The Summer Unity Tour with co-headliners Collective Soul and +LIVE+ light up Fiddlers Green Amphitheatre 8-19-2025

Terrell Stewart
Aug 21
4 min read

I have always enjoyed going to Fiddlers Green Amphitheatre for concerts, a great outdoor venue with the option to sit in seats or sprawl out on the lawn. I was looking forward to seeing Collective Soul again, always a great time with them. The band +LIVE+ was sharing the stage this evening along with Our Lady Peace. Both bands I was not familiar with. I know, where have I been!

Starting the night off was Our Lady Peace, an alternative rock band hailing from Toronto, Canada. They opened their set with “Superman's Dead” from their 1997 album Clumsy, instantly setting the tone for a night of high energy rock music to get up and move to. Their fans jumped and cheered to the song’s, “Clumsy” and “Somewhere Out There”. The lights danced across the stage through light fog as the band poured out their hearts through their music. They finished their short but energetic set with “Sound the Alarm” from the 2024 EP, OLP 30 Volume 1. Needless to say, I became a big fan.

Our Lady Peace members:

Raine Maida – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar (1992–present)

Duncan Coutts – bass, backing vocals (1995–present)

Steve Mazur – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (2002–present)

Jason Pierce – drums, percussion (2016–present; touring member 2014–2016)

Set List:

Superman's Dead

Whatever

Innocent

Clumsy

Somewhere Out There

Starseed

Sound the Alarm

The stage was set and the large video screen in back of the stage lit up as +LIVE+ made their way out to a cheering crowd as lead singer Ed Kowalczyk with guitar in hand took to the mic and the band stepped back in time opening their set with “Pain Lies on the Riverside” from the 1991 album, Mental Jewelry and the energy poured out from the stage and their fans soaked it up like sponge. With the lights dancing through the fog, the video screen displaying different works of art +LIVE+ had their fans on their feet and moving. Ed Kowalczyk’s power vocals filled the venue backed by very strong musicians that added their stage presence to the energy filling the venue. Guitarist Zak Loy displayed his talent as his fingers worked their magic, moving about the stage and at times pouring out his vocals.

The set list was a journey back in time with songs from the 1994 album Throwing Copper, “All Over You”, “Iris”, “Shit Towne”.

Bassist Chris Heerlein was fun to capture as he moved back and forth under the lights and fog as the video screen was cycling through surreal and evocative works of art.

+LIVE+ finished out their set with “Lakini’s Juice” from 1997’s album, Secret Samadhi.

A short breather and the band returned for a powerful three song encore with, “Turn My Head” from 1997, “I Alone” and “Lighting Crashes” from 1994. Taking their bows the crowd roared with approval for a powerful show and I was along with them.

+LIVE+ members:

Ed Kowalczyk – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1989–2009, 2016–present)

Touring musicians

Zak Loy – lead guitar, backing vocals (2022–present), rhythm guitar (2016–2022)

Chris Heerlein – bass (2022–present)

Johnny Radelat – drums (2024–present)

Nick Jay – keyboards (2024–present)

Set List:

Pain Lies on the Riverside 1991

Selling the Drama 1994

All Over You 1994

Iris 1994

Lady Bhang (She Got Me Rollin')

The Distance 1999

Shit Towne 1994

The Dolphin's Cry 1999

Leave the Radio On

Rattlesnake 1997

Lakini's Juice 1997

Encore

Turn My Head 1997

I Alone 1994

Lighting Crashes 1994

It was Collective Soul’s turn to keep the nostalgic evening of music going. The members of the band except ED came out and formed up in front of drummer Johnny Rabb as they began the opening to the song, "Mother’s Love” from their 2024 album, Here to Eternity to start their set. Ed wasn’t far from behind as he sauntered out in a greenish blue outfit, wearing a cowboy hat, big black rimmed glasses and walking with a cane. As I have seen before, ED takes the mic and they move together.

The musical journey through time began with “Heavy” from 1999 and then the song we all want to hear, “Shine” which always gets a loud cheer from their fans. A stage hand walked out and handed ED his guitar and Ed turned to brother Dean taking his hat off and putting on Dean’s head while Ed put the guitar strap over his head. From there the trip through time continued with songs, “Precious Declaration” from 1997, “The World I Know” from1995. Throughout their set, Ed would stroll around and dance a little and guitarist Jesse Triplett and Dean Roland would get together and work their magic with big smiles on their faces.

Collective Soul closed out their evening with “Where the River Flows” from 1995 and “Run” from 1998. This was such a fun show because there was no mention of politics or what's going on in the world. It was all about the music. No encore just ED thanking everyone and stating, God Bless you and God Bless America.