Show Review: Collective Soul at The Palace Theatre in Albany

Collective Soul w/ Plush opening at The Palace Theatre in Albany, NY on October 20, 2026

Collective Soul may have had their heyday in the 1990s, when alternative rock was all the rage, but they can absolutely still put on an energetic, inclusive, soulful show, as they did Tuesday night at the Palace Theatre in Albany, New York. The band, known for their meaty and precise guitar riff-driven songs, that dynamically shift from soft acoustic subtleties to explosive girthy hard-rock heavy hooks, with catchy radio-friendly choruses and a polished pop finish, consists of: Ed Roland (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), his brother Dean Roland (rhythm guitar), Will Turpin (bass guitar, backing vocals), Jesse Triplett (lead guitar, backing vocals), and Johnny Rabb (drums and backing vocals). Tristan Turpin (son of bassist Will Turpin) serves as the touring keyboardist.

The backline of amps were all outlined in lights, and the band’s logo (a vortex spiral with a downward arrow) could be seen on some guitars, the drum head, and the huge backdrop banner. The band’s walk on music was “Wicked Mind” by Mike Campbell and the Dirty Knobs, harkening to their southern roots and affinity for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (a consistent motif during the night’s performance). The band members took their places and began the opening number “Counting the Days,” before frontman Roland made his grand entrance, sauntering to center stage wearing a metallic black sparkling suit, white cowboy hat, and sunglasses. Roland can still deliver an impressive vocal and knows how to work the stage, the room, and the crowd, getting everyone to clap along, sing parts and refrains, and join together. Triplett proved his mettle, playing some intense and fiery solos during the night. The band roared through five songs including their mega-hit “Shine” (later covered by the late Dolly Parton) – with patrons shouting out the matter-of-fact “Yeahs” and the melodic “whoa-whoas” on cue – before Roland addressed the assembly: “My, oh, my. How we doin’ this evening? Thank you all so much for being here with us tonight, and for the past thirty years!”

All the big hard rock hits were there – “Heavy,” “Shine,” “Gel,” as well as the nuanced “The World I Know” and “December,” but the night’s surprising performances came from a string of newer material and deeper cuts midway through the hour-and-a-half long set. “Eye On You,” a catchy track from the band’s latest album Touch and Go, had an 80s David Bowie vocal and synth vibe with a bit of AC/DC thrown in. Roland announced, “We’re here for love, peace, and rock’n’roll. You’re going to be the congregation choir – tonight, you’re in the Church of Soul, baby!” before the band launched into “Keep It On Track” (with instrumentation reminiscent of Bowie’s “Heroes”), where he got everyone clapping and singing the “Oh, ohoh, oh” refrain.

Next came “Not The Same,” dedicated to one of the band’s biggest influences, Tom Petty, Roland asking rhetorically, “How does one honor Tom Petty?” and answering by quoting his brother: “By writing a song.” The band utilized acoustic guitar and slide guitars, giving the tune a rootsy Petty-esque feel with Roland delivering a Petty-inspired vocal as well. “She Said” followed, starting off stripped down with Triplett playing acoustic guitar and sharing Roland’s mic for the spot-on harmony part.

Roland walked off stage while the band kicked the instrumentation in, and returned strumming an acoustic guitar to join them. A memorable moment came when Roland asked, “Can anyone out there play guitar?” and called up an audience member named Kevin to play with them on “December,” giving him an acoustic guitar, showing him the chords, cuing him when to come in, and even cajoling him to the front of the stage alongside Triplett. He received a rousing heartfelt round of applause as he disembarked the stage afterward.

The Petty vibe continued with “Right As Rain,” with its similar rhythm and beat of Petty’s late 80s track “Jammin’ Me,” which led into their hard-driving rocker “Gel.” After proper band member introductions, they closed their set with the dreamy acoustic song, “Run,” a surprising choice, which led into an extended outro to end the night on a psychedelic vibe, Roland exclaiming “34 years – what a trip!” As the band left the stage, Tom Petty’s apt “Wildflowers” played over the PA to bookend the night on an encouraging note. https://collectivesoul.com/

Albany’s own Plush, an all-female hard rock power-trio with a big sound, opened the show with a quick set of high energy originals, promoting their latest album Mass Hysteria. The band that formed in 2020, consists of: Moriah Formica (lead vocals and guitar), who can certainly belt out a tune, pound out a power-chord and shred with the best of them, the towering Ashley Suppa (bass and vocals), who came out waving to the crowd clad in 70’s bellbottoms and platform heels, rocked out and sang lead on “Severance” (receiving a hug afterward from Formica), and drummer Faith Powell who kept the momentum going with her enthusiastic backbeats. https://plushrocks.net/

COLLECTIVE SOUL SETLIST:

Counting the Days

Heavy

Mother’s Love

Why, Pt. 2

Shine

Eye on You

Keep It on Track

Not the Same (Dedicated to Tom Petty)

She Said

The World I Know

December