John M. Perkins benefit show loose ends; new Fiction Family tune; Show videos

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Hope you all had a great weekend! Here are some last things to tie up from the John M. Perkins benefit show last week. First off, we finally have a full video of Switchfoot performing "The Sound."



^Electric.

Next, Belhaven University posted their own recap video of the event. Drew Shirley and Jerome Fontamillas are interviewed:



Christian Post did a story on the event. LINK.

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Now for a quick Q&A interview with Jerome. Here, he talks a bit about "Vice Verses."

OS: The upcoming album Vice Verses contains material from your sessions for Hello Hurricane. Can listeners expect a similar album?

JF: We’re hoping to push further, creatively and musically. Whether it’s a natural progression from Hello Hurricane or not, you never know. We’re still planning how we’re going to go about recording the album. We have an abundance of songs (like 90), and John is a writing machine. So we have new songs, and you’re adding 20 or 30 into the mix. So it will be interesting.

OS: So are you guys planning on releasing that other material from the Hello Hurricane sessions?

JF: We’re hoping to. There are a lot of songs. I’m not saying all of them are good, but we just have to dwindle it down to a regular amount of songs. We are diving into the idea of a double album or something. That’s the greatest thing—that we’re able to release these songs and other people will hear them. We’re just trying to figure out a way to get these songs out there so people can hear them. A CD is one format, but there are other ways too.

OS: Can we expect to hear them live?

JF: We’re not prepared yet to play the songs that haven’t been on albums yet. I know John has been doing these “after shows” where he will go out after the show with his guitar into some corner somewhere and start playing our new songs. It’s pretty awesome, because we’re really excited about the new songs. We’re getting geared up to go record them.

For the rest of the interview, head over to Ourstage.com.

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Now for some "Hello Hurricane" tour news! Switchfoot played a few shows, including one at Liberty University. We've got copious video footage from that one. First,

"The Sound"



^Watch the ending. Jon Foreman channels some "Dirty Second Hands" live action at the end there. You feelin' that?

24/Dare



More videos:

Needle
Oh! Gravity.
Meant to Live
Free
Stars
Gone
On Fire
Your Love Is a Song
Dare You to Move

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Also, our friend Josh sent in the setlist from the show last night in Philly's Electric Factory.

Main:

Stars
Bullet Soul
Mess of Me
Gone
This Is Your Life
The Sound
Your Love Is A Song
Free
Yet
Company Car
Sabotage
Dark Horses
On Fire
Awakening
Meant to Live

Encore:
Hello Hurricane
Dare You to Move

"Dark Horses" Video:



^It's great to see "Dark Horses" making its way into setlists now. I'm excited to hear how that song turns out in the studio. Also, Josh tells us "Your Love Is a Song" is being played in G now in order to help preserve Jon Foreman's voice for the "Vice Verses" sessions coming up.

^Thanks bro.

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Do you want in on new Fiction Family material? Well, you're in luck – that is, if there is a Ben and Jerry's ice cream shop close by. They are giving away free Bonnaroo Festival artist tracks, and Jon's other band is included.

The song is called "The Ashes of Rock and Roll (Fool's Gold)" according our friends over at LOBH.

Details from the Ben and Jerry's website:

Saving Jon Foreman's voice; Midsouth Fair (September 30)

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Switchfoot played the Midsouth Fair yesterday. Here are some videos:

Needle



The Sound



More videos here.

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Here's an interesting news bit. Since the John M. Perkins benefit show, Switchfoot's been playing "Your Love Is a Song" a bit differently. Observe:



^The band is playing the song in a lower key than the original on the record. Instead of playing in A, the band is now playing in G. This is possibly a way to help relieve the strain on Jon Foreman's voice, or as a remedy for his sore throat issues. It is definitely a tough song to sing in the studio, let alone live. And it's been a long year of touring for the band, so maybe it's time to preserve Jon's voice before Fiction Family and Switchfoot start tracking in earnest for their new records.

It does sound a little less dynamic when sung in the lower key. But, what are your thoughts? Chime in!

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WLBT did a news report on Switchfoot and the John M. Perkins benefit show. I love this quote from it:

"It so moved him that he said why is the world not responding to this message. He said 'I'm gonna make the world read this book, and so I'm gonna write a song we call The Sound," said Perkins.

The TV station also did a video news story on the event, interviewing Tim Foreman and Dr. Perkins as well. Here's the link.

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Tying up some extra things from the benefit show, here's a video of the choir practicing "Your Love Is a Song"



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And lastly, a preview news story on the band's Philly Electric Factory show this weekend.

An Evening with Switchfoot and John M. Perkins RECAP

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It was an evening to honor the great man who inspired "The Sound." It was a night to unite people of every color and race. It was an evening that brought a San Diego rock band to the halls of Belhaven University, where music drove the evening and brought "truth into art," in the words of John M. Perkins himself.

An Evening With Switchfoot and John M. Perkins was an amazing event. Having missed the event itself on the stream due to prior arrangements, I have had to view this engagement through the lens of YouTube videos and stream recordings. And even through that, there is a sense of prevailing peace and unity that pervaded the night, and the idea that "love is the final fight" was impactfully preeminent throughout.

The rest of this recap will have videos and highlights from the night, but the message and invitation still stands. The sound of a generation that is willing to let go of the past and move into a bright new future is stirring up; take the call and join in, my friends. You can't drown it out. Can you here it now? "This is the sound."

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What better way to begin but start with the man himself, Dr. John M. Perkins:

JOHN M. PERKINS Part 1



Part 2



For more stream recordings, head over to our friends LOBH's YouTube channel.

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After the message, a fellow by the name of Big John introduces Switchfoot, who play "Stars" while Dr. Perkins rocks out in the front row.



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A choir of singers joined Switchfoot on stage throughout the night and added a new beauty to their songs. Check them out in full force on the following:

Sing It Out



The Sound



Your Love Is a Song



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I'll close by quoting Dr. Perkins, who said "This is a continuation. This is not no quick shot tonight and it's over with. This is a continuation of us working together to reflect the Kingdom of God in Jackson."

"Love is the movement..." "Love is the final fight..."

Thanks for reading, everyone.

John M. Perkins Benefit show tonight; "The Sound" in the Philippines; More Food Drives this fall!

For up to date (most of the time) news and original opinions before they hit the update, follow us on Twitter!

Be sure to tune in TONIGHT, September 29, for the special John M. Perkins/Switchfoot benefit event at 5 pm PST/8 pm EST. For more details, click here.

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Well, friends, tonight is the night! The John M. Perkins benefit show called "An Evening with: Switchfoot & John M Perkins - The Sound!" is happening tonight, at 5 PM PST/8 PM EST. Be sure to tune into Ustream to watch the performance, or you can come back to this space, as we'll have it streaming here as well.



In advance of the event, the Clarion Ledger in Jackson has done a story and talked to John P. Perkins and John M. Perkins (related). Here's an excerpt:

The performance will help rebuild the foundation's music studio, which was burglarized in 2008.

Perkins' grandson, John P. Perkins, is the foundation's development director. He said Switchfoot had just finished recording Hello Hurricane when they decided to lay one more track.

Switchfoot lead singer/guitarist Jon Foreman "wrote that one (The Sound), and it became a smash hit," said the younger Perkins. "When they got together in May to record the video, (John M. Perkins) told them about the recording studio burglary. We didn't have it up eight months before it was burglarized."

There's a lot of other great things to be read in this story, so definitely check it out here.

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In other news, today is Chart Wednesday! Just a quick update, "The Sound" is now officially the No. 8 Alternative single in the country, while "Your Love Is a Song" has moved up to No. 32 on the Adult Pop Songs chart. Just another successful week for Switchfoot. Keep up the requesting!

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The news keeps getting better. Our friend Raven from the Philippines has sent us this bit of sweet news:

The Sound is currently no.10 on Magic 89.9 (popular radio station in the Philippines) ......and no.18 on channelv(music channel)...just wanna let you all know :D

^That's just fantastic!

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Our friend David has also sent us this bit.

Yes it's true. Switchfoot's Mess Of Me was played on Friday night on Coast To Coast Am's radio show heard all around America. Shortly before the song was played the show's host, Art Bell, told America to rock. Coast To Coast is an overnight show dealing on paranormal abd conspiracies. The song was played at about 12:30 p.m{central time}.

^That's something new. Great to hear that, David. Thanks a lot!

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Any of you looking to head out to the fall leg of the Hello Hurricane tour? If so, the guys will be running the Food Drive again. Bring canned goods to support your local community!

Here is a list of Participating Food Banks:

Oct 01 Lynchburg VA / Liberty University / Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
Oct 02 Cheswick PA / Ches-A-Rena / Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
Oct 03 Philadelphia PA / Electric Factory / Philabundance
Oct 05 Richmond VA / The National / Central Virginia Food Bank
Oct 06 Norfolk VA / The Norva / Foodbank of South Eastern Virginia
Oct 07 Montgomery AL / Riverwalk Amphitheatre / Montgomery Area Food Bank
Oct 08 Baton Rouge LA / Varsity Theatre / Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank
Oct 09 Tyler TX / The Venue Down Under / East Texas Food Bank
Oct 10 Austin TX / Austin City Limits
Oct 14 Omaha NE / Sokol Auditorium / Food Bank for the Heartland
Oct 15 St. Charles MO / Lindenwood University / St. Louis Area Food Bank
Oct 16 Kansas City KS / Memorial Hall / Harvesters Food Bank
Oct 28 Santa Cruz CA / Catalyst Club
Oct 29 Avila Beach CA / Avila Beach Event Area / San Luis Obispo Food Bank
(The Almost supporting except 10/10  10/28)


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And lastly, we hear that the Bad Religion compilation that Switchfoot is contributing to will be available as a free download from Spin.com. Awesome!

Press Release: SWITCHFOOT ANNOUNCES SEPTEMBER 29th CONCERT IN JACKSON, MS

For up to date (most of the time) news and original opinions before they hit the update, follow us on Twitter!

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 21, 2010


SWITCHFOOT ANNOUNCES SEPTEMBER 29th CONCERT
IN JACKSON, MS

EVENT WILL BENEFIT JOHN M. PERKINS FOUNDATION FOLLOWING THE ROBBERY OF ITS MUSIC STUDIO

DR. PERKINS, THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST WHO INSPIRED SWITCHFOOT’S TOP 10 SINGLE “THE SOUND,” WILL BE A FEATURED SPEAKER

USTREAM WILL BROADCAST THE EVENT LIVE


On Wednesday, September 29th, SWITCHFOOT will play a special concert at Belhaven University in Jackson, MS. All proceeds (after expenses) will be donated to the John M. Perkins Foundation for Reconciliation and Development. A recent robbery severely impacted the Foundation’s music studio. Formed in 1983, the Foundation is dedicated to developing the lives of youth, leaders and the underprivileged in Jackson and around the world and advancing racial reconciliation.

“An Evening with Switchfoot and Dr. John M. Perkins” will feature a full-length set by SWITCHFOOT plus speeches by Dr. John M. Perkins, the civil rights activist whose autobiography, Let Justice Roll Down, inspired the band’s Top 10 Modern Rock single “The Sound (John M. Perkins’ Blues)” and SWITCHFOOT’s lead singer/guitarist, Jon Foreman. For additional details, visit http://www.switchfoot.com or http://www.jmpf.org. Fans can view “An Evening with Switchfoot and Dr. John M. Perkins” from anywhere in the world via Ustream, which will broadcast the event live at 7:00 p.m. ET on September 29th at www.Ustream.tv/switchfoot.
 
“The purpose of this night is to commemorate the unlikely partnership of a civil rights patriarch from Mississippi and a rock band from San Diego,” said Jon Foreman. “The concert will be a celebration of the life and words of John M. Perkins – a man who refused to believe that the present injustices are final. For me, this concert was born out of the song of a man who rose above his situation. A man who lived out what he believed: Love is louder than violence. Love is louder than hatred.  

“My small hope is that this concert can raise funds for the John M. Perkins Foundation. They have a music studio that was robbed a few months back and, with the money we raise, we can get that program back on its feet. I'm hoping that this concert can be a lightning rod to attract the attention of more donors, and more folks who can partner with the JMP Foundation in and around Jackson.” 

Foreman described his first meeting with Dr. Perkins in a recent article for The Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-foreman/the-living-blues-john-m-p_b_613733.html

Dr. Perkins appears in SWITCHFOOT’s video for “The Sound,” which you can view at:

http://www.switchfoot.com/

SWITCHFOOT – comprises Jon Foreman (vocals/guitar), Tim Foreman (bass), Chad Butler (drums), Jerome Fontamillas (keys/guitar) and Drew Shirley (guitar). The band’s latest record, Hello Hurricane, entered at No. 13 on The Billboard 200 and has met with widespread critical acclaim. SWITCHFOOT will launch a headlining North American tour on October 1st in Lynchberg, VA with The Almost opening on all dates. The band will also perform at the Austin City Limits Festival on October 10th.

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For more information on SWITCHFOOT, contact:

Bobbie Gale
Big Hassle Media
p: 323-456-3490
e: bobbie@bighassle.com

or visit:

http://www.switchfoot.com

About Ustream

Ustream is the leading live interactive broadcast platform that enables anyone with an Internet connection and a camera to engage their audience in a meaningful, immediate way. Unlike previous webcasting technology, Ustream uses a one-to-many model, which means that the user can broadcast to an audience of unlimited size. Ustream's platform has been used to broadcast everything from high school sporting events to Hollywood movie premieres, and people are finding new and innovative uses for it every day.

Switchfoot to play John M. Perkins Foundation benefit show

For up to date (most of the time) news and original opinions before they hit the update, follow us on Twitter!

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We have received word that Switchfoot are excited to host and play a benefit concert at Belhaven University in Jackson, MS for the John M. Perkins Foundation on September 29th!

Here are the details:

- Tickets go on sale Friday, September 17th, and FOTF presale begins today! Tickets are limited, so be sure to grab them now!

- If you are interested in contributing to the JMP Foundation and will not be able to attend the show, please visit jmpf.org. All proceeds for this event will benefit the John M Perkins Foundation.

- “The concert will be a celebration of the life and words of John M Perkins- a man who refused to believe that the present injustices are final. For me, this concert was born out of the song of a man who rose above his situation. A man who lived out what he believed: Love is louder than violence. Love is louder than hatred.” - Jon Foreman

Here is the flier for the event:



^Share it around!

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I am thoroughly impressed by the things Switchfoot are doing for this great man. John M. Perkins' story is one that has been overlooked and underexposed by much of the mainstream media, so the fact that the band is looking to use its position to shine light on Mr. Perkins' story is fantastic. If you are in the Jackson area, please make an effort to go out and support this evening! It sounds like it's going to be a remarkable night of beauty, social justice, and the human heart.