1990 was just fine with the fortysomething Sarah Palin lookalike standing next to me, and she wasn't alone in that sentiment. There was a lot of grown-up love for Collective Soul in the room, and judging from the warm smiles and banter coming from the stage, the legitimately crowded show appeared to be a highlight for the band of the current tour.

If you hadn't assumed it already, Collective Soul's high-energy closing set sent the appreciative crowd home happy. After the rather dull acoustic number "Heaven's Already Here," the group deployed "The World I Know," "December" and "Shine."

There was not a soul in the House of Blues who did not know these songs. I'm not sure there's a radio listener in America who doesn't. The singalongs crackled with the energy of easy recognition and power-chord fist-pumping.

Collective Soul could carve out a nice niche as a pure nostalgia act. Their show has been sharpened by 20 years of touring, and none of them have gotten fat or bald. The crowd was definitely older, but enthusiastic. If Styx and REO Speedwagon can keep it going playing the hits of yesteryear, why not these guys?

Then again, who knows. Collective Soul might not be done. These guys can really write a riff, and it wouldn't surprise me if they delivered another hit single or two before their core following needs hearing aids. Then ten years from now, they could do a nostalgia tour based around that record.

I can't say I'd be totally disinterested in checking that out, either. Just as long as they play "Shine" at the end.

Personal Bias: Let's face it, the '90s ruled.

The Crowd: Old as fuck. Like, older than you'd think. These folks did not have to call a babysitter.

Overheard in the Crowd: "Hey... is that chick, like, a midget, or what?" (She was not.)

Random Notebook Dump: There was a distinct lack of weed smoke in the crowd. Probably a lot of them felt weird about pinching off their kids.