Collective Soul, Switchfoot at the Jackson County Fair - Review + Photos

Collective Soul, Switchfoot at the Jackson County Fair – Review + Photos

2022-08-10

Collective Soul at the Jackson County Fair by Anne Erickson

Collective Soul and Switchfoot brought an uplifting show to the Jackson County Fair

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

In addition to rock and rap, there was also a melodic brand of alternative that didn’t quite fit grunge but still rocked very hard. Collective Soul is one of the bands that fits into the latter category, and the longstanding group brought their staple of hits to the Jackson County Fair on Monday (Aug. 8) for a riveting show.

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

Since “Meant to Live” broke big, the San Diego band has continued to consistently release new music and tour, and that really shows in their live show. Frontman Jon Foreman and company put on a captivating, high-energy show from start to finish, with Foreman even running into the crowd – all the way back to the bleachers – to perform a handful of songs alongside audience members. One highlight 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 spin on these classics but also stayed true to the originals, which made for an electrifying, nostalgic performance. Another highlight was when Foreman brought up an Ukrainian singer to sing the song “Dare You to Move.”

Collective Soul took the stage around 9 p.m., and they instantly commanded attention from the crowd. Kicking off the night with “Precious Declaration” and then launching into “All Our Pieces,” longtime frontman Ed Roland instantly drew the attention of the crowd. Roland is simply a charismatic frontman, and that showed throughout the evening, and the full band – rhythm guitarist Dean Roland, bassist Will Turpin, drummer Johnny Rabb and lead guitarist Jesse Triplett – has the energy and passion to back him up. The set brought all the hits, including “Shine,” “Heavy,” “December,” “World I Know” and “Run,” as well as a handful of newer songs and a cover of R.E.M.’s “The One I Love.” Roland is quite the showman, often talking to the crowd between songs and telling stories that kept the audience at the edge of their seat. In the end, Collective Soul brought a feel-good night of familiar songs and new memories. View photos of both Collective Soul and Switchfoot in Jackson, Michigan, below.

Collective Soul at the Jackson County Fair by Anne Erickson

Collective Soul at the Jackson County Fair by Anne Erickson

Collective Soul at the Jackson County Fair by Anne Erickson

Collective Soul at the Jackson County Fair by Anne Erickson

Collective Soul at the Jackson County Fair by Anne Erickson

Collective Soul at the Jackson County Fair by Anne Erickson

Switchfoot at the Jackson County Fair by Anne Erickson

Switchfoot at the Jackson County Fair by Anne Erickson

Switchfoot at the Jackson County Fair by Anne Erickson

Switchfoot at the Jackson County Fair by Anne Erickson

Switchfoot at the Jackson County Fair by Anne Erickson

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.