The Edmonton Journal posted a great interview/article with Tim! There’s some great Vice Verses tidbits in this one, so we’ve posted the full interview below for your convienence:
“I’m kind of scared of the F-word,” says Switchfoot bassist Tim Foreman.
The F-word in question isn’t an obscenity or epithet, but rather one any white male is careful not to throw around: funk.
And in all fairness to Foreman, he wasn’t the one brandishing it — it was his band’s manager, Bruce Flohr, when describing their new album in an interview earlier this year. Vice Verses, the group’s forthcoming eighth album, was touted by Flohr as a “radical shift” for the rockers, so much so that a bit of “funk” had worked its way into the band’s music.
Foreman, the likeliest member of Switchfoot to infuse the group’s sound with some funk-drenched riffs, hesitates to categorize his rhythms on Vice Verses as anywhere approaching it. Over the phone from his California home he modestly shrugs off his manager’s exultant praise.
“Being five white surfers from San Diego, I don’t know if I’d choose that word,” he laughs. “But there’s definitely a strong rhythmic heartbeat behind these songs. It’s the most soulful record we’ve ever made, that’s for sure.”
What Foreman and his manager do agree on, however, is that Vice Verses — scheduled for a late-summer release — is a large step forward for the band best known for crunchy rock anthems with rusted guitars and sturdy, stadium-ready hooks like Meant to Live and Dare You to Move.
And since most Switchfoot albums don’t sound much like the one that came before, there’s a precedent for what Foreman and Flohr are claiming.
“It’s a much more rhythmically driven record than we’ve ever made before,” says Foreman. “It allows the drums and the bass to really drive the motor. I don’t think you will initially think of Switchfoot when you hear these songs. For us, it’s a really exciting departure.”
The new direction comes after the band’s last album, 2009’s Hello Hurricane, won Best Rock Gospel Album at this year’s Grammy Awards.
And even though the Grammys were held in Los Angeles — Switchfoot’s backyard, really — the trip to Hollywood was also a departure from normalcy for the band.
“We kind of got to live another life for a night,” says Foreman. “When Jay-Z walks past you, you feel like you’re in someone else’s shoes.”
The wide-eyed wonder didn’t last very long. Glitz and glamour isn’t something the band gravitates toward, according to Foreman. T next morning they were back in the studio, working on Vice Verses.
“It’s fun to go to Hollywood, but that’s not what keeps us moving,” Foreman says. “Making music that’s meaningful to us, playing sweaty rock shows — that’s what we truly are. That’s what motivates us.”
And the best way to play sweaty rock shows? Head out on tour, which Switchfoot is doing now.
While not their first appearance in Edmonton, their Friday show at Rexall as a part of YC Alberta 2011, a weekend-long religious youth conference, will be the first time the band is in town when it’s green instead of white.
Edmonton has “felt like going to Mars because there’s snow everywhere, and for San Diego kids that might as well be another planet,” says Foreman. “It’s been a fun novelty for us, but we’re really looking forward to visiting during a nice part of the year.”
View the source post HERE. Very interesting. We’ll see how their “new sound” plays out on the new record… anticipating it!
The Switchfoot Bro-Am Auction Night Soiree tickets went on sale today! You can purchase your ticket right over HERE.
There’s several pricing options and packages available, so be sure to take a look and figure out which one is for you! (The weekend package seems like a pretty good deal)
Today, Drew tweeted the following:
Cool! Not only did Drew play the electric guitars, but Fiction Family alum Tyler Chester (who is one of the nicest guys around) also worked on the album. Check out the credits:
You can check out the music or pick up a CD by visiting Tevor Davis’s website right over HERE. It’s great to see Drew lending his talents to other avenues of music!
In case you missed our twitter post on it, I just wanted to let you all know that we now have the CORRECT official lyrics for Dark Horses, courtesy of Chad, who is awesome. You can take a look right over HERE or on the Vice Verses Album Lyrics page.
Okay folks, we’ve got some new tour dates for you!
As we posted before, the guys are playing Alive Festival in Mineral City, Ohio again this year, but they’ve just been confirmed for Thursday, June 23rds festival line up.
More information and tickets can be picked up HERE.
Here’s an interesting line up – Switchfoot will be playing a show with illusionist Brock Gill in Dallas Texas on June 24th. You can pick up tickets or get more information on the show by visiting Brock Gill’s website.
The guys will be playing the Celebrate Freedom Festival in Parker Texas on Saturday, June 25th. The event is the largest FREE outdoor concert in America. Pretty cool! You do need to have a (free) ticket to get in though, so head right over HERE for ticketing info. Celebrate Freedom is also holding a Switchfoot contest, giving one lucky fan the opportunity to interview the guys backstage:
For more information, or to enter the contest, click right HERE.
Here’s a great video of the guys playing “The Original” at Odeon (…the lyrics seem SO clear now that we know the right ones… how did we miss it in the first place?):
Lisa, our Photo, Video & Graphic of the Week girl, attended the kick-off of Switchfoot’s Canada tour and wrote up a review for LOBH – a review which I forgot to post until now. HA! But here it is now, for your enjoyment!:
Switchfoot with Special Guests The Reason - Toronto 05/16/11
Switchfoot took Toronto by storm with special guests The Reason, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Though a seated venue, the San Diego band’s set was as explosive as ever, and the Reason opened smoothly and full of soul with their energetic performance.
But before the show began, VIP ticket holders were entitled to a small question and answer session with the band, along with a short meet & greet. There was a long line to get through, but the band stayed gracious and eager to meet everyone that came out to see them.
Hamilton, Ontario natives, The Reason then opened the show and played a small set of catchy tunes, often eliciting the participation of the crowd. They even did a smooth “mash-up” of their song Run and a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams, a definite crowd pleaser. The band ended their set with their current single, The Long Highway Home, definitely securing themselves more than a few new fans.
The crowd flew to its feet as the lights dimmed, and Switchfoot then took the stage, opening with a very energetic rendition of The Sound. The audience was captivated, hanging onto lead singer’s Jon Foreman’s every word as he belted out the words at the top of his lungs. Although the San Diego band was on their game, they did have a few technical difficulties but never wavered once. They laughed it off, grinning constantly, and kept on going while their roadies scrambled around to fix the problem. Fan favorites were played, from Stars to Dare You To Move, but they still had a few surprises up their sleeves . Foreman pulled a fan up onto the stage to play Bass during Awakening, with Tim Foreman standing by and watching enthusiastically. Jon also found himself in the crowd a couple of times throughout the show, climbing onto chairs and singing to an adoring crowd.
Switchfoot also pulled out a few older favorites from their repertoire, including Learning to Breathe and a stunning full-band version of Only Hope during a well-received encore. In all, a great performance by San Diego’s most gracious band, and worth every penny.
Thanks for writing that up Lisa!
I miss seeing Switchfoot in concert! It’s been almost a year since I’ve seen em. Hope they come back to Cincinnati soon
i know how u feel i havent seen them either for about a year. gah! i miss them hope to see them in portland, OR soon
i know, me too. I also have 1 year without seeing them im still hoping they will come to san antonio during the summer
I’m FINALLY going to see my first SF concert this summer in VA. *SUPER excited*
oh man your going to have so much fun so take a camera and a phone oh and lots of money for you can buy sf cd’s, t-shirt,poster… have fun!!!
yay!!! You are going to love it! They are amazing, I had goosebumps for the entire concert the first time that I went to their concert.
Oh my gosh you’re going to have so much fun!!
I got to see them for my 1st time last year and the whole time I was freaking out! I’m so excited for you!! 
Thank u guys! I’ll take ur advice!;)
Hope you had LOTS of fun!!!!!!!!!!!!
I might be going to see them in September when they come to Six Flags! I’m so excited!!!!
I’m still waiting for the US Open of Surfing Music Lineup announcement to see if they’ll be playing at that again this year since I found out that I won’t be able to make it out to Bro Am this year.
Three points.
1) The record is done.
2) All they do is talk about it and I want proof that it’s actually good.
3) From the songs I’ve heard so far I’m not sure if it will be that good.
Release the album sooner than later. I love you Switchfoot but sometimes. . . gah.
Three points back:
1) YES and AKEE!
2) They’re promoting it – that’s what they’re supposed to do. The record an album, they talk about, they get people excited, they build anticipation.
3) I’m not a huge fan of a few of the songs, but we’ll see what they do!
Also, they’d LOVE to release the album right now – I know they feel like it’s just burning a hole in their pockets and they’d LOVE for us all to have it right this instant. But you’re forgetting the label side of things – the label needs time to properly promote the album. They have to start generating press, setting up tv appearances, scheduling interviews, filming videos, sending out press releases, contacting radio stations, etc. etc. – I’ve heard that it takes about 3 months to do all that properly. Why is that important? Because buzz/proper promotion creates sales and sales enable Switchfoot to keep doing what they love to do – music. Everything costs my friend!
wow jeanna i never knew that. so jeanna is dark horses going to be in the album???
I hope “Dark Horses” never shows up in any way, shape, or form available to the general public just so people will shut up about it. >> Seriously, I’m so sick of hearing ZOMGDARKHORSESAAAAAAAAAJAJAJAJAJAJA. Come on.
I think it’d be nice, though, if they released some bonus tracks with VV, considering how popular those have become in the last couple of years (Panic at the Disco’s latest record had a bonus track list almost as long as the album itself).
Dark Horses is going to be on Vice Verses. See this update!: http://landofbrokenhearts.org/archive/2011/05/i-am-breathless-im-looking-for-you/
haha, yaaaaaaaaaaaay its gonna be on vv!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, Dark Horses is going to be on the album. See this update!: http://landofbrokenhearts.org/archive/2011/05/i-am-breathless-im-looking-for-you/
This album may have been easier to make than Hello Hurricane but it will definitely pack a punch. So excited for VV and I hope they release it earlier in the Summer.
I’m going to the Celebrate Freedom Concert. It will be my first Switchfoot Concert!
It’s so great that you guys are going to your first SF concerts this year! I promise you that it will not be your last! I went to my first in 2004 (yikes!) and each time since has been a new experience. They are true performers and each show is different (even from night to night). I know lots of you are going to festivals but if you can you must must must also see them in a “club” venue. Words cannot describe………
I tried to see them at a venue last year, but it was rated 21 and older so I couldn’t go.
yeah, getting older really doesn’t suck sometimes
ahahaha! chadie?
Switchfoot, dudes, come to Knoxville again.