Collective Soul / Switchfoot / Jade Jackson @ St. Louis Music Park, St. Louis, MO

Words and photos by Duane Clawson

Collective Soul? Aren’t they the guys that sung, “Shine” and some other cool songs? The answer would be yes and yes! There are certain songs that show up on my Spotify playlist that are meant to be played at loud volumes! And almost every song I have favorited by Collective Soul deserves some extra love on the volume dial! But as much as I’ve always liked Collective Soul, I've had some reservations, could this band still deliver live 30 years later?

They say as a musician one of the toughest gigs is playing solo. Add to that the pressure opening for two well established touring bands. And just for good measure let’s say no one knows you or your songs. To say Jade Jackson took on this task like a pro would be a huge understatement! Armed with nothing more than a Fender Telecaster and her voice, Miss Jackson delivered a soulful opening! Those in attendance may have not known her songs but they did stop and notice her smooth cover of Springsteen’s, “Dancing In the Dark”. If you’d like a sample of the songs Jade has written her music can be found on most major music platforms.

As the sun was setting, casting a glow on the St. Louis Music Park stage, Switchfoot was about to provide the warmth! As if pre-planned by the rock gods, the band opened with the appropriate, “If the House Burns Down Tonight” from Where the Light Shines Through. The highlight of my time in the photo pit was hearing their take on the Beastie Boys’ classic, “Sabotage”. The crowd was treated when frontman Jon Foreman took the song to the audience, literally! He made his way to the cheap seats, providing fans in the back with a front row performance! Their set also included a stellar acoustic performance of “Hello Hurricane “.

With what I’ve heard from the first two acts, the table is set for killer show from Collective Soul! If I still had reservations on their ability to still perform, they soon faded as lead singer Ed Roland made one flashy entrance! Armed with an Elvisesque stage-presence and decked out in a pink-patterned suit, Roland commanded your attention! But he also appeared as a conscious band leader, letting the band Shine when necessary. The rest of the band may have been a step or two behind Roland in the beginning but by the opening notes of “Heavy", they were all back in line.

Even more impressive, the St. Louis show was only their third stop on a tour that will have performing through the latter part of September. Keeping with theme of great covers, Collective Soul did a righteous job of covering R.E.M.’s, “The One I Love”. The St. Louis faithful were also treated to some new music. “All Our Pieces” from the new album, Vibrating, is a forward-driving song that fits the classic Soul mold. And of course, this summer tour was not void of the classics, “Shine”, “December”, “Gel”, and “The World I Know” all found a place in the setlist. So you may ask, 'did Collective Soul still bring it?' The answer would be a resounding, “YES”, now more than ever! A big thanks to Collective Soul, Switchfoot, and Jade Jackson for allowing MTC MAG to be front and center!

Photos of the show are below:

Jade Jackson