Why would a middle-aged man leave work early from San Diego, endure nasty traffic for 3 plus hours, all to go to Hollywood to see a concert? Well, it's the Roxy on Sunset (holds only about 500) and it's Switchfoot. I've seen Switchfoot many times but they are now playing new songs from Oh! Gravity and weren't going to hit San Diego this time. So the legendary JonnyUps and I made the trip to a foreign land.
The Roxy is right in the heart of Hollywood and so you never know who you might see. There's the famous, the almost famous, the was famous and the most popluar, the wannabe famous. Some of the folks we met (JonnyUps is fairly connected) were 'O' from Reeve Oliver and LP, the drummer from Yellowcard. We even saw the new "lead singer" from the Rockstar Supernova band, Lukas. He was definitely a guy who is trying very hard to be cool. I'm not sure sunglasses work that well at night unless you are one of the Blues Brothers. The crowd was full of record company / industry types, lots of folks older (and richer) than me.
Enough of the atmosphere and onto the show. We missed the first opening act, Ryan Ferguson as it seems he played before the crowd line was in the venue. He's a San Diego guy and pretty good. If you see Swithfoot on this tour make sure you get there early enough to see Ryan Ferguson. The second act was Moses Mayfield. They looked straight from the 70's and the lead singer spoke just like Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam. Their music wasn't my cup of tea so if I can't say something nice I won't say anything at all.
Once Switchfoot came on they hit their stride real quick. They opened with "Stars" and played very energized from the start. Next came "Politicians", a song I never thought I'd hear live again but was stoked it was played. They played some new songs including "Oh! Gravity", "Awakening", "American Dream" and the highlight of the night "Dirty Second Hands" (DSH). Now "DSH" is nothing like anything they've ever done and I didn't think it would work well live. In fact, it's hard to even find the rhythm to the song. If any of you recall the movie The Jerk, when the Jerk character was trying to snap his fingers to the song he couldn't. Same thing for "DSH", but it just works, even live. You can hear "DSH" on the Switchfoot MySpace site.
It was nice to that there were five songs from Nothing Is Sound and the playing of "24" instead of "On Fire" or "Only Hope". I was told after the show that "Shadow Proves The Sunshine" was on the set list but they forgot to play it. Fortunately they played "Happy Is A Yuppie Word" and it is my favorite Switchfoot song. I'm hoping they keep this one on their set list for years to come. The biggest hit song from Switchfoot is "Meant To Live" and they've truly mastered performing that song. There is always amazing energy and the closing of the song is a big kick. A surprise during the encore was a solo performance of "Rebellion (Lies)", a cover song. It was just Jon Foreman, his guitar and his harmonica and was excellent.
After the show JonnyUps and myself hung out to talk to the band. The guys are as friendly as ever and really don't seem to have changed. These guys are always a breath of fresh air both personally and in concert. They will challenge you but not gross you out. Some bands choose to use obsenity and classless behavior to shock, not Switchfoot. Read their lyrics and you will be challenged to look past our simple day-to-day lives.
I'm very hopeful for the new album Oh! Gravity. If the energy they capture during their live shows could ever find a way onto an album it would be amazing. Personally, I believe that is impossible. The best bands are better live than in the studio and Switchfoot is in that category. Listening to Switchfoot on an album does not compare to a Switchfoot concert. If they are coming anywhere near you over the next month on their current tour then it is worth your time to check them out. Be careful though, you really might get hooked.
I'm also looking at getting an advanced LEGAL copy of Oh! Gravity to review. Any help in this pursuit would be appreciated.
UPDATE:
Here is the set list:
stars
politicians
oh! gravity
gone
easier than love
this is your life
happy is a yuppie word
dirty second hands
ammunition
learning to breathe
24
awakening
american dream
we are one tonight
meant to live
jon's cover of rebellion (lies)
dare you to move
UPDATE 2: Cross-posted at Blog Critics
Posted by Tim at October 19, 2006 09:36 AM
