Since 1994 I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with Will Taupin, bassist and backing vocalist, with the Georgia-based, five-piece band Collective Soul. But 2024 is a special year for this group in that it marks their 30th year together as well as their latest album (a double one, in fact) “Here To Eternity,” which came out on May 17. And, to top it all off, they are currently on tour with Hootie & the Blowfish and will be rolling into Bangor’s Maine Savings Amphitheater on June 14. Back in April (on the 16th, to be exact) Taupin called me from his home in Atlanta, Georgia, to fill me in on all that’s happening with his group.

Q: I have all 15 of your albums and there are so many aspects to your music that deserve mention, for example, every one of those releases is loaded with hooks that keep the songs exciting and unforgettable.
A: Oh, thanks man. You know what, I’ve been doing a lot of interviews and looking back now at 30 years, and it doesn’t sound comfortable saying ‘30 years’ (chuckle) — but we were young and we kind of grew up with a little bit of studio acumen. Ed (Roland) was headed to my father’s studio and had really worked on his song-crafting and songwriting, and we all came from a little bit of a professional acumen of serving the song, and the strength of the song is where everything is. We knew that at a young age and we wanted Collective Soul to be known for its music, so we take every individual song and we try to serve the song the best way possible and ultimately we’re trying to pull things out of thin air that we think sounds really cool.

Q: However you do it, just keep it up, that’s all I can ask, and the fact that you haven’t repeated yourselves musically over those 30 years is amazing.
A: Yeah, I think that’s part of it, where we’re taking it song per song and seeing where each song can explore its own little space.

Q: And there’s that originality aspect to what you do that is exciting, as well.
A: Well, it’s western harmony — there are 12 notes in an octave and rock and roll’s been around for a while so, in some form or fashion, it’s kind of all been done, but you want to sound original and you want to sound like your own band, you’re your own idea and own vision, and I think that’s one of the strengths of Collective Soul.

Q: You got that right, for sure! Are you out on tour now?
A: No, the tour basically kicks off the last weekend in May and then it’s all the way through the beginning of October.

Q: Is it a co-headlining split with Hootie?
A: No, we’re second every time so we’ve got a 60-minute set which is a fun challenge, we get to play earlier and be done in 60 minutes, but we also have got to figure out a way to get in some of the bangers, get some of the new stuff, and then we have to make sure that the ups and the downs, and the ebbs and flows all work together properly for a 60-minute set.

Q: I’ve gone to concerts where the openers had 25- to 40-minute sets, so an hour sounds like a luxury, but then again, looking at all the albums you have out now, picking material for that hour has to be challenging.
A: Well, it’s kind of fun, it’s like a good quandary to have, really. It’s fun because everybody could have a totally different opinion, they might be just as correct as the other person because there are just so many options with our repertoire. There’s a lot of options, a lot of ways you can go, but I think it’s a good thing and we enjoy playing live.

Q: What’s the bottom line when all is said and done?
A: We stick to a general skeleton frame, we might change a song or two but we’re going to stick to the same outline the whole summer. And, man, we have fun because we also don’t feel we have to play the exact same parts every night.

Q: How so?
A: We’re going to play the same song but we have fun with each other, playing some different riffs and playing some different things, so we have fun with the live scene. And like you said, as far as picking out the set list, to me that’s just a good problem to have and I try to have fun with it.

Q: Having seen you guys perform live as well as your two DVD concerts, that stage camaraderie is infectious and when you consider that the five of you have been together for 30 years, well, that’s unheard of nowadays.
A: Hootie’s with us and that’s pretty ironic, and Edwin McCain, as well, because you’re talking about a tour that comprises three bands from the south that met each other in 1994, 30 years ago, and we were all, ironically, signed to Atlantic Records. So it’s a pretty landmark, watermark, type tour because all of us have known each other this long.

Q: Will, is there anything that you’d like to pass on to the folks reading this article?
A: Well, I always tell people that we do enjoy playing live and we call it a celebration of life at this point, so let’s get together, celebrate the memories and the songs that are attached to those memories. Let’s get out and celebrate life together!

 

Lucky Clark, a 2018 “Keeping the Blues Alive” Award winner, has spent more than 50 years writing about good music and the people who make it. He can be reached at luckyc@myfairpoint.net if you have any questions, comments or suggestions.

Copy the Story Link

Comments are not available on this story.

« Previous

On Music: Phillip-Michael Scales talks about upcoming opening for Keb’ Mo’

Next »

On Music: Gerry Criscenzo talks about Bob Seger tribute band’s return to Madison June 28