A few weeks ago I chatted with Will Turpin of Collective Soul regarding their upcoming Tour and New Album. Will was very excited to be doing the interview with us and had a lot to say about what we can expect from Collective Soul and their return to the music scene and their devoted fans. They will be playing their album “Dosage” in it’s entirety, as well as some of their other hit songs during their show titled “An Evening With Collective Soul.”Broken Records: The first thing we want to know is what have you guys been up to for the past 2 years?
Will: We have played many festivals, weekend run-offs. About 20 shows each year. We have also been focusing on individual side projects in the last year. I put out a solo last October titled Lighthouse. Dean worked with a group called Magnets & Ghosts and Ed put together a group called the Sweet Tea Project.
BR: What can we expect from your new album?
W: It’s hard to say until it’s recorded. It has an eclectic sound, an array of tunes. As we are beginning to play with the sounds it is seeming to have a Rock & Roll spirit right now, actually a lot of rock in it. Right now we are really just gathering ideas and tunes. We hope to start recording in late summer, early fall. With the album being released in 2013. In a dream world December 2012 but the tour is keeping us from being full time in the studio.
BR: Do you have any expectations for this tour?
W: Yeah!! All the venues are great, we are really excited! Some of the songs we are going to play have never been played live before. It is really exciting to be able to do this. Some songs go back to 1998! These songs are the soundtrack to your life – takes you back to those memories of when they were written. We were all so young and living together in a house in Miami at the time, just having fun.
BR: You are playing your entire Dosage Album which was deeply loved by your fans. If you could say one thing to them about why they should come to the show, what would it be?
W: To have a great evening. Have fun and let loose!
Collective Soul's drummer and singer Ed Roland perform at the Toms River Fest July 2008 (photo by Scott Vollweiler)
BR: What made you guys choose to play the entire album rather than just a regular style show?
W: To try and be different. To give the fans and us something different. Other bands have done it, we are not the first, and it’s a fun idea. It’s a bit of a challenge as well and that’s fun.
BR: How excited are you to be back recording and on tour?
W: Really excited because it’s been 3 years. The wheels are spinning in my head on how to perform some of these songs that have never been played live before. We are expecting the crowds to be energetic and pumped up!
BR: How have you grown as a band in the past few years?
W: I have been in the band since 1994. It is interesting to be a part of something that has lasted so long. It embodies your whole persona. We have grown together through the years, it’s been a great evolution. Maturity hit at some point but we still feel like kids on the road. It’s amazing to be able to do this for a living. At 24 we burst on the scene in back in ’94 – we are still those kids!
BR: Are you all still the original members?
W: Joel, our lead guitarist has been with us for over 10 years. He is not our original guitarist but it feels like it.
We have a new drummer Johnny Rabb. It is exciting to work with a new musician on this tour. He is a great addition to Collective Soul.
It was wonderful to talk with Will and hear the excitement in his voice for their upcoming tour and album. If their new release is anything like Dosage it will be an automatic chart topper. The tour starts in May. This is one show you are not going to want to miss! Tour Dates Below:
VIP ticket sales are available at www.collectivesoulvipexperience.com
General ticket sales begin today, March 16. For ticket and concert information, please contact your local venue for more details.
May 11 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution
May 12 – Orlando, FL – House Of Blues
May 13 – North Myrtle Beach, SC – House Of Blues
May 15 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore
May 16 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
May 18 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
May 19 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom
May 20 – Albany, NY – The Egg
May 22 – Ridgefield, CT – The Ridgefield Playhouse
May 23 – Washington, DC – The Fillmore
May 25 – Huntington, NY – Paramount Theater
May 26 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony
May 27 – Atlantic City, NJ – Harrah’s Atlantic City
June 1 – Houston, TX – House Of Blues
June 2 – Austin, TX – La Zona Rosa
June 3 – Dallas, TX – House Of Blues
June 4 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballrooom
June 6 – Tempe, AZ – The Marquee
June 8 – Las Vegas, NV – Hard Rock
June 9 – San Diego, CA – House Of Blues
June 10 – Anaheim, CA – House Of Blues
June 12 – Hollywood, CA – House Of Blues
June 13 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
June 15 – Reno, NV – Silver Legacy Hotel
June 16 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theatre
June 17 – Seattle, WA – Neptune
June 19 – Salt Lake City, UT – In The Venue
June 20 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater
June 22 – Minneapolis, MN – The Brick
June 23 – Chicago, IL – House Of Blues
June 24 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrew’s Hall
June 26 – Cleveland, OH – House Of Blues
June 27 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
June 28 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
June 30 – Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Beach Casino
July 5 – Nashville, TN – Cannery Ballroom
July 7 – Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
