And just like that, Collective Soul came on and I had hardly any time to react. I was the first one to stand though, as everyone was still sitting down when Ed walked out on the stage in the finest, most gorgeous suit I'd ever seen. It was like a lighter tan and pine green mixed with fuchsia, blended in with black and white houndstooth... and just a stylish, eye-catching wardrobe overall. I screamed on the top of my lungs as I jumped up and down enthusiastically, feeling the adrenaline in me kick into overdrive.

"HERE WE GO!!" I shrieked as Jesse belted out the opening chords to "Who Loves". By this point, I've heard this "new" song live about 5 times in a year so I already knew every line despite it being unreleased. And boy, when the lights shined down on the audience and Ed turned his head in my direction... you can best bet his classic, warm smile lit across his cheeks as he acknowledged my joy. He knew it was me. And not only did he know it was me, but I could tell he was so grateful to have me there. I bounced up and down the entire song, not stopping to breathe, drink water or talk to anybody else.

"Precious Declaration" tore down the house as I frantically attempted a live stream with no success.
"What the heck!? No reception!? I JUST had some!" I muttered, scrambling with my phone to my camera as to not miss the song. I decided to record it instead. The entire song, my legs just couldn't keep still.

"I HAVE TO DANCE TO THIS!" I said to myself, pissed that I had to hold still for the camera. "I'm not filming anymore after this concert." I immediately concluded as I stood there bored to death for not moving. I looked around me and everyone else was still sitting, so... at least I was standing. Ed would look over at my side a few times, almost to make sure I was "still there" and "still on board"... which of course I was. Would I ever give anything less than my best?
The rest of the night was just as you would expect from any Collective Soul concert... perfection. At least, whatever is as close as possible to perfection, that's what Collective Soul is and always will be. Raw power and virile energy electrifies through the amps and flows through each of the guys' veins. Dean is on the right, standing tall and firm with his beloved Gibson Les Paul, marked with his iconic logo 11. He knows he's the shit and he doesn't need to prove it. Jesse's on the left; his fingers making love to the strings of his black Les Paul and actively seducing women with his rock and roll superpowers. What can I say? He's got class. Will is in the back by Dean, gracing the stage with his loyal red shoes and sparkling 5-stringed red bass in the shimmering lights. He never misses a cue, and when you want to hear the voice of an angel backing Ed through the heavens, Will is your hero. And don't forget Johnny, who looks absolutely ecstatic behind his brand new (also red) drumkit- 'cause y'know- I'd be pretty enthusiastic too if I was the fastest drummer in the world and I had a new toy to show off.

Finally, to the front and center of the stage, is a man with distinct faded blue hair and retro glasses that are akin to those of Elton John's. He's gripping the mic with his life, making out with the grooves of the microphone as his lips nearly consume the whole mic head. He's focused and calculated with every word he passionately sings, and delightfully spot on. His voice hardly falters, carrying on the falsettos of a man 20 years his junior. And when his eyes aren't closed, absorbing the energy of the song and the crowd into his spirit, his wild hazels are open- scanning the room and waving his hands for excited fans who cherish the legend that may so boldly be Edgar Eugene Roland Jr.

"WAAHHH!" I screamed LOUDLY... in nearly every song. Especially when I decided to record Ed singing my favorite part in "Why Pt. II" when he sings, "thunder". The aggression, grit and rawness of his voice... it makes a girl crazy! Anybody with properly working eyes and ears knows that he has the whole package. My energy had once again found its way to Ed's heart as around this time of the show, Ed had come over to my side several times. We were so close, and because people were sitting in front of me, Ed and I made plenty of long eye contact. I looked behind me and everyone else was sitting so who else would he be lookin' at that long anyways? I got the acknowledgement I yearned for all year when Ed gave me a perky smile and pointed at my book he signed that was now beside me at the show. My heart melted and he continued to watch me blush with joy. It gave him even more joy to see and feel me love him unconditionally like that. Felt just like old times when we shared an intimate chat outside the bar last year, or when he invited me inside his house and I got to pet his dog. How could I not love him more?

I also recorded "Shine", in which everybody stood up for now. It took Ed some coaxing and heavy shouting to get the lazy audience up and moving, but his wishes were granted with "Shine". Ed captured the audience with his sheer love for music, the same passion that helped him write the song of his career. Will and Dean delivered nothing less of the nearly 30 years they've performed the song, and Jesse and Johnny brought the casino down to the ground in their steaming flames. I just couldn't wait to see Jesse shred that solo and Ed jump up and dance his heart out, showing the world that 58 can be fucking awesome, fit, happy and healthy, too!

But when the song ended, my heart sank as everyone began to sit down again. It reached the gutter when the people sitting next to me decided to leave because they "heard all they wanted" from what I eavesdropped on.
"I can't believe they would leave... who would want to leave Collective Soul? How were they not impressed?" I thought to myself as Ed began to tell a story to the audience. I pushed aside my worries for now and gave Ed the attention he deserved. He told the story of how he dated (and married for 2 weeks) a girl who was a Michigan Wolverine in the mid 90s. She had apparently asked him to marry her on a plane to Memphis.I got worried when Ed was talking and the audience began to interrupt him during his speech because of sports, and they were all drunk and careless anyway. I've seen how Ed is like when people interrupt him while on stage- he hates it. He takes it very personally as he should- he is the artist and deserves respect on that stage. I was very worried that he would stop the show or kick somebody out, or just be in a sour mood all night but luckily after some of the security calmed the audience down, Ed was able to move on and continue the night on a light note.

"Run" was my final moment, however. This time I planned on making my way up to the front so I could interact with the guys at the end and shake their hands or something. Since the people next to me left, there was more room for me to walk down the isle and get closer to the center stage, which I used to my advantage. Finally, when "Run" ended and the little outro began, I squeezed passed a few people and the security actually let me up to the front. Only me and a really young boy (whom I met before the show) were actually up there and standing. There were still people in the front row sitting! All of a sudden, Cheney, who looked absolutely fabulous in a dark purple blazer, came out with 3 dozens of perfect red roses and handed them out to each band member besides Ed, who was strummin' his guitar and smiling away to everyone out there. The guys then proceeded to pass out roses to everyone in the front while Ed walked towards me and we made more long eye contact.

The little boy in front of me had a poster asking for a photo of him with Collective Soul. Ed was still looking at me so I pointed down at the boy in front of me until he took note of his sign and said, "come on up!" When the kid left to go up on stage, I took his spot and finally made it to the stage, where Will was now in front of me and smiled immediately when he recognized me.

"You can't miss me!" I shouted as he handed one of two roses in his hand to someone beside me. Will looked down at me with a big fat grin.
"Brianna!" He said eagerly, handing me his last rose.
"Thank you! Oh gosh, don't make me shake!" I squealed with laughter as he laughed back, seeing me fangirl all over the place.

I looked over to my left and Ed was knelt down sweetly beside the little boy who was now on stage with him, singing every word to "Run" along with him. Finally, someone has me beat for being the youngest, biggest fan! I immediately filmed the scene as Jesse now bent down beside him, too. They posed for a photo and his dream came true! All I wanted was for the younger generation to discover and love this band who is so worthy of anything and everything good that comes their way. It made me so happy to see that others finally care about them, too.

Sadly, the show had to come to an end at some point, but it was surreal to be standing front row center, touching the stage as they walked on out. Couldn't have been a better spot in the venue, and I was initially worried about my row 3 seats. Ha! I held my breath and watched as Ed strummed his final chord before disappearing behind the curtains. There's always a moment before he walks off where I say little prayers in my head that we will meet or see each other again. Because every time Ed walks off that stage, I miss him instantly and I worry something tragic will happen to prevent us from ever seeing each other again. It's a little far fetched as we're both young (yes Ed is young to me) but you never know. I always try to enjoy every concert like it's my last for that reason. One day there really will be a last show, and there will be a last time we see each other. So I closed my eyes briefly, clutching the rose I received from the guys to my heart and whispered,
"Please let me see them again. Don't let this be my last time. Please."
Then I opened my eyes and realized the night had to go on.