Hootie and the Blowfish, Collective Soul, and Edwin McCain played the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA July 16th. The Summer Camp with Trucks is Hootie and the Blowfish’s first tour since their Group Therapy tour with Barenaked Ladies in 2019 which had been the group’s first full tour in a decade. Their last L.A. area show took place at the Troubadour in November 2019 and prior to that in June they played the Hollywood Bowl. The tour began May 30th in Dallas, TX. This ultimate 90’s tour was full of hits kicking off with Edwin McCain performing with a guitarist and sax/synth player. McCain played short set including “Darwin’s Children,” “I Could Not Ask for More,” and “I’ll Be,” but would return later in the evening.
Collective Soul played a nine-song set. Last year marked 30 years since the band’s debut album Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid. Collective Soul consists of founders and brothers Ed (Lead vocals) and Dean Roland (rhythm guitar). Will Turpin became the second bassist in 1994, Johnny Rabb has been the drummer since 2012, and lead guitarist Jesse Triplett joined the band in 2014. This lineup has released four albums together, most recently Here to Eternity released this year. The fourth song of the set was “Shine” which won an Ascap Pop Music Award, BMI Pop Award, and Billboard Music Award. The next song “The World I Know,” also won a BMI Pop Award. McCain joined in for a cover of AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.” The second to last song “December” had won both a BMI Pop Award and Billboard Music Award. Their set ended with “Run.”
Hootie and the Blowfish released their number one and 2x-Diamond certified debut album 30 years ago Cracked Rear View and their last tour was 25 years since the release. Back in 2019 they released Imperfect Circle, their first release since 2005. Their second album Fairweather Johnson also hit number one and was certified 3x-Platinum. Since 1986 the band has been Darius Rucker (Lead Vocals), Mark Bryan (Lead Guitar), and Dean Felber (bass). Jim Sonefield became the drummer in 1989 after original drummer Brantley Smith. Since 1995 Gary Greene has been the tour percussionist, Garry Murray (banjo, mandolin, fiddle) has been touring with the group since 2019, and keyboardist Lee Turner has been a touring member first playing shows in 2021. Between 1995-1996 the group was awarded Best New Artist at both the VMAs and Grammys as well as favorite Pop/Rock Artist at the AMAs. Rucker first released a solo album in 2002, but 2008’s Learn to Live would be his country debut and Rucker has had a very successful solo career since. Hootie and the Blowfish had disbanded in 2008, but would begin playing shows again in 2011 mostly just a few shows in Charleston, SC Rucker’s hometown and the band was formed in Columbia, SC.
Hootie and the Blowfish played a set of 22-songs over 90 minutes composed of a mix of their hits, covers, and a Rucker solo hit. From their own catalog Hootie and the Blowfish performed a number of hits like “Hold My Hand,” I Will Wait,” and “Let Her Cry.” In the middle of the set for a few songs the four members came out to the end of the thrust stage to play acoustically and Sonefield played guitar. McCain joined in “Solitude” 14 songs into the set. A few of the covers performed were “Losing My Religion" (R.E.M.), “Hey Hey What Can I Do” (Led Zeppelin), and “Wagon Wheel” (Old Crow Medicine Show), which were all performed on the last tour. Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” and Stone Temple Pilots “Interstate Love
