Our Lady Peace, Collective Soul, Ash Malloy
March 13, 2025
Scotiabank Centre, Halifax, NS
The Scotiabank Centre was electric as Our Lady Peace wrapped up their 30th Anniversary Tour in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on March 13.
Kicking off the evening was Ash Molloy, a musician hailing from Newfoundland but now based in Toronto. With a dynamic stage presence, she captivated the crowd, blending alt and rock energy with the violin on songs such as “I Know.” The set included her latest release at the time, “Breakdown,” and “Will I Ever Learn,” a track that dropped at midnight following the show. Molloy worked the stage with boundless energy—moving from side to side, engaging with her bandmates, and arching backward in gravity-defying moves. She made it clear she’s not just an opener but a future headliner in the making
The excitement escalated as American rockers Collective Soul took the stage, opening with “Mother’s Love.” Having not played Halifax in a decade, the band made up for lost time, immediately engaging the crowd. The venue erupted during “Shine,” with fans out of their seats, singing along to every word. Their heartfelt appreciation for their “Canadian friends” was evident, particularly during “The World I Know,” which saw the arena illuminated by phone flashlights. A highlight of their set was “December,” with a guitar solo that showcased the band’s musical prowess. Frontman Ed Roland shared a story about how he was first chair clarinet in high school, calling the clarinet the “gateway to rock and roll,” before diving into a cover of AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” a song that changed his life at 14. They closed their set with “Where The River Flows,” leaving fans hyped for the main event.
Canadian rock band Our Lady Peace wasted no time launching into their signature sound, opening with the iconic “Superman’s Dead.” The show was tailored for the fans, with two fan-voted songs making the setlist: “Life” and “Made of Steel.” Frontman Raine Maida took a reflective moment to talk about life’s crossroads, emphasizing how seemingly small choices can lead to unexpected destinations and can alter your whole life’s journey. Maida shared a story about attending an awards show where the music left him unimpressed—until The Tragically Hip performed. From that moment on, he decided “I will chase art because that is worthwhile.” Inspired by their artistry, the band paid tribute with a cover of “Locked in the Trunk of a Car,” a performance that lit up the arena.
New material was also included in the setlist, including “Sound the Alarm.” A particularly emotional moment arrived with the long-awaited return of “Whatever,” a song originally written for WWE 23 years ago. The song’s lyrics centre around themes of inner struggle, anger, and self-control. The band had stopped playing it due to circumstances surrounding the original use and association of the song, but in an effort to erase the stigma surrounding mental health, they brought it back for this tour, accompanied by the powerful use of a megaphone and a post-performance display of the suicide crisis helpline on the arena screens.
Halifax’s own Paul Murphy of Wintersleep joined the band for “In Repair,” after previously opening for Our Lady Peace from March 4th to 12th, a spot filled by Ash Molloy for this show. To make the show even more memorable, a dedicated fan from New York—who has attended over 150 shows—was honoured with a special dedication of “Hope,” a song that’s not typically included in their regular setlist. “Somewhere Out There” was extended with an instrumental segment, and classics like “Clumsy” had the crowd singing in unison. For the encore, Maida took things to a more intimate level, performing “Not Enough” and “4 AM” on piano at the back of the floor before making his way back to the main stage to finish “4 AM.” The band then surprised fans with a Pearl Jam cover, “Hail, Hail,” before wrapping up the night with “Starseed.”
Three decades in, Our Lady Peace continues to prove why they remain one of Canada’s most beloved rock bands. Their Halifax stop was not just a concert—it was a full-circle celebration of music, emotion, and connection, leaving fans both nostalgic and energized.
