NASHVILLE |FROM: MARCEE RONDAN/TODD BRODGINSKI
COLLECTIVE SOUL
ALBUM SALES OF THEIR INDIE ‘YOUTH’ ALBUM NOW APPROACHING 200,000 COPIES
ALBUM SPAWNS SECOND HIT SINGLE, “BETTER NOW”
Indie and proud of it, COLLECTIVE SOUL are closing in on sales of 200,000 with their sixth studio album YOUTH, released on the band’s own El Music Group. Following the top 5 success of “Counting The Days” on the Mainstream Rock chart, the band’s new single “Better Now” had a Top 5 chart position on Triple A radio and is currently surging into the Top Ten on the Hot AC chart. With pointed lyrics by frontman ED ROLAND like “The world’s done shaking me down” and shot through with tough guitar riffs, “Better Now” embodies the band’s fierce independence and creative rejuvenation.
With over 10 million records sold, 2000 live shows performed and seven #1 singles, COLLECTIVE SOUL began on an independent label with their debut album HINTS, ALLEGATIONS AND THINGS LEFT UNSAID, later released by Atlantic Records in 1994 and achieving triple-platinum status. For COLLECTIVE SOUL–founders ED ROLAND (vocals/guitars/keyboards), DEAN ROLAND (guitars) and WILL TURPIN (bass/percussion) along with JOEL KOSCHE (guitars) and RYAN HOYLE (drums)–the decision to return to an independent label was “an entirely conscious one,” says ED.
Since the release of YOUTH, COLLECTIVE SOUL have continued to tour America, performing shows highlighted by their pure rock energy and inspired songcraft, not to mention their deep connection with their fans.
Next on tap for COLLECTIVE SOUL: the early 2006 release of a CD and DVD of their April 23 and 24 Atlanta hometown performances with the Atlanta Youth Symphony on their El Music Group. This orchestral musical setting enabled the band to reinterpret such COLLECTIVE SOUL classics as “Shine,” “December,” “The World I Know” and “Precious Declaration”–all songs that the group now has the rights to re-record and give new life to.
Enjoying this newfound liberty, the group recently went into the studio to record FROM THE GROUND UP, an eight-song acoustic EP with new versions of both previous hits and songs from YOUTH. “We put some twists and turns on a couple of songs and even a few demos that had been put away,” says ED. “We’ve been reminded of how fortunate and blessed we’ve been through our career and how excited we are for the future.” Released in May on El Music Group, FROM THE GROUND UP features four tracks from Youth, plus their hit “December” from COLLECTIVE SOUL, “Compliment” from DOSAGE and the previously unreleased track “Youth.”
COLLECTIVE SOUL took a four-year break after their 2001 release 7even Year Itch, wrote songs, spent time with their families and took control of their musical and professional affairs, and that newfound energy translates into the music on Youth. “I want people to feel the good energy, the good place that we are in,” says DEAN ROLAND. “I think a lot of the songs represent that.” The group worked to regain ownership of their songwriting, forming their own El Music label in the process. “Let the word out/I gotta get it out/Whoa, I’m feeling better now,” ED ROLAND proclaims in “Better Now.”
Confirmed COLLECTIVE SOUL dates are as follows, with more to come (check out www.collectivesoul.com for up-to-the-minute info).
DATE CITY VENUE
Sat 7/16 Beloit, WI Beloit Riverfest
Sun 7/17 St. Joseph, MI Venetian Festival
Fri 7/22 Kingsport, TN Funfest
Sat 7/23 Hammond, IN Festival of the Lakes
Sun 7/24 East Quogue, NY Neptune’s Beach
Tue 7/26 Agoura Hills, CA Canyon Club
Wed 7/27 Long Beach, CA Vault 350
Fri 7/29 Salt Lake City, UT In The Venue
Sat 7/30 Englewood, CO Coors Amphitheatre
Tue 8/2 Wausau, WI Wisconsin Valley Fair
Sat 8/6 Canton, OH Stark County Fairgrounds
Sun 8/7 Sacramento, CA Discovery Park
Fri 8/12 Johnson City, NY Magic City Music
Sat 8/13 Danbury, CT Ives Concert Park
Sun 8/14 Gilford, NH Meadowbrook
Wed 8/17 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Theatre
Tue 8/23 Dallas, TX West End
Thu 8/25 Oshkosh, WI Riverside Park
Sat 8/27 Toronto, ONT Molson Show
Sun 8/28 Pueblo, CO Colorado State Fair
Sat 9/3 N. Tonawanda, NY Gateway Park
Sun 9/4 Naperville, IL Naperville Last Fling
Fri 9/9 Kahului, HI Maui Arts & Cultural
Center
Sat 9/10 Kailua Kona, HI Kona Brewing Company
Sun 9/11 Honolulu, HI Pipeline Café & Sports Bar
Sun 9/25 Springfield, MA Eastern States Expo
Sat 10/22 Las Vegas, NV Desert Breeze Skate Park
Sat11/5 Atlanta, GA Roxy Theatre
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