Collective Soul Kicks Off Summer at Jersey Shore

May 31, 2023

Have you ever been to a concert that left you speechless? That was the result last Friday night in Red Bank, NJ. Collective Soul blew the roof off our Red Bank’s new venue, The Vogel. The band played a jam-packed 16-song set filled with fan favorites, unreleased material, and classics.

The Vogel is an industrial-type venue offering fans an intimate experience. You can get right up next to the stage, which creates a unique experience. It gives the feeling that you are watching the band play in your living room. There’s also plenty of seating on the second level, which opens up to the floor below.

Collective Soul kicked off the night with “Cut the Cord,” the latest hit from their album “Vibrating.” Lead guitarist Jesse Triplett started playing the intro to “Cut the Cord” backstage, which has a heavy bluesy feel to it. The band then walked out on stage and jumped directly into the song. After the opening riff, the song turns into a complete rock ‘n’ roll jam, led by Ed Roland’s fantastic vocals. Ed doesn’t miss a note while singing, all while moving around non-stop on stage. While holding the mic stand, he is throwing down every dance move imaginable.

Other highlights from the ever jam-packed setlist included the band’s most well-known single from the ’90s – “Shine.” This version of “Shine” was special. It started off as a normal tune until Ed Roland selected a young man from the front row to join the band on stage. He climbed his way up onto the stage and sang the rest of the song with the band. You could see the glow on his face and the overall excitement that he was sharing the stage with his favorite rockers. This is just one of the reasons why Collective Soul has become a favorite among their fans. The audience participation is bar none.

The night was filled with other great Collective Soul songs too. I was thrilled to hear them perform “Right as Rain,” “Compliment,” and “Why, Pt. 2.” The crowd in Red Bank also had the privilege of hearing two unreleased songs: “Let It Flow” and “Not the Same.” Ed Roland told the crowd they recorded both tunes earlier this year at Elvis Presley’s house in Palm Springs, California. While they were at Elvis’s house, Lisa Marie Presley passed away. The night of her passing, the ceiling collapsed in her old room – which happened to be the same room the band was using as their recording studio. Collective Soul recorded 22 songs while they were there and plan to release the next studio album in 2024, just in time for their 30th anniversary (since their first album).

Concertgoers were treated to a unique version of “Gel,” which featured drummer Johnny Rabb on vocals. Johnny fired up the crowd and Ed Roland sang along with him. Johnny’s drum tech, Cheney Brannon, played drums and didn’t miss a note. All good things have to come to an end. The last song of the night was “Run,” which is Collective Soul’s signature closing song. This version felt extended, and I was enjoying every minute of it. The band slowly left the stage and huddled off the side of the stage with tons of smiles and hugs, showing fans how much they love to play.

Collective Soul is a band you don’t want to miss if they’re in your neck of the woods. They put on a show full of energy and lots of fun. Did I mention it’s a 100% live rock ‘n’ roll show? Just the way it should be!