Baltimore Maryland was on the train to go back in time. On this travel session we decided to go back to the days of rock and roll past and on the train ride we were accompanied by Collective Soul and 3 Doors Down.

Before the stop at the Mecu Pavillon in the inner harbor of Baltimore. Empire Extreme got to talk to Bassist Will Turpin  Of Collective Soul about the tour amongst other things.

EE: How’s the tour going with you and 3 Doors Down?

WT: It’s going good, it’s a great rock and roll package. We have been around those guys for a while so we are all good friends. The crowd is into it. They getting bigger and better and louder.

EE: How’s it feel being in the landmark of 20+ years of Collective Soul?

WT: Yeah looking back when we were young we didn’t think about that. We just focused on the next songs and next record. We did 4 albums in 5 years. We keep creating music we can’t help it. It’s what inspires us.

EE: Were you guys shocked when Shine blew up as big as it did?

WT: Shocked isn’t the word. We knew we were a good band and wanted to World to hear us. We didn’t spend that much time thinking about it, we just kept playing shows. We toured with Aerosmith and then doing Woodstock 94.

EE: I seen that you guys recorded in your fathers studio and he also has had some amazing artists record there throughout the years?

WT: Yeah it’s a smaller studios, but a lot of people around the Atlanta area know about it. Kansas Just recorded there. I finished my solo record there. That’s where we all met for Collective Soul.

EE: How’s the solo stuff differ from doing Collective Soul artistically?

WT: when I do the solo stuff, the piano is my forte, I love the bass but I always think of the piano as my main instrument. All the songs are about things I’ve experienced personally or have watched someone go through. It’s very therapeutic to find myself out of the Collective Soul realm.

Collective Soul opened up the show on what was a cool and cloudy day but eventually the thunderstorms and lightning came which the band had to get off stage for about 20 minutes or so before returning. CS opened up the setlist with Nows the Time Which is a new song. The band was energetic and fun to watch. Singer Ed Roland was great to see, you can tell he was having fun and enjoying the crowd and what he does. They brought the piano out for Shine which was one of the songs I was looking forward to seeing this night. The band also played December and Gel. This was my first time seeing Collective Soul and they didn’t disappoint. Such a great act and can’t wait to see them again when they come around next time.

3 Doors Down was the headliner and came out with the crowd all pumped up and ready for them. Opening up with Duck and Run, the crowd was in a frenzy. Singer Brad Arnold works the crowd like a pro. Throughout the setlist I knew a few songs I’ve always liked 3 Doors Down But was never a huge fan of theirs but I did know a few songs and overall I thought they did put on one hell of a show. Of course they played Kyrptonite which is the song that made them superstars.

I thought the show was amazing, other than the delay everything went smoothly and sounded amazing. Of course the rain came but it wouldn’t be a show at Mecu Pavillon of the rain wasn’t there.

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Ron

Ron has keen eye for new talent, a love for the underground, and a tremendous passion for music of any genera. You’ll probably bump into him at a horror convention or some seedy club checking out the next need-to-know band.

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