In the thirty-plus years of their existence, Collective Soul has managed to produce more than a few hits and they were on full display as their tour with Rubikon came to the Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, PA.

 

The Wind Creek Event Center is part of a casino complex built on the site of the former Bethlehem Steel foundry and incorporates much of the original industrial equipment.   Plenty of free parking and a large selection of restaurants are available. Upon entering the venue, you encounter a cavernous black space more like an oversized gymnasium than a theatre. However, the stage is raised enough that everyone has a good view and the acoustics are surprisingly good.

 

Rubikon hit the stage promptly at 8:15 and played an inspired set. From Boston, they bill themselves as being founded by a southern man and three northerners. The southern man definitely comes through in the music as there is a strong feel of Molly Hatchet and Lynyrd Skynyrd, and they carry on a hint of the southern rock tradition. They play a solid set of straightforward Rock. If you put an eye patch on singer Jae Sims, you would have a Snake Pliskin look alike and there is no doubt, he and everyone else on the stage is enjoying themselves. The guitarist and the bass player dance together and play off of each other while the drummer keeps pace. By the end of the set, the crowd was on their feet as t-shirts were thrown to them. Jae told everyone to join him at the merch booth as he left the stage and walked through the crowd to get there. 

A quick changeover brought up Collective Soul. As the lights dimmed, Depeche Mode’s, ‘I Feel You’ played as their walk-up music. A spotlight shined on the drummer as he started the beat and the hits began to flow.

Collective Soul has been around since 1992 with very little turnover. Three of the five members have been there since the beginning and the remaining two about ten years each. If you think that lead singer Ed Roland and guitarist Dean Roland being brothers has anything to do with their tenure, just look at The Kinks. To remain a group for that long, everyone clearly has to enjoy themselves and that comes through in their performance. 

Casino shows can be a bit tough as the casino loves to have tickets to give away and not everyone attending is there for the band. Some are there because they got a free seat.  That was not the case here. As Collective Soul began their set, the audience stood up and remained that way for the rest of the night,  singing along with every song. Ed Roland came out in what looked like a lavishly embroidered blue velvet coat, his long platinum hair flowing down his back, and started to sing. No fog, no lasers, no fireworks.  They don’t need any of that as the catalogue of music stands for itself. 

 

As each song is played, there is a reaction of WOW I remember this one too. The entire show is like a greatest hits album and there is little room for anything new. While you might know the title to each song as it is played it instantly comes back; ‘Shine’, ‘Gel’, ‘The World I Know’, ‘December’, ’Precious Declaration’, and ‘Where The River Flows’.  It’s a wonder they found the time to play a couple of new songs, a driving heavier ‘Mother’s Love’ and an uplifting lighter ‘Not The Same’. All of this is masterfully executed, but wait there’s more. These guys are no stranger to doing covers if they find a good song. In the past they have covered Pink Floyd, Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC and The Cure among others and on this night it was R.E.M.’s turn. A fairly faithful version of ‘The One I Love’ was a definite crowd pleaser.  

The tour will continue through October in various locations and there are even a few shows in New Zealand come January.  Also in February, from the 22nd through the 26th they will be playing The Royal Caribbean Rock Legends cruise and they definitely fit the bill.  

 

WRITTEN BY MATTHEW KOCHEK

PHOTOS BY KIM HANSEN @PHARMADIVER

 

Collective Soul set list:

Cut The Cord

Heavy

Right As Rain

Compliment

Shine

Mother’s Love

Not The Same

Precious Declaration

Better Now

The World I Know

December

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

Why, Part 2

Gel

Where The River Flows

Run