 25 years, the band shows no signs of slowing down.

Rzeznik said touring is what he loves doing.

"The thing I like most about touring is getting up in front of people," he said.

And with the recipe for success that Rzeznik has created with the Goo Goo Dolls, he should always have an audience willing to listen.