Photos and review by: Jason Robey
CHARLOTTE, NC — On a balmy North Carolina evening, a wave of nostalgia and melodic punch flooded the arena as three cornerstone ’90s rock bands took fans on a charged journey through golden era of alternative rock.
Our Lady Peace wasted no time stirring the crowd to life. Frontman Raine Maida’s emotive vocals soared atop razor sharp guitar riffs and rhythmic pulses. Tracks like “Starseed” and “Superman’s Dead” drove the crowd into a dancing frenzy, while newer material threaded seamlessly into the set, showing the band’s continued evolution. Despite their short set length, their passion-filled delivery and magnetic performance captured the audience’s attention from their very first note.
Live brought their unique brand of alt-rock into full view. Kicking off with the opening track of their debut album, “Pain Lies On the Riverside,” they wove through favorites from the contemplation of “Selling the Drama” to the guitar-heavy “Lakini’s Juice.” Each song radiating frontman Ed Kowalczyk’s trademark raw emotion. Kowalczyk’s vocal reach and intensity commanded attention, while the band’s dynamic interplay of graceful rhythms and soaring choruses laid out an immersive sonic journey. The soon-to-be-released new song “Leave the Radio On” was a surprising highlight, combining a fresh musical experience with nostalgic emotion. Their set felt like a heartfelt conversation with the audience, serving a reminder of why their music resonates so deeply even decades after its release.
When Collective Soul took the stage, the atmosphere shifted instantly with waves of cheers rolling across the venue. The band tore into “Mother’s Love,” the opening track from their latest album, Here to Eternity. The rest of the night spanned a 30+ year career, touching on newer material with “Right As Rain” and “Keep It On Track,” while running through a plethora of the arena-rock anthems that defined their presence in the 90s like “Shine” and “Gel.” The magic of brothers, and founding members, Ed and Dean Roland glowed brightly on stage for the hour and a half set, bringing it all to a head, closing with the shimmering ballad “Run.”
fuelthescene.com 