The last time we saw Collective Soul was about 4 yrs ago and they were great, but some shows are just magical; the audience is more vocal and animated.. the venue is perfection, and the band lets loose and has fun instead of seeking technical perfection.. thus was the PNE Summer Nights concert featuring Collective Soul.
Taking the stage just after sunset, the band looked out to a packed house flanked on all sides by the lights and sounds of the PNE’s Playland rides, while the audience was treated to a very large stage with fantastic lighting, a piano and drum kit on high riser at the back. Two big screen tv’s positioned on either side of the stage ensured that even those in the very back corners of the amphitheatre got a close up and personal view of the band’s goings ons all evening.
Read our candid interview with Collective Soul’s first/original drummer Shane Evans on drug addiction, getting clean and sober, and reconnecting with the other band members.
Resplendent in rose colored glasses and top hat, Ed Roland took the stage first, coming out to the very front with arms raised to gauge the crowd’s reaction.. judging by his grin, we responded better than anticipated. The rest of the band joined Roland; brother Dean on guitar, Will Turpin on bass, Johnny Rabb on drums, and Jesse Triplett on lead guitar and the show was on.
Collective Soul traditionally sings their hits, so it was a great surprise to have the band open with one of their new songs, ‘Observation’, off their newest album Blood. Following up with ‘Heavy’ and ‘Why Pt 2’, the show started off guitar heavy and rocking. What better way to get people off their butts and out of their seats! After all, who ever heard of a rock show sitting down! ‘Shine’ was next on the list and the audience jumped in with singing the first chorus to the point of Ed Roland taking his ear monitor out on one side to listen, and egg us on louder, louder, “I can’t hear you!”.
‘Better Now’, and ‘December’ followed up and they invited Robin Wilson of the Gin Blossoms back on stage for an REM cover. ‘The World I Know’ had some of the fans up front holding up cell phones (instead of lighters) and Dean Roland noticed, smiled, and tapped his heart at the song’s end in acknowledgement. One of my personal favorite Collective Soul songs and always appreciative when I can experience it live.
‘Gel’ was introduced by Ed Roland as the song that was needed at home in Georgia more desperately now than ever (and everywhere else) – and that all we need to do is listen, learn and love in order to respect each other despite our religious, political or personal beliefs.. Roland talked about how every band member on stage held a different religious belief but they all listened and loved each other, and hence had respect for each other.. it was a message well received.
‘Where the River Flows’ brought in the heaviest Collective Soul guitar riff and it sounded oh-so good.. and then it was time to say goodnight – as the strains to ‘Run’ began the audience could sense it was the last song.. and at the very end, Ed Roland again addressed the audience thanking Vancouver for being their second home, always making them feel welcome and wanted, and as we sang them off the stage, Roland was so moved, he literally grabbed Dean Roland and Turpin by the arms, dragging them back on stage with Rabb and Triplett following, in order to stand in a line and take a bow as a band, and look at us all one last time before heading off into the wings.
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*side note.. I purchased Blood before leaving, listened to half of it on the way home and all I can say so far is – this is the guitar heavy, lyric driven, questioning, world observing Collective Soul of old… go out and get it!
I am a HUGE Collective Soul fan and wasn’t blown away by this concert. The sound quality was poor for reasons unknown. And as it was a dual line-up with the Gin Blossoms, CS only played for 75 minutes. They cut 4 songs out of their set including Now’s the Time from their new album which is the namesake of the tour! Ed’s voice was a bit shaky as they had been touring for some time, which added to the muddy sound. Any day I can see CS in concert is a GOOD day, but this was not one of their better performances unfortunately.
all good points! The last CS show we saw was in Kelowna a few years back and they were at the tail end of a very long tour.. technically good.. .. but that show was all you are describing here: Ed’s voice was shot, the band was tired and as it was in an arena that was only using about 1/4 of the space, the sound was really bad with echo depending on where you stood.. so for me this PNE show was a considerable breath of fresh air. Best CS shows so far bar none, were the Commodore shows back to back during the Olympics