Hey fans! If you haven’t yet, be sure to read our recap of the Live Switchfoot Chat this week – we’ve got info on the upcoming Vice Verses remix release and a new podcast, as well as much more exciting news! And hey, speaking of the remix, we’ve been hearing rumors that the song that Owl City remixed is “Blinding Light” – we’ll keep you posted as more news is released!
Now, during the live webcam chat we discovered that there was going to be a new Switchfoot EP released in February. From our notes:
- According to Jon, they’ll be releasing the audio (not sure in what format… sound was cutting out!) of the benefit show that they did with/for John M. Perkins way back in 2010!
- In February, the Switchfoot guys will release an EP – at a pay-what-you-want-price! – and the money will go to the John M. Perkins foundation. I was unclear whether this EP is the audio of the aforementioned John M. Perkins show or something different… the mics and audio were very strange sounding at points, and we kept getting weird echoes!
Do to the uncertainty around the EP release, and the multiple declarations from fans that Against the Voices SHOULD and WOULD be on the new EP, I checked in with Chad to get clarification. According to Chad, “the EP Jon was talking about is the Live from Jackson Mississippi concert with the choir.” Good to know! As much fun as a new Switchfoot EP would be, I remember that concert and there was some EPIC musical moments with that choir – I seem to recall Sing It Out being especially beautiful. Chad also stated that there are some really special versions of the songs from that night, so I think we have a lot to look forward to!
Our media department just uploaded MP3s of two of Switchfoot’s Europe covers (“Sing” and “Money”) to our Media Page - click that link to check them out and download! If anyone got a recording of “Lucky Man” or The Beatles tune the guys covered, shoot us an e-mail at news@landofbrokenhearts.org – thanks!
Switchfoot posted tour dates for an Australia tour on their website – click HERE to take a look! Speaking of, Switchfoot’s been added last minute to a popular Aussie festival.
From FasterLouder.com:
Following on from yesterday’s controversial Big Day Out vs Soundwave debate, promoter AJ Maddah has made a number of announcements of his own regarding this year’s event.
Speaking via twitter this afternoon Maddah has announced that Dragonforce will no longer be playing Soundwave 2012, “due to recording delays”, but that the festival has secured doom metal stalwarts Paradise Lost and US rockers Switchfoot in their place.
From noise11.com:
Promoter A.J. Maddah has announced today that Dragonforce have been forced to pull out of Soundwave 2012 due to “recording delays”.
The British power metal band must have been quite a drawcard, because they’re replaced by not one but two acts: Doom metal icons Paradise Lost and pop band Switchfoot.
Paradise Lost released their debut album Lost Paradise in 1990 and for three albums were leaders of the doom scene in the 90s. After three records they began to experiment with other styles. In 2012 they will release their thirteenth studio album, Tragic Idol.
Switchfoot are an unusually commercial act to appear on Soundwave. While the festival hasn’t shied away from pop tinged music, this could be the first all out Christian-pop band to appear on the bill. Their carefully sculpted music is designed to be a slew of radio hits so it was no surprise when their painfully bland singles Dare You To Move and Stars climbed their way up the alternative charts. Maybe audiences will get lucky and they’ll just play their first almost-rock single Meant To Live over and over.
^ Ouch! I wonder if that author has heard any of their new releases?
Hey Illinois, Switchfoot is coming your way in May!
A May 20 performance by the alternative rock band Switchfoot will be the first concert in North Central College’s Residence Hall/Recreation Center.
The Switchfoot performance will begin at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 20, in the Residence Hall/Recreation Center, 440 S. Brainard St., Naperville. Tickets are $30; call the North Central College Box Office at 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.
San Diego natives Jon Foreman and his brother Tim founded the band with friends in 1996. The group of high school classmates formed at a time where the indie rock scene in San Diego started to flourish, with Rocket from the Crypt and Drive Like Jehu garnering national attention.
After developing a thriving local fan base, Switchfoot began seeing mainstream recognition in 2002 with the hits “Only Hope” and “Dare You to Move,” bringing the band future success with a major record deal and the double platinum album “Beautiful Letdown.”
Switchfoot went on to record the Grammy Award-winning album “Hello Hurricane,” symbolizing a rebirth of sorts—the band self-financed the building of its own studio and the recording of the album. The record was released on the Switchfoot label, lowercase people records, in 2009.
The most recent release from 2011, “Vice Verses,” works to expand the sonic palette by experimenting with a variety of sounds from groove-oriented rhythms to hip hop backbeats. The album peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Top 200 and No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart.
Source: NorthCentralCollege.edu – So who’s going?
The Out of Order show posted a quick new interview with Jon and Drew – watch it below… and we agree. Drew needs his own TV show.
If rock stars are supposed to be all about sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll, Switchfoot didn’t get the memo. These dudes are cool, down to earth, and some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. They stopped by our studios for an interview, so we grabbed a camera to film a few of their answers…
Check out this quick video, where Switchfoot discuss their new album, an upcoming documentary, and the possibility of becoming reality TV stars.
NewReleaseTuesday posted an article, naming Vice Verses the 2nd best release of 2011! (Thanks Tael!):
02. SWITCHFOOT – VICE VERSES – SEPTEMBER 27, 2011After a return to true form on 2009′s Hello Hurricane, Switchfoot is back with yet another smashing chapter in their storied history. Could this be their best album yet, eclipsing even The Beautiful Letdown? I’m not sure, but I do know it’s the closest they’ve come yet to even having that discussion.On Vice Verses, the drums and the bass take center stage driving forward a relentless energy backed by Jon Foreman’s signature, passionate voice and in-depth lyrics that come alive with repeated listen. And much like their live performances, you get a sense that nothing was left behind in the studio. The band put their all into every song and the audio assault is a pure treasure to listen to.There are so many fantastic songs on this album. “The War Inside” is one of the lyrical high points of the album and talks about our “low-fi killers” (pride and “I”) that are within each of us, despite our race, age or location. Every line is beautifully crafted and designed. “Thrive” is low-key but you feel the angst when Jon sings “I wanna thrive, not just survive.” “Restless,” possibly one of the band’s best songs they’ve ever crafted, starts soft and crescendos into a passionate creed. The song feels like an arena event, a play with multiple acts and a huge finale, with Jon rising to new emotion in his voice accompanied by an amazing guitar line. It’s a song that I simply can’t get enough of. And there’s a reason “Dark Horses” is in the Top 5 on mainstream rock charts. It’s simple an incredible rock anthem.Vice Verses is just as good as Hello Hurricane, my top pick a few years back, and it’s great to continue to witness the latest surge of this incredible band. Hopefully they keep riding this wave for years to come.
The NC Times posted an article on the For The Sender project, briefly mentioning Jon:
Alex Woodard used an ambitious promotion to draw attention to his eponymous independent album in 2008. Anyone who preordered it would receive a personalized tune.
“I got quite a few responses and it worked pretty well,” said the Encinitas-based singer/songwriter during a phone interview from Las Vegas. “I wrote a lot of songs for folks on my kitchen table. Then the record deal fell apart.”
Despite the bad news, Woodard’s spirit was suddenly lifted after attending a neighborhood guitar gathering with prominent area musicians such as Sean and Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), Jon Foreman (Switchfoot) and Jordan Pundik (New Found Glory).
“It ended up being a fun and special night and became a recurring thing. Every time a few of us were in town, we’d get together at my house or across the street.”
Soon after, a letter arrived from a woman who had seen the album promotion and relayed how she puts pen to paper each autumn to commemorate the loss of a soul mate. She didn’t seek a special song, but wanted to share a piece of herself. Woodard told Sean Watkins about the letter, and they were inspired to create the song “For the Sender.”
Read more HERE.
TalentHouse posted a blog, sharing the results of the Switchfoot hoodie contest:
Grammy-winning band Switchfoot teamed up with Jedidiah Clothing and Standup for Kids recently to produce a charity-raising hoodie, and Talenthouse’s own Cedric Cha has created the winning design. Cedric’s amazing design, which pays homage to Switchfoot’s recent album ‘Vices Verses,’ was chosen by the band and is available for purchase here!
In addition to having his hoodie worn by Switchfoot fans around the globe, Cedric will receive $1500. His hoodie will be featured on Switchfoot’s social media channels.
The band also chose a runner-up, Teguh Anggara who will be honored with exclusive band merchandise, exposure through Switchfoot’s social media channels, and a $100 gift certificate to Jedidiah’s online clothing store.
Congratulations to our winners, but more importantly, thank you to everyone who sent in a submission! We were so honored to have such gracious hosts for a great cause topped off with so many impressive designs. We hope you’ll stay tuned for the awesome Invites 2012 is sure to bring!
“Painfully bland singles Dare You To Move and Stars….Maybe audiences will get lucky and they’ll just play their first almost-rock single Meant To Live over and over.” Haha wow, some serious hatin there. But im not gonna lie, watching Switchfoot play M2L over and over would be kinda awesome. And im hyped for the Illinois show!
I feel like that dude in the Aussie article was a bit biased. He simply introduced the first band and then just spent his second paragraph bashing Switchfoot.
Does anyone feel the same way about Switchfoot being labeled as “Pop”? I’ve always put them in my iTunes as “Post-grunge” or “Alt. Rock.”
When I think of Pop, I think of Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, etc. I’m not saying I don’t like Pop, I just can’t generalize SF as “Pop.”
On a different note (pun intended),
I’d like to ask Drew what his show would be called.
Yeah, they’re always Alternative or Rock on my iTunes too. I think during the early years they could’ve been described as Pop, but definitely not any more.
Drew should totally have his own tv show. It would probably be the best thing of tv next to Psych. Probably better
Drew’s tv show is “Dr.ew” a kids show about cool/gross stuff and acting out picture books. The first episode: visiting a pig farm and Olivia’s lost Toy (with Drew as Olivia of course). LOL
“If rock stars are supposed to be all about sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll, Switchfoot didn’t get the memo. These dudes are cool, down to earth, and some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet” NICE!!! That’s the spirit that the guys transmit, it’s an honor to be a fan of them!
Definitely agree with that statement! SF knows what’s right and they believe and stand up for it.
The performance of Sing It Out with the choir was very moving. So glad we get to hear it again.
I hold two degrees from north central college. Having switchfoot put on a concert might top both of those. Or at least my undergrad degree. A little more proud to be a cardinal with this news. I will give them props, ncc did have fiction family play there on their launch tour in 09.
not happy about the australian tour. I would much prefer them to do their own show in Perth (they only ever seem to do festival shows in perth) which is dissapointing since i only want to see Switchfoot, and festival shows like soundwave are not cheap ($160… to see one band… not in my budget) super sad that i won’t see them this times round because of this.
Maybe Jon will do aftershow
I would also love to see Switchfoot do their own show in Perth, mainly because they deserve more time onstage and i don’t really like any of the other bands except Relient k. A Switchfoot, Relient k show maybe?! Why not since you’re both over here anyway!
PAINFULLY BLAND?!?!?!?!?!?
What is this guy talking about?!
This guy sure doesn’t look up who he criticizes!
They are considered alternative right now as well!
This guy talking in their blandness must have accidentally muted his iPod.
How are they pop? Maybe TBL was poppish, but that’s it. They are so NOT pop.
Yeah unfortunately a lot of people slap the “pop rock” label on them because they’ve had some success in top 40 radio.
Jon Always talks about the songs being pop songs
that is true
Yeah when I think of pop I think Justin bieber / Hannah Montana / Jonas brothers. They don’t even deserve to be in the same category as switchfoot.
Man, it never occurred to me that the release of Fading West will basically be like the release of another album, or at the very least like an EP. I wonder how much will be instrumental and how much will have lyrics…
Going off my conversations with Chad on the project, it will be about half and half – about half instrumental, half with words and singing… of course that can all change… but that’s what they’re anticipating happening as of right now
Thatll be great! The Vice Verses DVD really had me wondering what instrumental Switchfoot songs might be like
Hm, interesting. Pop? Bland? I’m under the strong impression that this guy has got the wrong band.
pop?! Hahaha, good one.
Drew tv host…love it.
And awesome hoodie designs Cedric and Teguh, very nice!
What a great update! I really enjoyed reading this article. I guess Fading West will be a reality show in a way if it shows a lot of their day-to-day routines on tour; perhaps Jon drawing sketches during flights and Jerome drinking coffee. I love the documentary that came with the super deluxe VV. It’s probably a foretaste of what’s to come. Day to day life and moments of candor as the guys reflect on what matters to them. This concert will be nice to hear in its totality.
Wow, so much to talk about! First off I’m eeeeexcited about Drew and Romey remixing songs, anyone hear if VV songs?
Jeanna- I love pics next to titles, I look forward to those just as much as fabulous posts!
(it’s the layers man-the details! 
)
As far as “pop” catagory goes it’s always just meant what’s popular at time. Oh wait, guess they got label cause they won a GRAMMY! Unfortunately at festivals they only play 5 songs and have to play the radio hits, maybe they’ll play War Inside and blow that guy out of park
haha thanks! I have fun choosing said photos
I bet you they’ll break out sabotage again – that’ll be good
Could the Illinois show be an indication of a Vice Verses tour in the US around May? I hope so. I still have my fingers crossed that they’ll play all of VV, just like they did for hurricane.
Wow, someone dislikes Switchfoot! Did he really just call Dare You to Move BLAND??? Uhhhh…..
NewReleaseTuesday review got it right!
And noise11.com? Not sure where that person’s head is at. It’s certainly not attached to his or her ears.
I’m excited with the Remix songs, but kinda disappointed that the EP will be live stuff. I was hoping for some new stuff, or VV demos. Oh well guess I’ll have to continue being patient
Me too bro!