Inside moments of a dialog with Collective Soul’s Ed Roland, you study one thing.
He’s an Atlanta Falcons fan, and he’s an impulsive gambler.
The beginning of our chat on Dec. 16:
Johnny Kats: “Hey, Ed. Are you out right here but?”
Ed Roland: “No. However my brother, Dean is. He’s there for the Raiders-Falcons recreation tonight.”
J.Okay. “Ah! I’ll be there. I’m heading out proper after we discuss.”
E.R. “Actually? Let’s make a wager on it. I’ll take the Falcons. Who would you like (laughs)?”
J.Okay. “Effectively, I’ll must take the Raiders. We want the quantity.”
E.R. “I’ll discover it … Falcons minus 6½.”
J.Okay. “I’m in. Lock that in.”
E.R. “It is a nice solution to begin an interview, proper?”
J.Okay. “This has by no means occurred in my profession. However we’ve gotta do it. We’ve to do that. I’ve 6½, and also you’re going to owe me dinner.”
Outcomes of the wager, for many who haven’t dedicated the Raiders’ season log to reminiscence, is on the finish of this merchandise …
Soul to Venetian
The explanation Mr. Roland and I are tied collectively on this telephone chat, and this wager, is Collective Soul’s first appearances at The Venetian Theatre on Friday and Saturday.
The Roland brothers shaped the band in 1992. “Shine” was issued that 12 months, offered modestly, then turned a success on re-release in 1994, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard singles charts. Their self-titled, second album was their main break, spending 76 weeks on the Billboard album charts, going triple-platinum and continues to be the band’s highest-selling album.
“December”, “The World I Know”, and “The place the River Flows” all reached No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts.
Baptists, and $500
However lengthy earlier than that, Ed Roland visited Las Vegas when he was in Angie Bowie’s band. Angie was David Bowie’s spouse within the Seventies, and influenced Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust glam-rock persona. Angie Bowie wanted to maneuver from L.A. to Atlanta, the place Roland is from (therefore the Falcons’ devotion).
Roland opted to drive a van from Atlanta to Los Angeles, then lease a automobile for Angie and drive every little thing again to Las Vegas.
Because the subplot, Roland’s father was a Southern Baptist minister. Coincidentally, on the time the elder Roland was planning to be in Las Vegas for a Southern Baptist conference.
“So I bought out bass participant within the band on the time to experience on this Seventies, rock ‘n’ roll van all the best way to Las Vegas,” Roland says. “God, I’ll always remember it — the man’s title was Skip Godwin, our bassist — and we roll into Las Vegas to seek out my dad.”
There was no room booked for these two rockers, or for Roland’s household.
“Dad hadn’t reserved a room, so that they mentioned, ‘You’re right here for the Southern Baptist conference? 5-hundred bucks.’ I mentioned, ‘Dad, I’ve bought this,’ they usually checked out me and Skip, each of us with lengthy hair, trying like we seemed, and mentioned, ‘All proper, 75 bucks.’ And all of us bought rooms.”
As an epilogue, the fellows made it to L.A., however Angie Bowie wasn’t ready to depart city.
“She didn’t have her (stuff) collectively, so in spite of everything that we wound up being caught in L.A.,” Roland says. “True story. My life is crammed with these sorts of tales.”
A later Vegas journey
Roland’s most up-to-date journey to Las Vegas went much more easily than the Atlanta-to-L.A. saga. The complete Collective Soul crew hit a U2 present at Sphere in late 2023.
“We had completed touring and everybody within the band was going to go house, however I took them to the Sphere to see U2, and it was actually wonderful to share that have with them,” Roland says. “We’re a wierd rock ’n’ roll band. Not solely can we like one another, we love one another. We actually love one another’s firm, we discuss to one another, if not every day each different day. It’s a type of actually bizarre, rock ’n’ roll dynamics.”
Dinner’s on him
The results of the Dec. 16 tilt at Allegiant Stadium: Falcons 15, Raiders 9. The house staff lined the 6½ factors as I “hooked” my solution to dinner. Roland mentioned Tuesday, “I ought to have purchased the half-point from you!”
Nope. We will likely be eating throughout the band’s keep, at a restaurant named for a Las Vegas rock star (or, former mob legal professional and mayor). We’ll be straightforward to seek out. Our desk would be the loudest.
Might we suggest …
The subsequent Jazz Vegas Orchestra present is Wednesday night time at Vic’s Las Vegas. “Jazz on the Motion pictures” is the theme. That is an 18-piece, drive of nature that fills however doesn’t overpower Vic’s eating room. This outfit is previously often called the Jazz Outreach Initiative orchestra, shaped in 2020. The large band options A-plus gamers throughout the stage.
The present is offered on the third Wednesday of every month, two units of an hour apiece beginning at 7 p.m. Dinner cost is $65 for a alternative of 5 entrees, and a soup or salad. All proceeds go to the Jazz Outreach Initiative.
Cool Dangle(s) Alert
Clint Holmes returns to Myron’s on the Smith Middle at 7 p.m. Thursday, his “Icons Reimagined Half II” advancing the unique theme from final October. A Vegas icon himself, Holmes summons iconic artists, movies and Broadway musicals.
Similar night time, identical time, Kelly Clinton-Holmes hosts “The Sit In,” her rowdy selection present at The Composers Room at Historic Business Middle. This twin reserving for the husband-wife has occurred not less than as soon as earlier than. I keep in mind it effectively; I flipped a coin and wound up with …
John Katsilometes’ column runs every day within the A piece. His “PodKats!” podcast could be discovered at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Observe @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
