Collective Soul and Switchfoot Ensured the Wait for This Tour was Worth it With Vibrant Show Sunday in Saint Louis

 

–by Sean Derrick

 

It’s hard to believe Collective Soul has been together for 30 years now. It’s almost harder to believe their live show has gotten better over the years. But that was the case Sunday night at St. Louis Music Park in Maryland Heights as Collective Soul co-headlined a show with Switchfoot for a memorable evening.

I first saw Collective Soul play a powerful show back on July 21 1995 at Mississippi Nights. Fast forward 27 years later and they have grown so much as a live band.

Lead singer Ed Roland’s transformation in stage presence alone could be a subject of a TED Talk, but also his vocal strength and banter back and forth with the audience also has aged like a fine wine.

The rest of the band (founding members bassist Will Turpin and guitarist Dean Roland, along with drummer Johnny Rabb and lead guitarist Jesse Triplett) have found a chemistry that, for lack of a more appropriate term, just fits and produces a vivid live experience.

They kicked off their set with “Precious Declaration” from 1997’s “Disciplined Breakdown” before performing a new track, and their latest single “All Our Pieces” from their upcoming album

Vibrating drops August 12 from Fuzze-Flex Records. Roland made sure the crowd remembered that date with some witty interaction throughout the evening.

Roland, replete in a patterned pink suit, talked openly about his situation that gave light to, what he calls, the greatest divorce song ever in “Better Now” with lessons learned from living in his parent’s basement afterwards that helped shape him in the uplifting direction he has taken since then. It was a life lesson well learned that has flowed over into his live shows and the fans thank you for that.

Co-headliner Switchfoot had the difficult job of following a moving solo set from Jade Jackson, but did a magnificent job of getting the crowd up and lively from the start with “If the House Burns Down Tonight”, “Stars” and the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” where lead singer Jon Foreman racing into the crowd at the end of the song.

But he didn’t just go into the first few rows, no. He made his way straight to very back of the risers as the band played “Bull in a China Shop”.

The band (including bassist Tim Foreman, drummer Chad Butler, keyboardist/guitarist Jerome Fontamillas, and guitarist Boaz Roberts) thrilled the audience with “Dare You to Move”, “Meant to Live” and “Dark Horses”. “Dark Horses” has a special place in St. Louis fan’s hearts as it was the song associated with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team’s improbable run to the 2011 World Series title in 2011.

Foreman gushed about how much of an influence Collective Soul had on him getting started. He told stories about his friendship with Ed Roland and his generosity towards Jon. The tour had been in the works for 3 years but had to be pushed back to 2022 (Thanks Covid). Better late than never.

This was only the 3rd stop on the tour, that being said there are plenty of dates to catch on this tour. You do not want to let this one pass you by, Check out the full tour itinerary here 

The tour runs until September 24.

Be sure to check out the full gallery of photos from the show below after the setlists.

 

Collective Soul Setlist:

Precious Declaration

All Our Pieces

Heavy

Shine

Undone

Better Now

Bob Dylan Where are You Today

The World I Know

Right as Rain

December

The One I Love (R.E.M. cover)

Gel

Where the River Flows

Run

 

Switchfoot Setlist:

If the House Burns Down Tonight

Stars

Sabotage (Beastie Boys cover)

Bull in a China Shop

If I Were You

Where the Light Shines Through

Hello Hurricane (acoustic)

I Won’t Let You Go

Dark Horses

Fluorescent

Float

Where I Belong

Meant to Live

Dare You to Move