The sound of Collective Soul comes live to Akwesasne

The rock band Collective Soul stopped in Akwesasne last Wednesday with their massive tour bus that has already traveled around the United States. Fans of the band were immediately aware of the band’s arrival early Saturday as their enormous home-on-the-road sat in front of the All-Inn Lounge – their venue that evening.

The band faced a few obstacles that day, from their meeting with local police who warned them they wouldn’t be patrolling the concert that night, to the one-hour delay in concert start time. One band member was also feeling under the weather but took the stage with his bandmates as planned.

In the band’s dressing room, tables of food and drinks were available for the performers, and the band spent a few minutes relaxing backstage.

The band and their manager had more questions for Indian Time then Indian Time had for them.

“What’s the difference between the front section and the back section out there?”

“Will the people get out of their seats?”

“What’s the REAL name of this town we’re in?”

When the band took the stage, the fans were ready. They walked out one by one, sending a wave to their fans before taking their spot behind the drums or at a microphone.

Collective Soul brought a party-loving rock crowd to All-Inn – a far cry from the mellow, country-loving Randy Travis fans who last filled the concert hall. Collective Soul’s hit songs like “Shine” and “December” climbed to the top of charts in the early 90s but the band has continued to make new music.

Their latest album “Afterword”, released last summer, features a softer rock sound then their previous harder rock records. The band attributes the change in music to a change in lifestyle, as they’ve settled down into serious relationships and marriages.

Akwesasne fans were ready and waiting to hear both the old familiar songs and the style of songs. “Hollywood” is a fan-favorite nationwide and was a hit at All-Inn as well.