Collective Soul, Switchfoot at the Jackson County Fair

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2022-08-10

Collective Soul at the Jackson County Fair by Anne Erickson

Collective Soul and Switchfoot put on an uplifting show at the Jackson County Fair

There’s no denying that the 90s were simply a great decade for music. On the rock side, you had grunge sounds from pioneers like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. Then, of course, there was the golden age of hip-hop, with a scene that really exploded from the mid-80s to the 90s.

In addition to rock and rap, there was also a melodic brand of alternative that didn’t quite match grunge but still rocked really hard. Collective Soul is one group that falls into the latter category, and the longtime band showcased their hits at the Jackson County Fair on Monday (August 8) for a thrilling show.

Christian rock band Switchfoot kicked off the evening around 7 p.m. The band broke out in 2003 with their crossover hit “Meant to Live,” which arrived on their album “The Beautiful Letdown.” Even as a Christian group, Switchfoot was able to attract a large audience, separating them from other contemporary faith-based artists.

Ever since “Meant to Live” broke, the San Diego band have continued to release new music and tours regularly, and it really shows in their live show. Frontman Jon Foreman and company put on a gripping and energetic show from start to finish, with Foreman even rushing through the crowd – all the way to the bleachers – to perform a handful of songs alongside audience members. One of the highlights of the night was when Switchfoot performed a ’90s medley of popular songs from the Beastie Boys, Weezer, Blur and The Verve. The band put their own twist on these classics but also stayed true to the originals, resulting in an electrifying and nostalgic performance. Another highlight was when Foreman got a Ukrainian singer to sing the song “Dare You to Move”.

Collective Soul took the stage around 9 p.m. and immediately caught the attention of the crowd. Kicking off the night with “Precious Declaration” and then launching into “All Our Pieces,” longtime frontman Ed Roland immediately grabbed the crowd’s attention. Roland is simply a charismatic leader, and it showed throughout the night, and the full band – rhythm guitarist Dean Roland, bassist Will Turpin, drummer Johnny Rabb and lead guitarist Jesse Triplett – the energy and passion to support it. The set brought all the hits, including “Shine,” “Heavy,” “December,” “World I Know” and “Run,” along with a handful of newer songs and a cover of “The One I Love” by REM. Roland is quite the showman, often talking to the crowd between songs and telling stories that kept the audience on the edge of their seat. In the end, Collective Soul brought a good night of familiar songs and new memories. See photos of Collective Soul and Switchfoot in Jackson, Michigan, below.