Welcome to North Coast Music Beat!
You'll find enticing reviews, unique interviews, amazing photos and an eye on new artists!

June 28, 2025

​

Collective Soul made their return to MGM's Center Stage after postponing their show from last fall.  They certainly made up for lost time by playing a fantastic sixteen song set that was sprinkled with new songs, classic hits and a few deep cuts.

​​

Lead singer Ed Roland and the boys opened up the show with "Mother's Love" from their latest release Here To Eternity and they were off and running.  The next song, "Heavy" got the nearly sold out crowd moving in their seats.  

​

In the middle of "Shine" Ed told a story of when he got a call telling him that the band was going to be signed to Atlantic Records.  He went back to playing basketball and a few minutes later, his mom said that a Steven was on the phone asking for him.  He picked up the phone and it was Steven Tyler asking him if Collective Soul would open up for Aerosmith for their 1994 summer tour.   The band then launched into a couple of verses of "Living On The Edge" to pay tribute to one of their favorite bands.

​

The band was clearly having fun on stage as smiles were  plastered on every band members faces throughout their set.  Roland even quipped, "We're having fun up here!"

This was especially evident when the band allowed the audience sing a couple of verses of songs like "The World I Know" and "December" with the group.

​

Back to back songs from their second album, "Gel" and "Where The River Flows" were played in succession before the band went into the show closing tune "Run."

​

During the last song, Ed Roland strapped on an acoustic guitar and one by one, each band member put down their instruments and let the crowd sing the chorus until the band exited the stage.

​

It was a very cool way to end the show.

​

​

Review and photos by Greg Drugan

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​