Summer Unity Tour with Collective Soul, +Live+, and Our Lady Peace rocks Pinewood Bowl
Collective Soul plays to the crowd Thursday night, Aug. 21, at Pinewood Bowl. Photo credit: @thatonemitchkid
By Mitch West
On a hot and humid Summer night, the Summer Unity Tour made their 25th stop on the 30 date tour delivering an electrifying night of alternative rock nostalgia and high-energy performances, drawing fans from across the Midwest for a memorable summer concert experience and Pinewood Bowl Thursday night. The lineup blended '90s grunge influences with timeless anthems, making this tour a must see. Collective Soul, +Live+ brought their signature intensity, and special guest Our Lady Peace starting the night off as crowds were coming in. It was an evening that gave fans a journey through decades of chart-topping hits and heartfelt lyrics.
Our Lady Peace
Kicking off the night, special guest Our Lady Peace brought their distinctive Canadian alternative rock vibe to eager fans reminiscing about '90s rock band histories and live performances. Formed in Toronto in 1992 by lead vocalist Raine Maida and his bandmates, Our Lady Peace quickly rose to fame with their debut album "Naveed" in 1994, featuring breakout singles like the title track that showcased their blend of post-grunge edge and introspective lyrics. Over the years, they've evolved through eight studio albums, including the multi-platinum "Clumsy" (1997) with hits such as "Superman's Dead" and the title track, solidifying their status as one of Canada's most enduring rock acts.
Their set was short but sweet. "That's what I'm talking about, a little Nebraska love!" Raine Maida said to the crowd after the first two songs. Our Lady Peace gave a great performance with powerful messaging highlighting the importance of taking care of your mental health now more than ever. Maida talked to the crowd about how the band didn't play their song "Whatever" for a number of years following the tragic events that unfolded with professional wrestler Chris Benoit. The band re-recorded the track and now proceeds from the song go to those struggling. It was an impactful story that hit home not only for Maida, but also for everyone in the bowl. Thursday night's set included "Sound The Alarm" off 2024's "OLP 30 Volume 1," "Superman's Dead" off 1997's album "Clumsy," "Is Anybody Home?" from 1999's "Happiness...Is Not a Fish That You Can Catch," along with "Whatever (Redux Version)," which was the re-recorded version of "Whatever" from 2002, "All You Did Was Save My Life" off 2009's "Burn Burn" album, "Somewhere Out There" off 2002's "Gravity" and "Starseed" off 1994's album "Naveed."
Live takes the stage at Pinewood Bowl on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2024. Photo credit: @thatonemitchkid
+Live+
Taking the stage next was Live, who kept the rock going, carrying the night forward with their powerful alternative rock sound that brought everyone to their feet, evoking memories of '90s rock concert experiences and band evolutions that have captivated generations. Hailing from York, Pennsylvania, and originally formed in 1984 as a high school band called Public Affection before rebranding to Live in 1989, the group exploded onto the scene with their 1991 debut "Mental Jewelry" and achieved massive success with "Throwing Copper" (1994), which spawned iconic tracks like "Lightning Crashes," "I Alone" and "Selling the Drama." Despite lineup changes and a hiatus in the 2000s, Live reformed in 2016, continuing to tour and release new music.
As someone who has listened to their music for years, I had never witnessed them perform. It was a great time, reminding those in the house not only where they've been but to some degree that they're just getting started, especially with doing more dates in Nebraska. Fingers crossed they keep coming back to rock more often! Their set list included "Pain Lies on The Riverside" from 1991's "Mental Jewelry," "Lady Bhang (She Got Me Rollin')" released in 2024, "The Distance," "The Dolphins Cry" off of 1999's "The Distance To Here," their new song "Leave the Radio On" and classics like "Rattlesnake," "Lakini's Juice," "Turn My Head" off 1997's album "Secret Samadhi," "Shit Towne," "Selling the Drama," "All Over You," "I Alone," "Iris" and "Lightning Crashes" off 1994's album "Throwing Copper."
Ed Roland of Collective Soul plays to a large crowd at Pinewood Bowl on Aug. 21. Photo credit: @thatonemitchkid
Collective Soul
Closing out the night was Collective Soul, who delivered a powerhouse set that highlighted their enduring legacy in the post-grunge and alternative rock scenes. Seeing Collective Soul through the years has only continued to prove that they know their music, they know how to put on a show and most importantly, they know their fans. Founded in Stockbridge, Georgia, in 1992 by brothers Ed and Dean Roland along with their initial lineup, the band burst into the spotlight with their 1993 debut album "Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid," propelled by the smash hit "Shine" that dominated rock radio. Building on that momentum, albums like their self-titled 1995 release featuring "December" and "The World I Know" cemented their multi-platinum status, with the group navigating lineup shifts while consistently touring and releasing new material up to their latest works — a true testament to their staying power. It was a full house Thursday night and somehow the group hit every note, choosing the right songs to play from their catalog. One of my personal highlights was hearing their extended version of "Shine," letting the crowd sing the words with just the drums keeping the cadence. It was magical. Set list: "Mother's Love" off 2024's "Here to Eternity," "Heavy" off of 1999's "Dosage" album, "Right As Rain" off of 2019's album "Blood," "Shine" off 1994's "Hints, Allegations & Things Left Unsaid," "Precious Declaration" off 1997's "Disciplined Breakdown," "December," "Gel," "Where The River Flows" and "The World I Know" off 1995's self-titled album, and "She Said," "Tremble" and "Run" off of 1999's "Dosage" album.
There aren't many dates left on the Summer Unity Tour. Following Thursday night's show in Lincoln, the tour makes just five more stops, which include Albertville, Alabama, on Aug. 23; Simpsonville, South Carolina, on Aug. 26; Charlotte, North Carolina, on Aug. 28; and ending Aug. 29 in Grantville, Pennsylvania. If you haven't done so already, check out our interview earlier this year with Collective Soul's Dean Roland, where we talked about their origins, latest record and their future. The band will be releasing their new documentary soon entitled "Give Me a Word: The Collective Soul Story." Be sure to check out the trailer here and, as always, make sure to stay up to date with everything Gallery Space Media by following us on social media and subscribing to our newsletter!
