Collective Soul - Part II & Twitter

Tonight I was checking out the Twitter landscape and found that there is a contest out there sponsored by Collective Soul (http://www.twitter.com/collective_soul)with the assistance of two megaTweeters - @BuzzEdition (who I follow) and @webaddict (that I don't...yet). Since any person who knows me probably knows that I am a huge Collective Soul fan...you know that I'm going to fulfill the requirements to enter this contest right now. Now, granted, they are looking for something interesting and catchy, but I am what I am...so whatever.

For those of you who want to do a little research on the band, you can check them out at http://www.collectivesoul.com/blog. I think...no, I KNOW...that if you listen to the music alone, you'll be hooked. However, in today's world, we really seem to want something a little more for the time we invest in anything. I mean...life's too short, right?

Well, tonight I not only want to enter the contest, but I want to tell you why I support these guys...

The band was out of Atlanta, and being a Georgia girl myself, I found to be quite cool. I think I've fully elaborated on my love affair with the song "December" but that's easier to explain. What has been harder to explain is how I feel like their music is the soundtrack to my life. It is the perfect mix of all of the music that I love. And the words to the songs? Pure poetry.

For instance...the words to "The World I Know"...

Has our conscience shown?
Has the sweet breeze blown?
Has all the kindness gone?
Hope still lingers on.
I drink myself of newfound pity
Sitting alone in New York City
And I don't know why.

Are we listening
To hymns of offering?
Have we eyes to see
That love is gathering?
All the words that I've been reading
Have now started the act of bleeding
Into one.

So I walk up on high
And I step to the edge
To see my world below.
And I laugh at myself
As the tears roll down.
'Cause it's the world I know.
It's the world I know.

That song was on the radio...a lot...a haunting but beautiful combination of guitar, strings, and vocals that rocks, stings, and soothes simultaneously.

As I've looked at the band...caught the fact that they performed with the Atlanta Youth Symphony Orchestra in a unique and awesome way...seen them in person twice...and have watched how they interact with the fans (including me...twice :))...I think that I can trust my impressions. They are worth your time to check out.

I love the words to their songs...I love the music...but most of all...I love the heart that this band has. A heart for the fans...for friends...for supporters...for the music itself. These guys would be people that you'd like to be friends with...and the Twitter experience actually gives you the chance to see the normal side right before they get out there and blow your mind with incredible music.

So, what's stopping those of you who are looking for a great band to support? They are starting a tour in 2009...and they are adding dates every day. Not enough to suit me in the southeastern United States, but I'm hoping that will change. The dates are at http://www.collectivesoul.com/live.

I may be a "cybergroupie" but most of the following that I do is because I honestly appreciate seeing talented people using that talent in unconventional ways. These guys do exactly that...

The cool thing is that they are going on tour in 2009 and have a new album coming out the first week of August. (Tour info at http://www.collectivesoul.com/live).

Now, for those of you who honestly say that they did not know that I was a big fan of this group, then obviously you have missed Collective Soul - Cybergroupie Part I on this blog. Go ahead...hit the archives...I'll wait. While you're at it...read last night's discussion about Twitter...which in the grand scheme of things was quite timely! Later!