2009: The Year of the Hurricane; a Retrospective

(banner credit: Bryant! Thanks!)

Year in Review

2009. Gone too soon? Perhaps. What isn't going away anytime soon is Switchfoot. One of the most eventful years in Switchfoot's recent history, 2009 saw the arrival of "Hello Hurricane," a triumphant declaration by a band in transition and a record that marked Switchfoot's spirited return to the music industry.

But it's also important to remember that 2009 saw the release of Jon Foreman's side project with Sean Watkins called Fiction Family. Their debut record, also titled "Fiction Family," wowed casual fans and diehards alike by showcasing Foreman's lyrical and musical versatility - it's not often you see a singer of a multi-platinum rock and roll band put down the electric guitar and pluck through some folksy, bluegrass-tinged soul tunes. And yet, here it was.

2009 also saw Switchfoot return to mainstream rock radio with "Mess of Me," which on the very last day of the year, entered the Top 20 of Billboard's Modern Rock/Alternative Songs chart. A harbinger of things to come? A forecast of an even brighter future for the band in 2010? Only time will tell, but before we move forward into 2010 (which I will call "The Year of the Foot," a borrowed reference), here is a retrospective look into what's happened in the past year. And boy, it was a great one!



January

7th:
*Switchfoot first tweets on Twitter

20th:
*Fiction Family releases their debut album “Fiction Family.”

February

*Fiction Family’s record debuts at No. 71 on the Billboard 200, and charts well on several other charts. 1

7th:
*Fiction Family tour ends in West Hollywood.

13th:
*Switchfoot plays a show in Guatemala for the first time.

27th:
*Switchfoot launches new, temporary website. 2

March

5th:
*Switchfoot reports they are “rounding 3rd base” on the new record. 3

30th:
*Switchfoot heads to Los Angeles to begin mixing the new record. 4

April

7th:
*Switchfoot mixes first song, “Hello Hurricane.” 5

23rd:
*Switchfoot announces that they had actually been recording 4 studio albums in their time in the studio. 6

24th:
*Switchfoot releases the album names for their next two studio records: “Hello Hurricane” in 2009. “Vice Verses” in 2010. 7

25th:
*Switchfoot plays Kansas City and participates in The Invisible Children Rescue there. 8

27th:
*It is released on LOBH that Switchfoot plans on releasing an EP of unreleased material, titled “Eastern Hymns for Western Shores.” 9

28th:
*Jon Foreman plays the new Switchfoot song, “Yet” for the first time while at UCSD

May

4th and 5th:
*Switchfoot and Andy Barron go into the desert in Niland County for “Hello Hurricane” photo shoot. 10 11

8th:
*Switchfoot debut the song “Hello Hurricane” over the PA system after a concert in Visalia, California 12

26th:
*Switchfoot announces tour with Blue Ocobter

28th:
*Switchfoot/Blue October “Crazy Making Tour” dates are announced

June

16th:
*Switchfoot announces the official tracklisting for “Hello Hurricane” on their Twitter account 13

18th:
*Switchfoot debuts “Mess of Me” live at the Big Ticket Festival in Michigan. “Hello Hurricane” also makes its live performance debut, with Jon Foreman playing it solo acoustic on his Mandolin. 14 15

21st:
“Bullet Soul” is debuted live in Lancaster, PA at the American Music Theater 16

July

9th:
* “Needle and Haystack Life” is debuted live at Spirit Song in King’s Land, Ohio. 17

13th:
* “Mess of Me” is announced officially as the lead single for “Hello Hurricane.”

16th:
* Switchfoot plays “The Sound” live for the first time in Memphis, Tennessee. 18

26th:
* Switchfoot embarks on the Crazy Making Tour with Blue October, Ours, and Longwave in Council Bluffs, IA

August

7th:
* Switchfoot announces that lowercase people records have decided to partner with Atlantic Records and EMI CMG for the world-wide release of “Hello Hurricane” 19

26th:
* “Mess of Me” debuts on the radio, playing on Atlanta’s 99x Modern Rock/Alternative station. 20

29th:
* The Crazy Making Tour concludes at Hampton Beach, NH.

September

1st:
*Switchfoot commences the “Mess of Me” hunt, a worldwide “scavenger hunt” in which the band and fans hid copies of the single in locations across the globe.

8th:
*Switchfoot unleashes the first music video for “Mess of Me,” a live montage-styled offering set to clips from the Crazy Making Tour

12th:
*First of two shows in which Switchfoot opens for Dave Matthews Band in Chula Vista, CA

13th:
*Second show Switchfoot plays opening for Dave Matthews Band in Irvine, CA

16th:
*Pre-sale for “Hello Hurricane” begins.

23rd:
*Switchfoot announces dates for the Fall 2009 leg of the Hello Hurricane Tour. 21

November

3rd:
*The official "Mess of Me" video releases on Youtube, garnering multiple honors



8th:
*Switchfoot’s “Hello Hurricane” tour begins in El Cajon, CA.


photo credit: RCamWhite

photo credit: Max Roper

photo credit: Andy Barron





10th:
*“Hello Hurricane” releases; the #hellohurricane hashtag reaches the No. 6 slot in Twitter’s Trending Topics





12th:
*Switchfoot performs on Jimmy Kimmel Live



19th:
*“Hello Hurricane” debuts at No. 13 on the Billboard 200, selling 39,000 copies in its first week.

*“Your Love Is a Song” features prominently at the end of an episode of “One Tree Hill.” The song lasts almost six minutes during that segment 23

December

2nd:
*Switchfoot performs on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien



31st:
*"Mess of Me" hits the Top 20 on Billboard's Alternative Songs Chart

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We're Awakening's Hello Hurricane collaborative review with LOBH

The arrival of "Hello Hurricane" was obviously the highlight of 2009. My friend Jeanna from LOBH and I got our copies two weeks in advance, and we were so thrilled that we decided to share our thoughts with you all. Here is the review collab.

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Charts Summary

Albums
“Hello Hurricane”

Billboard 200: 13
Billboard Alternative Albums: 3
Billboard Christian Albums: 2
Billboard Rock Albums: 4

Singles
"Mess of Me"

Billboard Alternative Songs: 20
Billboard Rock Songs: 37
Billboard Christian Songs: 42

"Always"
Billboard Christian Songs: 20

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Switchfoot's 2010 Tour Dates

04/25/09
Kansas City, MS

05/08/09
Visalia, CA Fox Theatre

05/09/09
Santa Clara, CA Great America

06/18/09 Gaylord, MI The Big Ticket Festival

06/19/09
North Lawrence Ohio Clay's Park Resort

06/20/09
Toronto, ON
Phoenix Concert Theatre

06/21/09
Lancaster, PA
American Music Theatre

06/26/09
Del Mar, Ca Del Mar Fairgrounds

06/27/09
San Diego, CA Switchfoot Bro-Am

07/09/09
Kings Island, OH Kings Island: Timberwolf

07/10/09
Doswell, VA
King's Dominion

07/11/09
Kent, WA ShoWare Center (CANCELLED)

07/15/09
Willmar, MN Willmar Civic Center

07/16/09
Memphis, TN Minglewood Hall

07/17/09
Little Rock, AR Riverfest Amphitheater

07/18/09
Baton Rouge, LA Blue Bayou Water Park

07/24/09
Valparaiso, IN Porter County Fair

07/25/09
Des Moines, IA

08/07/09
Midland, TX Rock the Desert

08/12/09
Amarillo, TX John Stiff Memorial Park

Crazy Making Tour (W/ Blue October)











07/26/09
Council Bluffs, IA Stir Cove

07/27/09
Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium

07/28/09
Salt Lake City, UT The Salt Air

07/31/09
Portland, OR The Crystal Ballroom

08/01/09
San Jose, CA San Jose Civic Auditorium

08/05/09
Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern

08/06/09
Las Vegas, NV House of Blues

08/08/09
Phoenix, AZ Marquee Theater

08/09/09
El Paso, TX Abraham Chavez Theater

08/13/09
Charles, LA L’Auberge Casino Lake

08/14/09
Houston, TX Verizon Theater

08/15/09
Dallas, TX House of Blues

08/16/09
Dallas, TX House of Blues

08/20/09
Louisville, KY 4th St. Live

08/21/09
Atlanta, GA The Masquerade

08/22/09
Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues

08/23/09
Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live

08/27/09
Atlantic City, NJ House of Blues

08/28/09
New York, NY Terminal 5

08/29/09
Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino

Other Tour Dates


09/04/09
Syracuse, NY New York State Fair

09/05/09
French Town, NJ RevGen Festival

09/10/09
Florida

09/11/09
Orlando, FL Universal Studios

Dave Matthews' Tour

09/12/09
Chula Vista, CA Cricket Wireless w/Dave Matthews Band


09/13/09
Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless w/Dave Matthews Band

Other Tour Dates

09/18/09
Son Fest Mount Vernon, OH Mount Vernon Nazarene University

10/30/09
St. Petersburg, FL Tropicana Field-UFL Game


Hello Hurricane Tour












11.8.09 El Cajon, CA - East County Performing Arts Center
11.11.09 West Hollywood, CA – The Roxy Theatre
11.13.09 Scottsdale, AZ – Martini Ranch
11.14.09 Tucson, AZ – The Rock
11.16.09 Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
11.17.09 Dallas, TX – House of Blues - Dallas
11.18.09 Austin, TX – The Parish
11.20.09 Houston, TX – Warehouse Live
11.21.09 New Orleans, LA – Parish @ House of Blues
11.22.09 Nashville, TN – Exit In
11.23.09 Nashville, TN – Exit In
11.24.09 Atlanta, GA – The Loft @ Center Stage
11.27.09 Anaheim, CA – House of Blues - Anaheim
11.28.09 Ventura, CA – Majestic Ventura Theater
12.03.09 Charlotte, NC - Amos' Southend
12.05.09 Richmond, VA - WDYL Snowball @ The National
12.07.09 Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live
12.08.09 New York, NY - The Fillmore Irving Plaza
12.09.09 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
12.19.09 Providence, RI Lupo's (WBRU Presents) [Non-HH Tour date]
12.11.09 Philadelphia, PA TLA (WRFF Presents) [Non-HH Tour date]
12.12.09 Hartford, CT Webster Theatre
12.13.09 Washington, DC 930 Club
12.14.09 Burlington, VT Higher Ground (WBTZ Presents) [Non-HH Tour date]

Other Tour Dates

2009-12-19
San Bernardino, CA X103.9's Very Merry Christmas Party @ Cal State
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So that's just about everything! Thanks for reading... this year saw us complete 2 full years of We're Awakening. And i've enjoyed just about every step of the way. Hope you've all enjoyed reading along as much as I've enjoyed writing. Here's to 2010!

Be sure to check out LOBH's far superior recap of 2009. :)

BREAKING: SWITCHFOOT KICKS OFF 2010 WITH PERFORMANCES ON "THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON" AND AT ESPN'S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TAILGATE

PRESS RELEASE courtesy of Big Hassle Media

BAND EXTENDS NORTH AMERICAN TOUR AND CONTINUES FOOD DRIVE BENEFITING LOCAL FOOD BANKS

SONGS FROM SWITCHFOOT'S NEW ALBUM, HELLO HURRICANE, LICENSED BY VERIZON, "ONE TREE HILL," "VAMPIRE DIARIES" THE FILM "TO SAVE A LIFE," OPENING JANUARY 22nd


NEWS SOURCE: Big Hassle Media
December 16, 2009

SWITCHFOOT will kick off 2010 with a performance on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" on Monday, January 4th. Later that week, the band will be one of two groups playing the ESPN National Championship Tailgate, which will take place at the Rose Bowl Stadium just before the Alabama Crimson Tide face the Texas Longhorns in the Citi BCS National Championship Game on January 7th.

The band has been playing sold-out shows since November, coinciding with the release of its latest album, Hello Hurricane, which debuted in the Top 15 of The Billboard 200. The North American tour, which has been extended through January, features SWITCHFOOT playing Hello Hurricane in its entirety, followed by an assortment of fan favorites from its previous albums. SWITCHFOOT will continue to collect donations for local food banks along the way, so fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable items to the shows. (See below for the itinerary and a list of food banks that will receive donations.)

"Mess Of Me," the lead single from Hello Hurricane, is used in the trailer and television commercials for Samuel Goldwyn's Films' "To Save A Life," which will be released on January 22nd. You can check out the trailer at: http://tosavealifemovie.com/index.php

The track has also been tapped for use by NHL Music Nights on Fox Sports Net and by ESPN for college football bumpers. Numerous other tracks from Hello Hurricane have been licensed - "The Sound (John M. Perkins' Blues)" was used in the recent Verizon Wireless ad campaign for the BlackBerry® Storm™ 2 while "Bullet Soul" was selected for WWE's "TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs" pay-per-view. "Yet" was heard in The CW's new hit show, "The Vampire Diaries," while the network's "One Tree Hill" used six minutes of the epic "Your Love Is A Song" to close a recent episode.

Recorded with producer/bassist Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre, Rilo Kiley, Eminem, and Pink), Hello Hurricane is SWITCHFOOT's seventh full-length and its first on Atlantic Records. The band was featured in a Rolling Stone "In The Studio" piece and on the cover of Relevant Magazine while the new album was a critic's pick in USA Today's Fall Music feature. "On 'Needle and Haystack Life,' singer Jon Foreman works his breathy croon over surging pop-punk guitars; 'This Is the Sound' has a brutish, heavy-metal vibe; 'Enough' rides a percolating art-folk groove; and 'Bullet Soul' could be something by Swedish garage rock band the Hives," said Billboard while Alternative Press hailed the title track as "an uplifting, hope-giving affirmation of resurgence."

Band members Jon Foreman (vocals/guitar), Tim Foreman (bass), Chad Butler (drums), Jerome Fontamillas (keys/guitar) and Drew Shirley (guitar) are continually seeking new ways to convey that message of hope. In that spirit, that they are launching a new website, http://www.theworldyouwant.com, which will spotlight goodness, beauty, and truth in everyday life. Fans are invited to contribute stories about people they know who are making this world a better place. With the holidays quickly approaching, Jon Foreman addressed the timely topic of "Compassion vs. Consumption" in the second of two articles he penned for The Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-foreman/compassion-vs-consumption_b_369800.html

Upcoming tour dates are as follows:

Date City/State Venue Food Bank

12/19 San Bernardino, CA The Coussoulis Arena Cal State San Bernardino CAPSBC
1/7 Pasadena, CA Rose Bowl (ESPN show) no food bank attached.
1/8 Reno, NV Knitting Factory Assistance League Reno-Sparks
1/9 San Francisco, CA Regency Ballroom San Francisco Food Bank
1/10 Medford, OR Main 1 Arts Center ACCES Food Services
1/11 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom Oregon Food Bank
1/12 Seattle, WA Showbox Northwest Harvest Food Bank
1/13 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom Greater Vancouver Food Bank
1/15 Edmonton, AB The Starlite Room Edmonton Food Bank
1/16 Calgary, AB Macewan Hall Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank
1/17 Saskatoon, SK Louis' Pub Saskatoon Food Bank
1/18 Winnipeg, MB Garrick Centre Winnipeg Harvest
1/21 Kitchener, ON Elements The Foodbank of Waterloo Region
1/22 Toronto, ON Phoenix Theatre Daily Bread Food Bank
1/23 Montreal, QC Studio Jpr Moisson Montreal Food Bank

Switchfoot plays "Evergreen" for the first time last night!

in the land of Philly! Sweet sauce!



Thanks also to our friend Josh, who provided the setlist from last night's show.


Setlist 1
Needle and Haystack
Mess of Me
Your Love Is a Song
The Sound (John M. Perkins)
Enough
Free
Hello Hurricane
Always
Bullet Soul
Yet
Sing It Out
Red Eyes

Setlist 2
Chem6a
Stars
Oh! Gravity.
Let That Be Enough
Evergreen
This Is Your Life
Dare You to Move
Awakening
Love is the movement/Meant to Live


Have a great weekend!

A how-to on Switchfoot crossover success...? ; more tour videos

Well, looks like the $5 deal on Amazon for "Hello Hurricane" has been extended even further. So, ff you haven't gotten any copy of "Hello Hurricane" yet, or if you want to help support the band with some extra change, or if you want to buy it for a friend, go grab it here now!

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BeliefNet posted an interesting analysis of Christian music and crossover success. They highlight how Switchfoot did it, and I find their ideas interesting:

The first story I was assigned on the topic of Christian music, back in the early '90s, was an investigation into whether Christian bands used religious talk shows the way mainstream bands boosted their records on the "Tonight" show or Letterman.

The answer? Not really. But it occurred to me while watching Switchfoot perform "Mess of Me" on the "Tonight" show this week--above, I embedded their "Kimmel" appearance from two weeks ago; it was hotter--that when Christian record producers first dreamed of bands that could play both on mainstream TV and at Christian festivals, Switchfoot was what they pictured. How did they do it? Some lessons of Switchfoot's crossover success:


Build a Christian audience first. Though bands hate to be restricted to Christian CD racks, gospel Grammys and CCM radio--one group of rocking believers sued their mainstream label when they were shunted to the Christian subsidiary--church basements and Christian festivals give a band a safe place to tighten their sound and find their voice. Think Beatles in Hamburg.

Get riffy with it. The crossover rock bands of the '90s tried to translate their Christian numbers into mainstream success without getting a grip on what drives the secular market: aural hooks to fight through the bigger, noisier crowd. From "Dare You to Move" to "Hello Hurricane," Switchfoot has stripped down from alt-jangle to a sound centered on gritty riffs.

Stay Christian. While they adapted to mainstream sound, Switchfoot has never stopped writing songs that make sense to both its audiences, unlike bands that tried to smuggle themselves across the Christian divide with secular pop. Even when they hit, they soon died because they had stopped doing what made them good. Witness "Mess of Me," which screeches about drugs and misspent days, but is ultimately about redemption.

^I like how the writer likened "church basements and Christian festivals" to The Beatle's time slogging and laboring in Hamburg before dominating the world. I do think this isn't something bands can look at as an end-all formula for crossover success. The situations are slightly different.

I'm not sure if the band was intentionally looking to crossover into the mainstream by toiling in the Christian scene, but they never wanted to start out in the CCM scene in the first place; rather, it was forced on them when Re:Think got bought out by Sparrow. Either way, whatever it was, it worked for the band... but to any upstart acts out there, i wouldn't recommend this method as a do-or-die.

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The Lords of Pain, a wrestling news site, posted a recap of the weeks events and mentioned "Bullet Soul":



^I still find it quite hilarious that "Bullet Soul" is associated with WWE. I expected it to be snatched up by some form of extreme sport, like BMX or skating or something... not... er... wrestling! But that's ok.

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The popular alternative band Cartel, who I used to listen to A TON, is opening for Switchfoot tonight in Atlanta. Check out what Cartel had to say about Switchfoot:



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Here is the "To Save a Life" movie trailer that features "Mess of Me," now on Youtube for easier streaming. Rate, comment, and share it with your friends!



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Now for some Tour Videos from the show in Asheville

Free



Red Eyes



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Have a good weekend friends! Be sure to check back on Monday for something kinda special... depends on whether you think it is or not! Anyways, I digress. Peace out!

Switchfoot Contest

Hey everybody, did you miss out on your chance to get a collector's edition of Hello Hurricane? Well, fortunately for you (and me) Jesusfreakhideout.com (JFH) has a great Switchfoot contest going on right now, and the winner will be the lucky owner of a collector's edition of Hello Hurricane. Just go to http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/contests/contest3.aspx to enter for free.


-TJ

BREAKING: TV, TV, TV! Switchfoot taking over the television airwaves

First, we got news that Switchfoot taped a performance for Craig Ferguson's show. We'll have details on that as things come along.

But we also have word from management, freshly confirmed, that Switchfoot will be playing The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien TOMORROW.

Tune into The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien on Wednesday December 2nd to see Switchfoot perform live.
11:35 pm EST / 10:35 pm CST on NBC.
http://www.tonightshowwithconanobrien.com/

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Check out the TV spot of "Bullet Soul" as the theme song on the WWE.

VOTE for Switchfoot on Alternative Addiction Song and Album of the Year!

Note: Hey friends. It's 2:18 am PST, and I am exhaustedly exhausted (yes, it's redundant). Sorry, I won't have a full update ready for you all until probably mid-Monday. By then, I'm sure LOBH will have already covered everything, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled there for news.

But please take your time to vote for Switchfoot on Alternative Addiction's Year-End polls. "Mess of Me" is up for Song of the Year, and "Hello Hurricane" is up for album of the year. Let's swamp the polls and get Switchfoot the top spots! (ONLY ONE VOTE is counted). Ready, set, go!

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Also, vote for the "Mess of Me" video here on the Steelroots Countdown. Peace, and good night!

Switchfoot show at the House of Blues, Anaheim, CA recap

Note: I had the opportunity to go see Switchfoot during one of their dates on the Hello Hurricane tour. Turns out that would be the single best show I've ever seen them play. Here is a rough recap, written last night right after the show... words can't do it justice, but here's my attempt...

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Red Eyes. That sums up the evening for me in more ways than a thousand words can review. It paints a feeling, a mood, a sketch of a moment in time, that will forever be etched in my memory – or at least for a long time. I've found that when I listen to music, I intentionally search for movement: I want to be moved to tears. Switchfoot did just that on a Black Friday night at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA.

I can launch into a long-winded, song-by-song review of how things went down tonight in Downtown Disney, but that would be a little redundant. There were highlights of course, like the instrumental outburst at the end of "Free" or the fist-pumping madness that was, "The Sound," or maybe Switchfoot medleying "Shadow" during "Stars" or Jon Foreman singing "Love Is the Movement" before "Meant to Live." But the highlight of the day lay in the more personal realm of things… to me anyways.

The day began at 12 p.m., when my brother, friend Bryant, his brother, and I arrived at the House of Blues in Downtown Disney. We met some pretty sweet people, including Mark, who had been waiting there since 5 a.m. in an attempt to get some front row spots for his family. Amazing guy. The dedication he showed was moving and inspiring… As the day wore on, the circumstances seemed to dictate that he would probably not get anywhere near the front, but amazingly enough, things worked out for him and his family. So glad for them.

We also met Jake and Lully, who were really great sports along with us as we waited the 9 hours until Switchfoot took the stage. We shared laughs and jokes about being the "TRUE" friends of the foot for waiting out there for hours and hours (no disrespect though, friends. I understand you paid good money for meet and greets, just saying. haha. All jokes…). But those were the great new friends we made, and that's what it's all about… building community…

Which, awesomely enough, included finally meeting a TON of the official boardie folk in person! Once our group finally got into the venue, we ran into a good friend of ours again, Josh, who brought us to join the rest of the boardies at the front of the crowd. Jana, Amy, those were funny, random times. haha. Gabs, thanks for the cookie. :) Amylynne, we did it! We got them to play "Faust!" Josh, you rock so much… I already told you that, but for real… you are amazing. Bryant, Alex, you guys are so fun to hang out with. To my little bro, thanks for coming; you chose the perfect show to come to for your first time. :)

So anyways, the show began, and there was much rejoicing as Switchfoot took the stage and any weariness from our long wait melted away. Playing through a record takes a lot of discipline, and the guys definitely appear now to have mastered the art. From "Needle and Haystack Life" 'til the very end of "Awakening," this was probably one of the tightest shows I have ever seen the band play –– every note and harmony was absolutely NAILED.

Throughout the evening, I was looking for a moment of transcendence… and found it, rather appropriately I suppose, at the end of the set when "Sing It Out" segued seamlessly into "Red Eyes." Something about that moment tore my soul apart, and I burst into shameless tears… caught me by surprise, but that's ok. "Holding on… holding on… with red eyes, what are you looking for?" Singing out those words to that song… unbelievable.

And any words I attempt to use to describe this show would be quite useless… just know that Switchfoot is at the HEIGHT of its game right now. This show was perfect… if you haven't gotten tickets, then what are you waiting for? (song reference whole-heartedly intended). Peace and love,

Job


Setlist

Set 1:

Needle and Haystack Life
Mess of Me
Your Love Is a Song
The Sound
Enough to Let Me Go
Free (Happy Is a Yuppie Word Intro)
Hello Hurricane
Always
Bullet Soul
Yet
Sing It Out
Red Eyes

Set 2:

Faust (by crowd request)
Stars (Shadow Proves the Sunshine medley)
Oh! Gravity.
Dirty Second Hands
Twenty Four
Dare You to Move
Meant to Live (Love Is the Movement intro)

Encore:

This Is Your Live
Awakening

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Here are some videos from the show last night.

Free



Yet



And... Red Eyes...



Dirty Second Hands



^Those two courtesy of Gabby. Thanks!

Stars



Awakening

Switchfoot Exclusive Interview on TVGUide

Happy Thanksgiving friends! Just one small update today. Here's a video of Jon Foreman and Chad Butler at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles talking about and discussing "Hello Hurricane," particularly "Mess of Me." Check it out, and rate and comment. :)



That's it! Have a great holiday with your friends and families, fellow Americans. And for those of you from the rest of the world, have a good, solid day filled with many blessings. Peace out! I will be at the Switchfoot show tomorrow, so expect at least a small review. For updates and stuff, follow my personal Twitter @joberooni. :)

Also, be sure to follow us @wereawakening on Twitter to stay updated while you're away or on the road throughout the long weekend.

"Daisy," more Hello Hurricane reviews, New FootColumn, and more!

Here's a video of Switchfoot playing "Daisy" Saturday night in Houston.



^Interesting take on the ending rock portion of the song. Not sure if I like it yet. :P What do you all think?

Also, here's a video of "Free" at the Oklahoma City show a few days back



^That song is amazing live.

"Meant to Live" Live 94.5 The Buzz Houston



"Dare You to Move" from the same performance



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Christianity Today did an interview last week with Jon Foreman. It's quite insightful to hear what Jon says, as usual. Check it out:

What are some of the Big Things you're saying with the new album?

This record communicates hope. I've gone through really dark times, when I can't find hope to write about. This was the hardest record we've ever made, because we were pushing for something bigger than we already attained. A big part of that lyrically was trying to push through the clouds to find the hope that transcends the pain.

What can you tell us about those dark times?

The past four years of my life have been among the darkest times I've ever been through. To tell you more here would be giving a piece of myself that I feel less comfortable with. I'd rather sing it out. It's all in the songs. I'm incredibly fortunate to be able to hide behind lyrics!

With songs like "Red Eyes," "Sing It Out," "Mess of Me," and "Hello Hurricane," it's not the typical "positive and encouraging" CCM album, but you still say it's an album of hope. What is that hope?

Hope, for me, does not ever start with a sunny day. Hope, for me, does not start with what you've already attained. If it's there in front of you physically, it's no longer faith. Hope is an expectancy that is by the very nature of the word built into the future. Many of these songs are singing from a place where the punchline of joy and happy endings has not yet arrived. We're still living in a very broken world. I still have a broken heart. It's from that context that hope is possible. This record is definitely singing from broken places, but it's not landing there. It's continuing to press further than where the song began. Music is this incredible vehicle where I'm allowed to figure things out for myself in the song.

Read the rest here!

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One blogger reviews "Hello Hurricane." Here's an excerpt:

As a result, “new Switchfoot album” wasn’t really something I was thinking about when November rolled around, and it wasn’t until I kept hearing about how good it was from everyone that I decided to hit Amazon MP3 and see if it lived up to the hype. Let me just start by spoiling my conclusion a bit and note that the album is now repeating for the third time and I still have an idiot grin on my face.

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The Examiner posted a review of the show at the Roxy from a couple weeks ago. A little late, but good nonetheless. I thought I'd take some liberties and repost it in its entirety.

Jon Foreman seemed to magically appear standing on a table in the middle of the Roxy singing a wordless refrain while the band played from the stage. The front man smiled benevolently, encouraging audience participation until they sang without him.

A simple yet confident opening speech swirled into "Needle and Haystack Life."
"Hello Hollywood, Hello Hurricane. We're Switchfoot."

From the audience response, one would never guess that the song is a non-single from a new album. The lyrics exhort the audience, "Don't let go, don't give up hope. All is forgiven. You're breathing in the highs and lows. We call it living." After "Needle and Haystack Life," Foreman asked if it would be OK that they decided to play the new album from start to finish in track order. The audience cheered their approval.

"Mess of Me," their lead single, electrified the room. They rocked it like a classic. The lyrics resounded clearly over power chords, "I am my own affliction, I am my own disease. There ain´t no drug that they could sell, Ah there ain´t no drugs to make me well."

They told a story sonically and visually. Seagulls suspended delicately from the rafters throughout the Roxy seemed have flown out of the album cover backdrop. The lighting varied with songs and verses to emphasize changing moods. The band put their album out on vinyl and reminded the audience of where they would turn over the record. The audience cheered.
The band brought in new instruments--a piano, a mandolin, a harmonica, an accordion. They played tightly and tunefully.

Keyboardist Fontamillas played more instruments than one could keep track of. Lead singer Jon Foreman sang with meaning and conviction, from the gentle caress of his falsetto, to his full voice in mid range. His plaintive tones on "Your Love is A Song" made the song emotive and unforgettable; far more memorable live than the studio version. The audience sang along heartily.

In the midst of the singing along, bobbing heads and relationship with the audience, one can't help but think there is something missing. Ironically, "Bullet Soul" gave a danceable, singable Nirvanaesque sound replete with power chords and cowbell. Fontamillas stepped to the front playing the cowbell to syncopated glory while Foreman sang from inside the crowd and even took pictures of the crowd with a fan's camera. However, it left a fever for more; more songs with variety like 2006's single "Oh! Gravity." Both the opening and the title song on "Hello Hurricane" show elements of surprise with varied textures, drum accents, and active counter melodies.

Switchfoot ensconced the overall sound in a blanket of relative sonic safety for this new album. To be fair, however, their infectious spirit of fraternity, solidarity, love of what they do, musical talent, and connection with their audience can cause even a cynic to sing along. Hopefully, they will use their newfound indie stardom as a sonic switchfoot to experiment with their sound again.

True to name, they certainly did a switchfoot by having greater success in alternative markets after Sony/BMG dropped them. They have not had an American Top 40 single since 2006, but that isn't everything. They market themselves using social media--Blogger, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube. Switchfoot invented a scavenger hunt through Blogger site that involves hiding "Mess of Me" both physically at disclosed locations and digitally on the internet. "Hello Hurricane" is now being distributed by Atlantic. The band's dedicated fans think Switchfoot still has something to say about having some hope in this world. A lesser band would have given up. Switchfoot is not a lesser band.

^Very nice. Read the source article here

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PLEASE check out Bleah's awesome new FootColumn, in which she writes about a recent interview Drew Shirley had with her local radio station. Read it here

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CHARTS

Good news. Over the weekend, "Mess of Me" jumped up two spots on the Alternative charts, and now rests at No. 26. Keep the requesting up!

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VOTING

Don't forget to take the time to vote! Also, as already said, remember to continue to request "Mess of Me" on your local rock stations! I can't emphasize how important it is for us to make our presence felt at our local radio stations. Our friend Bleah worked tirelessly on her radio station, and they have begun to play "Mess of Me!" Great job!

Our work will pay dividends. "Hello Hurricane" has already debuted and made a mark on the Billboard charts. It's now our job to make this a very long and fruitful album cycle for the band! The way to do that is to help with radio and voting. Thanks friends for your time. :)


- WRRV (No. 1!)

- 98.7 (Los Angeles) Badass 8 WE WERE NO. 3 AGAIN LAST FRIDAY NIGHT! We need to continue to put pressure on and get higher! The station is starting to spin the song more... VOTE.

- 91x (San Diego) Christy Taylor's REALLY BIG Countdown Keep requesting each day to keep it on the countdown! We were no. 1 last night. YES!

- RadioU's Top Ten Most Wanted. We still have the top spot! Well done! Let's keep it that way!

-

Again, please go here to see a list of stations already playing "Mess of Me" and phone numbers to call in and request the song with!! This is our time to shine, friends!

Foot Column: Drew Shirley on Hello Hurricane Debut

I was in the car last week when I heard that in ten minutes, Drew Shirley of Switchfoot, was going to be doing an interview on my local Christiain radio station. I was so excited. So I made my mom leave me in the car, with it running, while she went shopping so that I would be able to hear it. I pulled out my MP4 and turned it on record and waited. Well, lets just say it didn't come on for exactly twenty three minutes (yes I did pay that much attention). But when it finally came on it was so worth it.

Drew explained the heart of this band in way that was truly inspiring to me. He talked about how they want to give back to each town they go into; to give more than "just a great night of music," but to really give back something that is needed. Like when they come to Houston, they will be supporting a charity that gives blankets to the homeless, and they are encouraging everyone who comes to that show to bring blankets. They've done canned goods, where everyone who comes is asked to bring non-perishables. Everywhere they go they link up with someone, and they help. Not for publicity, but because they want to be who they say they are all the time. But in truth, it doesn't matter if they were this huge (and amazing) band or not. This is their heart and soul. This is who they are. And they have no problem with letting you see the real them.

Then he went on to talk about the album, how it was made, the story, the feeling behind it. He talked about how Tim just randomly said "what about Hello Hurricane?" and they loved it and shaped the entire album around it. He talked about the stuff the band has been through and how the album reflects their victory over that. He talked about economic hurricanes, relational hurricanes, and physical hurricanes. I think Drew gave a huge amount of enlightenment to the entire album.

Now I'm sure that if you were one of those very lucky people who bought the deluxe version of Hello Hurricane, not very much of this is new to you. But for those of you like me (which I'm sure, there have to be more of you out there) who didn't buy it, this will give you a new respect for the album. And even if you've heard it before, I'm sure it doesn't hurt to take another listen.

I've included the manuscript. No need to hold you any longer, here it is:


Jen: So we're gonna talk more about the album, we'll do that in a few minutes. But you guys are comin' to Houston November 19th for some ticket servent street and greet events. Basically what this is, its three locations around houston where you can hang out with the guys from Switchfoot for free. And I love that the first one is at Star of Hope in downtown Houston I feel like everytime you guys come to town that you're doing something good for Houston and helping us collect blankets for the star of hope, for the homeless in Houston.

Drew: Yeah, thanks for bringin' that up. Its something that we really do feel strongly about. When we do a tour, we try to find something in every town that gives back to the community that we're going into. It kinda started with just the thought of, how can we leave more than just the great night of music, with these people? So often we'll come into a city, and we come in on the bus, and we get out and walk around a little bit and see the city, and its like, a lot of the time, we're in the rock and roll clubs where its not the best parts of town and stuff, and you just see things. And I don't know, its just we kinda have a heart for that, as a band. You know, we just find needs and we see things that are going on and we just hear about things, like Habitat for Humanity, and we hear about things from Star of Hope, and we just wanted to be involved, like every time we hear about something, we're just like "Yeah, we want to be apart of that, we want to be doing that stuff." 'Cause you know, its just something that we can do while we're there, that doesn't take away from the music but adds on to what we're doing and it adds to kinda the heart of the band. We really like people to know what we believe in so that they can also join in with that cause.

Jen: Definitely. Well we definitely want everyone to get involved. Find out more about the ticket servant street and greet event at the three loctions around Houston. Check out Ticket Servant.com.
And what it really comes down to is the core of what we're called to do, its basically scriptural right?

Drew: You know, the thing that we try to live by is, you're not just who you are on stage, you want to be the same on and off stage. We're just really honest with the fans and who we are. So we're talking on stage about, you know, helping people, hope, dare you to move, you know, pick yourself up, we have these things ingrained into what we believe and in our songs. And you have to live it. Because actions speak louder then words. So, we just really feel like that's part of our, calling, if you will, as a band. Its just our actions and how we do busniness, and how we organize or tours and everything.

Jen: Absolutely. Drew from Switchfoot today, the album is in stores. Its called Hello Hurricane. And we're not done yet we're gonna talk about the album and Drew's also gonna help us with some lessons on how to be Switchfoot cool. On Ksbj. (Music Plays)

Drew: This is the day we have been waiting for, for so long!!

Jen: I can imagine. We're so excited for you guys. Well the album title is Hello Hurricane and everyone in Houston is so grateful that you've honored us by this song to us, I know thats not really the case but I realize the hurrcane you're talking about is more about, not just this album being a project, but a journey for you for you guys.

Drew: Yeah, and you know, we don't really use the word hurricane lightly. You know, a few of us, Jon and Tim, grew up on the east coast. We've seen, like you said, that what happens in your home town, and we don't take that lightly. And you know the album title, Hello Hurricane, wasn't specifically about just the physical weather system of a hurricane. We really started just looking around and its really just a symbol of something that's massive, and destructive, disorderly, and just confusing. We're suffering an economic hurricane right now, if you will. There are social hurricanes that we've written about in some of the songs on our album. You know, sometimes, relationships can be just completely sending you in different directions and you don't know whats going on, and its confusing and its like a hurricane. Now the name of this album stems from us, seeing the storm and realizing that we want to embrace the storm and basically cope, knowing that we are going to get out the other side. We want that album to carry that message of the lyric in the title song, because actually, in Hello Hurricane it says: "Hello Hurrcane, you can't silence my love." So we came up with it, and put that title even before the album was written. Our bass player Tim actually said "What do you think of this as a contract, you know as a title," and we were like wow, that's amazing. It's powerful, it's the message of that we've been talking about and thinking about and going through. I mean, to be honest, as a band, we went through a really hard two years. In the past two years that this album kind of came through on that journey, and it was very emotional for us as a band because we lived it, we lived this message. And you know, its something that we want to speak at from the experience that we've had. While it might not be as hard as it is for someone who's in the actual hurricane or lost loved ones in that way, but it does carry that same heart.

Jen: Definitely, Drew with Switchfoot joining us this afternoon. So excited, its the album release date. You can pick up your copy in stores now its called Hello Hurricane and be sure to check out ticket servant .com to find about chances for you to meet these guys November 19th. and ticket servent street and greet.

Please feel free to give me your comments/suggestions/questions/criticisms (yes I like those too). Because I like knowing what you guys think.
Thank you for reading!

-Bleah Briann.

More "Hello Hurricane" Reviews!

Christianity Today posted their review of "Hello Hurricane." Excerpt:

In all the swells and sways of grungy guitar riffs and drilling drums, there's something really authentic about Hello Hurricane. Not that it is without influences. Mandatory derivatives of Coldplay and U2 are inserted alongside tinges of The Killers and JET, and even a skosh of Modest Mouse, but the overall record feels original—thanks in part to producer/bassist-pro Mike Elizondo's (Dr. Dre, Pink, Fiona Apple) varied experience.

^I've noticed that most of the Christian publications have really dug this record. Waiting on Rolling Stone, Spin, and Paste Magazine to review this record.

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Our friend TJ wrote up a review of "Hello Hurricane" for The Christian Manifesto. Excerpt

Musically speaking, Switchfoot delivers their loudest album to date. Numbers like “Mess of Me” and “Bullet Soul” definitely insure that Switchfoot won’t be accused of turning the volume down on this effort. In addition to this, Switchfoot quite honestly opens up their hearts on their seventh studio effort. From the chorus of “Your Love is a Song” to the piano ballad “Always”, the band has put together what is arguably their most lyrically direct album to date.

^Be sure to check out the rest of the review. :)

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HM Magazine has a review as well. Excerpt:

Most bands don’t rebound after having the amount of success that Switchfoot did with “The Beautiful Letdown” and then the “let downs” of 2 albums following it. I too was even a skeptic of if Switchfoot could bounce back and in some regards had lost my desire for the band’s material. The 3 years between albums by all industry standards could’ve killed this band but I believe this album will be the band’s shining moment. I believe this album will be the album people remember.

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Air1 is featuring Switchfoot. Check out the banner across their website:



They also have an audio interview. Check it out here. It's nothing too too new, but still a great listen. Be sure to listen to all the sections. "We knew we were doomed when we called the song 'Always,' because we were always working on it." - Tim Foreman. haha. nice.

We'll be back with full updates on Monday. Thanks for reading. :)

Thoughts on the upcoming OneRepublic Tour

Been hearing a lot of reactions over the news that Switchfoot will be going out on tour with OneRepublic. Some are confused (styles are different?), angry (another opening tour??), and some are ecstatic. Here are some of my thoughts on this:

I'm all for the band gaining new fans. I love Switchfoot, and if I can share them with as many people as possible, I don't mind. Touring isn't always going to be about pleasing the old regular fams; it's also about getting the word out and gaining new fans too. If this tour will help in that aspect, and possibly set up a bigger headlining tour in the summer or fall, SWEET.

OneRepublic is HUGE –– they'll definitely attract the younger Top 40 demographic; this should reacquaint Switchfoot with the mainstream audience quite well. So far, the rock crowd has been appealed to in promotion, with "Mess of Me" at radio and "The Sound" on the Blackberry commercials. Maybe this is the band's way of letting the pop world know, "Hey, we're still here!" Maybe they'll release "Your Love Is a Song" to radio to coincide with this tour? Maybe?

So, if you don't like the other band enough, or are not happy that Switchfoot is opening for a bigger act (again), then you don't have to go. The Hello Hurricane tour is still going strong, so be sure to go ahead and get on out there! Otherwise, there's always next time. :]

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Hearitfirst.com has some more exclusive Switchfoot interview videos where they talk about the album and "Sing It Out." Check 'em out. It's a great watch/listen.

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Switchfoot apparently has a new tribute album! Target.com has this listing. Go there to listen to previews... I'm very very tempted to grab this. Sounds really good.

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IN THE NEWS

NewsOK.com has an article about Switchfoot. Check it out:

Their plan for the tour — which began Sunday in San Diego, their hometown, and reaches the Diamond Ballroom in Oklahoma City on Monday — is to play "Hello Hurricane” in its entirety, followed by fan favorites from previous records. Foreman said the home audience liked the heaping helping of new tunes just fine.

"We had no idea what to expect,” Foreman said. "We’ve never done anything like this. In the more than six records that we’ve put out, we’ve never actually played the entire record from Track 1 to Track 12. So, it was a new experience for us. It was really quite moving.”

Foreman saw fans responding as enthusiastically to the anthemic "This Is the Sound” ("This is the sound from the discontented mouths of a haunted nation!”) and the Bono/Edgy-sounding "Needle and Haystack Life” as they did to the hits ("Dare You to Move,” "Meant to Live”).

"It’s always fun to play new songs, but usually you spread them out over the course of an evening of music where you’re playing songs that everyone’s familiar with, along the way,” Foreman said.

Read the rest here.

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The Great Falls Tribune posted a glowing review of "Hello Hurricane."

It is my belief that any song, or album, should not be judged according to the first impression it leaves, but on how many times you are forced to hit the replay button and how long it sticks in your head.

The latest Switchfoot CD, "Hello Hurricane," is a perfect example. On the first run-through it seems to be only a good album — not a great one. And to be perfectly honest, on some of the most beautiful songs ("Your Love is a Song," for instance), the initial impression is that lead singer Jon Foreman had a mild case of laryngitis while recording. But for some reason you play it again ... and again ... and then you're humming it for the rest of the day, and maybe singing it when no one's around. That's a great album.

^SO true. Read the rest of it here

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CHARTS

"Mess of Me" holds strong at No. 27 on the Alternative charts. It continues to increase in spins, and things are looking good for a long, successful chart run –– IF we hold up our end of the bargain and request it at our local radio stations. Please make sure to do that! It's definitely working. Details below.

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VOTING

Don't forget to take the time to vote! Also, remember, remember, remember to request "Mess of Me" on your local rock stations! Our work will pay dividends. "Hello Hurricane" has already debuted and made a mark on the Billboard charts. It's now our job to make this a very long and fruitful album cycle for the band! The way to do that is to help with radio and voting. Thanks friends for your time. :)


- WRRV

- 98.7 (Los Angeles) Badass 8 WE WERE NO. 3 LAST NIGHT! We need to continue to put pressure on and get higher! The station is starting to spin the song more... VOTE.

- 91x (San Diego) Christy Taylor's REALLY BIG Countdown Keep requesting each day to keep it on the countdown! We were no. 1 last night. YES!

- RadioU's Top Ten Most Wanted. We still have the top spot! Well done! Let's keep it that way!

-

Again, go here to see a list of stations already playing "Mess of Me" and phone numbers to call in and request the song with!! This is our time to shine, friends!

BREAKING: Switchfoot and OneRepublic to tour early 2010!

Right when I say it's a slow news day, look what happens!

This just in, from the Twitter account: @ConcertIdeas:

- OneRepublic and Switchfoot are going out together and are looking for colleges Feb. 10-March 20.

Um, crazy. That's all we have for now though. Will keep you posted once we hear more.

Switchfoot video-fest (aka Slow news day)

Since it IS a slow news day, you all probably have more time on your hands. So, take some time to go request "Mess of Me" on your local Rock Radio stations! ;) Info below!

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Twitter:

- watch our san diego version of the 'rock star guide to the galaxy' over at rhapsody! http://bit.ly/1zhyRr

Yupp! Check it out. Tim Foreman and Drew Shirley give you a guided tour of their favorite locations across San Diego in this awesome video. I'm moving there someday.

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allmusic finally posted their review of "Hello Hurricane. Can't tell, but I think it's favorable.

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Now for videos videos videos...

First up today, BennyTek1 on Youtube uploaded an oldie-but-goodie video of Switchfoot playing "On Fire" almost two years ago at the Irvine show during the Appetite for Construction Tour. I was at that show, so that's why it holds some special meaning to me. Here's the raw, HD footage:



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Here are some great videos from tour

You (OKC)



Sing It Out (Dallas)



Your Love Is a Song (Texas)



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VOTING

Don't forget to take the time to vote! It's not that much of a time-waster (only a couple minutes at most). Also, remember, remember to request "Mess of Me" on your local rock stations. "Hello Hurricane" has already debuted and made a mark on the Billboard charts. It's now our job to make this a very long and fruitful album cycle for the band! The way to do that is to help with radio and voting. Thanks friends for your time. :)


- WRRV

- 98.7 (Los Angeles) Badass 8 WE WERE NO. 3 LAST NIGHT! We need to continue to put pressure on and get higher! The station is starting to spin the song more... VOTE.

- 91x (San Diego) Christy Taylor's REALLY BIG Countdown Keep requesting each day to keep it on the countdown! We were no. 1 last night. YES!

- RadioU's Top Ten Most Wanted. We still have the top spot! Well done! Let's keep it that way!

- We need to get "Mess of Me" on to KROQ, in order to get this single off the ground. Go HERE to request it! Keep it up friends! Don't slow down, WE NEED THIS. Keep going.

-

Again, go here to see a list of stations already playing "Mess of Me" and phone numbers to call in and request the song with!! This is our time to shine, friends!

Switchfoot Debuts at No. 13 on the Billboard 200

Switchfoot made it to No. 13 on the Billboard 200 this week, with a solid 39,000 copies sold of "Hello Hurricane" sold. They trailed notable names such as Bon Jovi at 163,000 copies sold, good for No. 1 on the 200, and the No. 8 Flyleaf, at 56,000 copies "Memento Mori." (EW)

^I say it's a solid debut. It honestly could be worse, and although it finished well behind "Oh! Gravity." in terms of first-week sales, I think it has more potential for the long-term. Also, "Hello Hurricane" didn't have a gold-certified hit record in front of it (See: "Nothing Is Sound"), and the music industry has slid quite a ways in the last three years. This is a GREAT debut friends.

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Nashville! Switchfoot has added a 2nd Show for 11/23 in your town! Click link below to purchase tickets.

PURCHASE.

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Have you ever wanted to see Jon Foreman compete in a game show? Well, here's your chance ! (well, sorta)

Jon is featured as one of the contestants who answers some environmental questions on theclimatechallenge.org/; the only thing is, YOU get to decide how Jon answers. It's rather hilarious... I tried answering for him, and since he gives the answer you choose, he also got the question wrong. So funny. Try it.

Note:Jon can be found in the Hot, Hot, Hot and Pollution Soulution categories. LOL.

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iTunes finally has their official review of "Hello Hurricane." Here's an excerpt:

Roaring back on a new label with a retooled sound, Switchfoot turns Hello Hurricane into a triumphant statement of purpose. It's not that the album s free from fear and doubt –– lead singer/songwriter Jon Foreman grapples with a host of inner afflictions in these tracks. But the strength of Hello Hurricane comes from its sense of spiritual victory in the face of overwhelming odds, aided by some of the brawniest rock the band has laid down since its inception.

Read the rest here, and if you haven't already, BUY IT. :)

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Friends, management has emailed us asking for some help at these local markets:

SALT LAKE CITY, UT, KZZQ
Website: www.theblazeonline.com
Request : (Phone) 801-470-9750 (Utah County)
801-570-9750 (Salt Lake County)
801-670-9750 (Davis County)

PHOENIX, AZ, KEDJ
Website: www.fm1039online.com
Request: (Phone) 602-260-1039 | Text: 91039

^If you live in those areas, please call in and request "Mess of Me." It would help the cause greatly, and if you're not from the area, if you feel so obliged, take a break from working the phones in your city and help us out there too!

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CHARTS

Speaking of "Mess of Me," it's holding strong at No. 28 on the Alternative rock charts. Keep requesting! Link to request page can be found in the voting section below:

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VOTING

Don't forget to take the time to vote! It's not that much of a time-waster (only a couple minutes at most). Also, remember, remember to request "Mess of Me" on your local rock stations. "Hello Hurricane" has already debuted and made a mark on the Billboard charts. It's now our job to make this a very long and fruitful album cycle for the band! The way to do that is to help with radio and voting. Thanks friends for your time. :)


- WRRV

- 98.7 (Los Angeles) Badass 8 WE WERE NO. 3 LAST NIGHT! We need to continue to put pressure on and get higher! The station is starting to spin the song more... VOTE.

- 91x (San Diego) Christy Taylor's REALLY BIG Countdown Keep requesting each day to keep it on the countdown! We were no. 1 last night. YES!

- RadioU's Top Ten Most Wanted. We still have the top spot! Well done! Let's keep it that way!

- We need to get "Mess of Me" on to KROQ, in order to get this single off the ground. Go HERE to request it! Keep it up friends! Don't slow down, WE NEED THIS. Keep going.

-

Again, go here to see a list of stations already playing "Mess of Me" and phone numbers to call in and request the song with!! This is our time to shine, friends!

"Hello Hurricane" No. 6 on iTunes Weekly Sales

The Associated Press released the charts of iTunes album sales released on the week of Nov. 16, 2009.

Albums:

1. "Before I Self Destruct," 50 cent
2. "Glee - The Music, Vol. 1," Glee Cast
3. "Play On," Carrie Underwood
4. "The Circle," Bon Jovi
5. "Attention Deficit," Wale
6. "Hello Hurricane," Switchfoot
7. "Memento Mori," Flyleaf
8. "Alter the Ending," Dashboard Confessional
9. "Ocean Eyes," Owl City
10. "Fearless," Taylor Swift

^Notably, it finished ahead of Flyleaf and Dashboard Confessional. We'll be hearing other album charts news very soon, so sit tight!

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Patrol Magazine reviewed "Hello Hurricane," giving it 6.9/10 stars. Read it here

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Our friends over at LOBH had an exclusive interview Andy Barron, the photographer for Switchfoot and the man responsible behind the artwork for "Hello Hurricane." Here's an excerpt:

Land of Broken Hearts (LOBH): Can you tell us the story behind the Hello Hurricane CD cover photo? Where was the photo taken? How did you take it?

Andy Barron: It was on the Up In Arms tour in New Jersey and we had a show on a pier over the water. There was a window through the bathroom that you could use and sneak out onto the roof, so we did. The guys were running around having fun with the birds and at one point I laid down and looked up and snapped [the shot]. I was hoping a bird wouldn't poop on my lens.


LOBH: I have to ask... is there ANY photoshopping on the image? Color correcting? Sharpening? Contrast? Layers?

Andy: As much as I would love to say there was no PS work to it, there is. Nothing crazy though. I adjusted colors and whatnot to my liking, and then there was one bird we affectionately called the 'hammerhead bird' because it lined up with another bird to make it look like a bird had a whole other bird for a head. I hope that makes sense. Needless to say I cleaned that up a little bit, but nothing too drastic was done to it.

^I loved it! Be sure to check out the rest!

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Today marks the release of the latest American Idol winner, Kris Allen. Significant is that one of Allen's songs was co-written with Jon Foreman.

He tells MTV that he learned a lot from writing with the Switchfoot singer:

But it was fellow dude rockers Jon Foreman (from Switchfoot) and the Fray's Joe King who Allen said he learned the most from. "As an artist, I feel like I can relate to them. And obviously, Jon Foreman's lyrics are outta this world," Allen gushed. Foreman and King's efforts resulted in the inspiring anthem "Lifetime" and the jumpy, George Harrison-inspired "Alright With Me," respectively.

^That's awesome. Be sure to check out "Lifetime" on iTunes or Amazon if you can.

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It's tour time! And Switchfoot have been busy tweeters, keeping the Twitter feed interesting. Here are highlights:

- Had an amazing time tonight in OKC. Thanks for the bonus encore! Played "you" for the first time ever. Dallas HOB tomorrow! -tf

- Up early, getting ready to play some tunes live on Good Morning Dallas TV.

- Done with tv, now on our way to 102.1 the EDGE. Drew's mustache says hello. http://yfrog.com/79mghj



- Here's jon playing Stars on guitar while crowdsurfing http://bit.ly/2p0GVI don't think he's played it better! -tf



- Good news Nashville. For those of you who can't get in to our sold-out show this sunday, we are adding a second night on Monday!

- Chad's tracking a cover of a tune by The Verve on the verizon bus right now, guess which one? http://yfrog.com/13kerytrj



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CHARTS

"Mess of Me" moved up a slot today, and is now No. 28 on the Alternative charts! Keep up the requesting! It's working.

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VOTING

Don't forget to take the time to vote! It's not that much of a time-waster (only a couple minutes at most). Also, remember, remember to request "Mess of Me" on your local rock stations. Again, it's re-surging at radio, so be sure to help keep the pressure on!

- WRRV

- 98.7 (Los Angeles) Badass 8 We need to continue to put pressure on and get higher! The station is starting to spin the song more... VOTE.

- 91x (San Diego) Christy Taylor's REALLY BIG Countdown Keep requesting each day to keep it on the countdown! We were no. 1 last night. YES!

- RadioU's Top Ten Most Wanted. We still have the top spot! Well done! Let's keep it that way!

- We need to get "Mess of Me" on to KROQ, in order to get this single off the ground. Go HERE to request it! Keep it up friends! Don't slow down, WE NEED THIS. Keep going.

-

Again, go here to see a list of stations already playing "Mess of Me" and phone numbers to call in and request the song with!! This is our time to shine, friends!