On the night of Monday, February 24, Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre hosted two iconic bands best known from the early ’90s. With over 6,000 fans in attendance, Collective Soul and Our Lady Peace delivered an engaging and nostalgic performance in the city of Victoria.
Collective Soul was formed in Stockbridge, Georgia in 1992. On Monday night, over 30 years later, the band hit the stage in Victoria. Collective Soul released their first studio album on March 22, 1994, titled Hints and Allegations and Things Left Unsaid. This was the first of 12 studio albums for the band. During the same year, up north in Toronto, Ontario, alternative rock band Our Lady Peace was formed. Naveed also debuted on March 22, 1994 as Our Lady Peace’s first of 10 studio albums.
Considering how similar the band’s origins are, it was perfect that the two rock groups reunited after more than 30 years to perform 15 shows across Canada. Victoria has often been overlooked when compared to the lower mainland for artists and musicians stopping by British Columbia. Immediately upon arriving, I could feel the energy in the arena, and the excitement and anticipation of experiencing live music just minutes away from home.
As the lights dimmed and the crowd cheered, openers Collective Soul made their way onto the stage. The energy they brought was unmatched; the group performed beloved hits such as “Shine,” “The World I Know,” and “Heavy.” The band also paid tribute to two legendary bands of that inspired them: they covered “Livin’ on the Edge” by Aerosmith and “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” by AC/DC during their set. Collective Soul brought the strength, passion, and spirit of rock and roll into the arena. After finishing their set, the audience was left wanting more; just 20 minutes later, Our Lady Peace took the stage for their 30th anniversary.
Our Lady Peace made it clear right away that they were back and ready to remind us why they’re one of Canada’s most iconic alternative rock bands. Opening with their classic hit “Naveed,” the group quickly set the tone for the night, delivering a nostalgic yet fresh performance. Stunning visuals accompanied each song along with impressive lighting. The band performed hits such as “Innocent,” “Superman’s Dead,” “Clumsy,” and “Somewhere out There” and had the crowd singing every word.
A beautiful tribute to Canadian rock was showcased by vocalist Raine Maida by delivering an amazing performance of “Locked in the Trunk of a Car” by beloved Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip. Our Lady Peace raised awareness of mental-health issues during their live performance of “Whatever”—as the song wrapped, a graphic of suicide hotline numbers and services took over the screen.
As the concert was headed toward its end, Maida and Our Lady Peace reminded everyone what it meant to be Canadian, especially in times like this: being proud of where you come from, your culture, your voice, and your values. Music has a way of connecting people—for a moment everyone in that arena, no matter where they were from, was connected by good music, good company, and a good time.