Tune In, Turn On
Switchfoot is an American band from San Diego that blends alternative rock, post-grunge and pop rock with thoughtful and often introspective lyrics that explore faith, purpose and the human condition.
The band, formed in 1996, had its major-label breakthrough in 2003 with the album, “The Beautiful Letdown,” driven by the singles “Meant to Live” and “Dare You to Move.”
With 13 studio albums under their belt between 1997 and 2022, Switchfoot has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide, including “Hello Hurricane,” which won a Grammy in 2011 for Best Rock Gospel Album. Other Switchfoot albums of note include “Where the Light Shines Through” (2016) and “Native Tongue” (2019).
Core members are brothers Jon Foreman (lead vocals, guitar), and Tim Foreman (bass, backing vocals). Longtime contributors include Chad Butler (drums), Jerome Fontamillas (guitar/keys) and guitarist Drew Shirley, who departed from the group in 2022.
Faith is a prominent component of the band’s musical message.
“We’ve always wanted to sing a message of hope – that our songs would shine a bright light in the darkness of consumerism and despair,” frontman Jon Foreman said in an interview some years ago. “The kingdom of heaven is at hand. And that means that there’s a better story than the meaninglessness of acquisitions, the pain of loss and the fear of death. That’s good news, indeed!
“Music is the scaffolding of the soul, allowing us to go places otherwise unavailable to us,” said Foreman, who cites Bob Dylan and Bob Marley as influences. “Music is a vehicle of the mind, carrying ideas further than words alone. It’s been said, ‘You have a body, but you are a soul.’ For me, music helps to connect the physical with the spiritual on this journey of life with a body and soul.”
Switchfoot’s music has more than 337 million plays on YouTube with hit songs like “Your Love Is a Song,” “Stars,” “I Won’t Let You Go,” “Dark Horses” and “Only Hope.”
You can check them out for yourself when they perform live in concert 8 p.m. Saturday, March 28 at Borgata Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City. Tickets start at $66.85. For info see: borgata.mgmresorts.com.
Tune-Ups
The Surfrajettes return to A.C. this weekend. If the B-52’s and The Bangles had a baby, it would come out sounding something just like The Surfrajettes. The Toronto-based, all-female quartet who formed in 2015, bring their pop-surf sound back to A.C.’s Anchor Rock Club on their “Road Dogs” Tour with special guest Bethlehem Shalom this Saturday, March 28. They’re definitely worth checking out. Must be 18 or older, $20. www.anchorrockclub.com.
Doug is the owner/operator of Doug Deutsch Publicity Services, which since 1995 has been servicing nationally touring acts, and working record release campaigns for clients. Doug can be reached at ShoreLocalDoug@gmail.com
