Mid-July, 1997, Collective Soul was to play a show in Kansas City. I was so very excited about it…I LOVED their first two CDs and got tickets for the concert. Since they were scheduled to play one of the worst possible venues in KC (in my opinion), I wasn’t sure what to expect…but was hopeful. When the night came, I was truly blown away!
The band took the stage and Ed was having trouble with his earpiece (monitor) and they had to re-start a song, but the sound crew still couldn’t get it to work right. After a minute or so trying, Ed just tossed it and said the show was going on anyway. Now, I’m a singer, and I KNOW how hard it is to sing without a monitor (not to mention in a venue with HORRIBLE acoustics anyway!). So the fact that he not only attempted it, but also got the job done with NO sour notes at all (again, if there had been mistakes, I would have heard them, cause I have a pretty precisely trained ear)! In addition to Ed’s amazing vocal performance, I was impressed with the band’s overall musicianship! It was one of the best concerts I had ever attended (and yes, I’ve attended quite a few!).
The morning after the concert, I left KC at 6 am to see my (then) hubby in Kentucky. I actually stopped at a Kmart in St Louis to buy “Disciplined Breakdown” on the way!!! My kids and I were singing along with the tape before we reached our destination!
Sadly, shortly after, my cousin committed suicide. The entire family was devastated. So many questions about “what could I have done?” and all that. What a difficult time for us all! I was especially bothered by this loss, as I didn’t know for sure if he had made peace with God, though I had tried on several occasions to lead him to the cross.
Over the next year or so, I went through a deep depression. The only comfort I could find was “Disciplined Breakdown” and specifically the song “Maybe”. That tape was in the player in my van almost constantly for a year. I can’t begin to tell you what that album meant to me…and it’s still my favorite Collective Soul CD (and one of my all time favorite albums period!).
I could have written about other stories that have involved CS music, but this one really means a lot to me…and I just want the band to know that their work made a difference in my life!
If anyone reading this isn’t familiar with Collective Soul, I urge you to check them out on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/collective_soul
Or the official band website:
http://www.collectivesoul.com/news/
And if you are within 500 miles of someplace they’re playing this summer, you GOTTA check out CS in concert! If you enjoy great music performed live, these guys will not disappoint you!
http://www.collectivesoul.com/live/
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog!
Have a great day and Be Blessed!
Jennifer Phillips
phillipsjennie@hotmail.com
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