Collective Soul began what many of its fans hope is a tradition last year: It launched its first-ever multinight engagement in Las Vegas. The band had played multinight engagements in other cities, but its debut at The Venetian Theatre—a venue that’s been very good to other legacy acts like Styx, Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire—was something truly special. And the success of the run has the entire band looking forward to its return.
Looking forward is something Collective Soul has always done, save for anniversary tours like 2024’s celebration of three decades since the band struck pay dirt with sleeper single “Shine.” That tour was also in support of Here to Eternity, a 20-track double album recorded in Elvis Presley’s Palm Springs residence.
If there was a rock act that qualifies as a working-man’s band, Collective Soul is it. Rhythm guitarist Dean Roland and older brother Ed Roland got the band back in action as soon as COVID restrictions lifted and logged many miles on tours, both solo and with Hootie & the Blowfish.
“We always look at this as an opportunity we got 30 years ago. We love what we do,” Roland told Las Vegas Magazine prior to the start of its run at The Venetian Resort. “We just try to stay active and appreciate the fact that we get to play music for a living.”
Music has been a blessing for the Roland brothers since they grew up in a household headed by a Baptist minister in an Atlanta suburb. Ed, older by eight years, attended Berklee College of Music and soaked up the sounds of then-popular bands such as The Cars before returning home and working at a recording studio.
It was there Ed slowly made a demo with scraps of audio tape cut from other bands’ sessions, a recording that would include “Shine.” The song made waves independently and was subsequently championed by Orlando rock station WJRR.
“We had our moments of being morons when we were younger, just doing rock ’n’ roll stuff, but we always tried to respect the fact … to take it serious. We wanted a career,” Roland said. Mission accomplished.
The Venetian Resort, 8:30 p.m. Feb. 4-7, starting at $60 plus tax and fee. ticketmaster.com
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