Monday, May 31, 2010

Switchfoot, Jon Foreman, and Fiction Family dominate the 2010 Jesusfreakhideout.com Reader's Choice

From the JFH site:

For the seventh annual Jesusfreakhideout.com Reader's Choice Awards, Switchfoot nabbed six of the seventeen awards, including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Rock Album, Album Cover Art and Best Live Performance for 2010! The band's frontman Jon Foreman even won male vocalist and for his side project, Fiction Family as New Artist of the Year. Congratulations to all of the winners and the runner-ups! And thanks again to all who voted.


^What makes this even sweeter is that Switchfoot beat out labelmates Skillet in their respective categories; a feat made all the more impressive judging by Skillet's recent major success! We'll have some analysis soon!

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Bidfire Auction Winner!



Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner in the Bidfire Record a Song with Switchfoot contest! unlimitedfunds is the lucky bidder who will feature in or aid in the writing and recording of the new Switchfoot song! It's been an exciting auction to watch, with all the Switchfoot fans showing up en masse to crash the Bidfire servers.

Here's the winner's announcement on the @bidfire twitter feed.

- A big congrats to unlimitedfunds, winner of @switchfoot charity auction! big thank you to all the fans, this was huge for StandUp for Kids!!

- Thanks to all the great @switchfoot fans for their enthusiastic participation in our first charity auction!

If you didn't win, don't worry! Bidfire is planning to give out some surprises for 10 lucky runners-up.

- 10 lucky runners up will receive a special thank you gift from @Switchfoot and Bidfire for your participation. Details coming soon.

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Also, if you participated in this auction, expect an a live "Your Love Is a Song" mp3 in your email inbox next Thursday. Here's the latest Switchfoot emails:

Dear Amigos -

The Bidfire Auction to raise money for Stand Up For Kids starts today, Friday May 28th at 12pm PST. If you participate in the auction, you will receive an unreleased live recording of "Your Love Is A Song". The mp3 will be sent to you next Thursday, June 3rd. Remember, you need to register for the auction, and spots in the auction are limited, so please visit http://bidfire.com/switchfoot and sign up to guarantee your spot.

EUROPEAN TOUR STARTS THIS WEEKEND
Switchfoot is heading to the UK to start their European tour this weekend. Please see the list of cities and dates below:
May 29 - Leicestershire, UK
May 30 - West Sussex, UK
May 31 - West Sussex, UK
June 1 - London, UK
June 2 - Koln, Germany - SOLD OUT
June 3 - Berlin, Germany
June 5 - Trnava, Slovakia
June 6 - Frauenfeld, Switzerland
June 8 - Hamburg, Germany
June 9 - Silkeborg, Denmark
June 10 - Amsterdam, Holland
June 11 - Ballymena, Ireland
June 12 - Edinburgh , Scotland
June 13 - Donington Park, UK

Visit switchfoot.com for more info including how to get tickets.

RADIO CAMPAIGN
'The Sound' is about to enter the top 30 on the Alternative Rock Chart. Thanks for all your work in requesting the song...let's get it to top 10!
Here's what Jon had to say about the song: "The Sound (John Perkin's Blues) is a very important song for us as a band. I see so much hatred and fear around me, I see so many people living out their pain. I hear it on the radio. I see it in the headlines. John Perkin's story needs to be heard. This song was inspired by a man who sang a louder song than hatred. In a world where we are defined by our differences, Mr. Perkin's life of service and compassion is a tangible demonstration of what it means to live a life of love. Love is the loudest song we could sing. Louder than racism. Louder than fear. Louder than hatred. John Perkin's said it right, love is the final fight. We're excited to hear this song on the radio, louder than pain." Let's do this!

BRO-AM 2010 - JUNE 25/26
Switchfoot presents the sixth annual Switchfoot Bro-Am featuring a pre-event auction night, charity surf contest and concert, and Belly Up after-party to benefit StandUp For Kids. To learn more about this year's Bro-Am, please visit http://www.switchfoot.com/switchfoot/p/broam

ACL MUSIC FESTIVAL
Switchfoot will be playing this year's Austin City Limits Music Festival. The festival takes place from October 8th-10th at Zilker Park in Austin, TX. Other bands include Muse, The Strokes, The Eagles, and more. Click below for all ticketing and show info:
http://www.aclfestival.com

SAN DIEGO COUNTY FAIR
Tickets are onsale now for our big hometown show at the San Diego County Fair at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on June 24th. If you are a member of our FRIENDS OF THE FOOT, you had exclusive access to the presale for this show. Here is the link to buy reserve seat tickets - the show is FREE with purchase of admission to the fair.



SUMMER TOUR DATES
Switchfoot is joining Goo Goo Dolls on tour this summer, as well as playing some great festivals. Please check out all tour dates below.

June 17 - Wilmore, KY / Ichthus
June 19 - Columbus, OH / Newport Music Hall
June 20 - Williamsburgh, VA / Busch Gardens
June 24 - San Diego, CA / San Diego County Fair
June 29 - Marietta, IL / Cornerstone Festival
June 30 - Shirleysburg, PA / Creation East
July 3 - Vaughn, ON, CAN / Canada's Wonderland
July 17 - Cleveland, OH / Time Warner Cable Amphitheatre*
July 18 - Detroit, MI / DTE Energy*
July 20 - Chicago, IL / Charter One Pavilion*
July 21 - Enumclaw, WA / Enumclaw Expo Center*
July 22 - Saratoga Springs, NY / SPAC*
July 23 - Buffalo, NY / Darien Lake*
July 27 - Holmdel, NJ / PNC Bank Arts Center*
July 28 - Uncasville, CT / Mohegan Sun*
July 30 - Wantagh, NY / Nikon at Jones Beach Theater*
Aug 3 - Baltimore, MD / Pier Six Pavilion*
Aug 4 - Gilford, NH / Gunstock Mountain Resort
Aug 6-8 - Chicago, IL / Lollapalooza
Aug 9 - Raleigh, NC / Raleigh Boutique Amphitheatre*
Aug 10 - Charlotte, NC / Uptown Theatre*
Aug 18 - St. Charles, MO / Family Arena*
Aug 26 - Concord, CA / Sleep Train Amphiteatre*
Aug 28 - Phoenix, AZ / Dodge Theatre*
Aug 29 - Los Angeles, CA / Greek Theatre*
Oct 10 - Austin, TX / Austin City Limits Festival
*shows opening for Goo Goo Dolls
Visit switchfoot.com for more info including how to get tickets.

This is the sound, and thanks for listening.
- jon, tim, chad, drew, jerome


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Check out a video of "Your Love Is a Song" on Air1

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Some more radio gigs

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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Switchfoot has been playing a ton of radio gigs lately. Here's one where they play some music for Planet Radio's Wounded Warrior Project.



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Jon Foreman and Chad Butler also stopped by Buzz 103 to do a quick interview that you can listen to here. Also, here are photos, like the one below:



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Global Shift.com did an interview with Jon recently about the upcoming Bid Fire auction. Here it is in it's entirety, reproduced, below:

Switchfoot and auction site Bidfire are offering one fan the chance to record a song with the band through an auction raising money for charity. The winner of the auction will be flown to the band’s hometown of San Diego for four days switchfootto record with the band and attend their sixth annual Bro-Am charity event. Both the event and the auction will benefit Stand up for Kids, a non-profit that works to help at risk and homeless youth across the country. You can sign up for the auction here, and bidding will begin on May 28 at noon Pacific time. You can also go to Stand up for Kids’ website to learn more about the charity and how to get involved.

Global Shift talked with Switchfoot’s lead singer, Jon Foreman, about the auction, Stand up for Kids and what inspires the band’s music.

Global Shift: Can you talk about the charity auction with Bidfire? How did that get started and what are you hoping to get out of that?

Jon Foreman: With Stand up for Kids and other organizations we’ve been involved with we always try to come up with innovative ways to not only raise funds but also raise awareness for what they do. The internet can be a great place for both of those things and this felt like a unique way to accomplish that.

How did you get involved with Stand up for Kids?

Stand up is a national organization that started in San Diego. It’s our hometown and we’re always looking for people that are doing great things in our backyard. When we first heard about Stand up for Kids it felt like a perfect way to partner up. Ultimately it comes down to the people, and the people involved are really great. Especially in the chapter that this will benefit, there are really incredible people we got involved with. Kim, for example, the lady who runs it, she has a passion for these kids unlike anyone that I know, and she actually spent a portion of her life on the streets. You can hear the fire in her voice when she’s talking about her kids and that’s contagious.

You talk about Hello Hurricane being inspired by a woman who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. How do the stories of the people you meet through your charity work inspire your music?

I’m always looking for songs, you know. Songs that are bigger than myself to sing. I think where I find these things the most often is when I’m looking at people like Kim that are just basically doing ordinary things extraordinarily well with extraordinary amounts of love and patience and dedication. A lot of people put an undue amount of importance on what I do, and I find that in many ways what Kim does is much more important.

What is the importance to you of having meaning or stories behind all of the songs you write?

You have to understand that these are songs that will be playing hundreds if not thousands of times, so we came to a conclusion on this record in partcular, as we’re whittling the list down from 80 songs that we recorded to make the record, we came up with the idea that if you ain’t crying why are you singing it? If it doesn’t mean something deeply personal to you, it’s time to move onto the next song. It has to stand the test of time. For me, the songs that mean the most are songs that have a deep root in the history of nation, the history of a relationship. For example, The Sound was inspired by John M. Perkins, and meeting him the other day was just this incredible thing. I’ve read about him for years and have been reading his work for years and having the chance to meet him face to face and have a conversation with him was bringing everything full circle. With Kim and other people, they definitely are our song night after night.

You’ve been doing the Bro-Am benefit for five years now, how did that get started? How has it affected you and the band and what has it accomplished for Stand up for Kids?

Oh man, every year it’s my favorite day of the year. I am so grateful for all the hard work that everyone puts into it. For me and I know for the rest of the crew, it’s the hardest you work all year, that day, that whole week is just a blitz of press, setting up this and that, all great things, surfing, music, setting up tents at the beach. It’s not only the hardest day of the year as far as work but it’s also the most fun you have all year. To be able to see firsthand the results of a day at the beach for all of these kids is amazing. It’s the sixth year running and it means more and more to us, and as far as I’m concerned, whatever funds we raise, I mean we’re always shooting for the most funds we can, every year we try to top the year before, but in my opinion the greater honor, is we owe these kids a debt of gratitude. In my mind they’re the heroes.

What are you expecting out of the song that will be recorded with the winner of the auction?

I have no idea. We did a thing where somebody wanted a chance to play cowbell on our record, that was fun and pretty lighthearted. I really don’t know what this is going to look like, it could be a disaster, it could be amazing. That’s what music is, you really don’t know what it’s going to be until it’s finished.

What do you get out of interacting with your fans in ways like this and at events?

You know, I love interacting with people. Music is a communal experience, it’s something that we do together, even when you’re writing a song alone, you want to play it for someone and to be able to give somebody something that you’ve worked on. I grew up in a scene that was almost like a family, all these fans were very supportive of each other, we were very different and came from very different backgrounds but that didn’t matter. We all saw music as something that brought us together. So, as a band something that we’ve tried to do is diminish the difference between the stage and the crowd.

I read an interview with you in Relevant Magazine, and you also touched on this is your most recent article for the Huffington Post, where you talk about cynicism and wondering “What’s the point?” and trying to avoid that. What are some of your biggest motivations in your music and your work with charities that keep you from being cynical?

Statistics and numbers get me really cynical. Facts and figures. There’s insurmountable amounts of data that just flood the room with all this depression and fear, because there’s nothing you can do against numbers. But when I am reminded that these numbers are people, these numbers are uncles and fathers and brothers and daughters and stories, that’s when I’m a lot less cynical. I think we have this reductionist mentality in our post modern world that to try and understand something we make it smaller, but a lot of times we lose the essence of what the story is. For me, when I bring it back to the story, then I’m not as depressed. I still have moments of doubt and fear and anger, and sometimes I fight hopelessness, but I fight it, you know?

To learn more or bid on the experience, click here to visit Switchfoot’s website.


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CHARTS WEDNESDAY

Now, for your weekly chart update. This week was a slow one for Switchfoot's singles on their respective charts.

After the first two weeks' explosion, "The Sound" comes back down to earth, falling to No. 32 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. This fall can be attributed to two juggernaut singles getting released in the last week: Muse' "Neutron Star Collision" and Avenged Sevenfold's "Nightmare." Hopefully things will start picking up again soon.

"The Sound" also falls even more this week on Christian Rock, now sitting at No. 9 on the survey.

"Your Love Is a Song" jumps one more spot on Christian Songs, from 44-43.

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Reminder: Be sure to keep making your requests to your local alternative stations within your area. For a list of phone numbers and links, check out this page.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Teva video featuring Switchfoot.. Check it out

Footwear company TEVO has put together a video with Switchfoot as they journey from their homes to the beach for an early morning surf.


Be sure to head over, rate, and comment it!

Monday, May 24, 2010

Switchfoot's Jon Foreman and Chad Butler play acoustic run of shows in Florida

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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UPDATE: Check out the performance here if you missed it:



Jon Foreman and Chad Butler have been down in Florida for a few days playing acoustic shows for the radio stations out there.

Today at 4 PM EST (which is in 10 minutes!), they will be playing a live acoustic show. Check it out HERE.

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Also, here are some videos from their performance for X102.9.

The Sound



Dare You to Move



Mess of Me



Meant to Live



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Switchfoot's song, "The Sound," was featured in a TV spot for the upcoming Disney movie, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" that aired during the LOST finale. Check it out:

Sunday, May 23, 2010

DC101 Cookoff Recap; Some Charleston Videos

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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Switchfoot played a rockin' Chili Cook-off event yesterday, hosted by DC101 in Washington, D.C. Part of an all-star alternative rock lineup featuring Anberlin, Cage the Elephant, Alice in Chains and the newly reunited Stone Temple Pilots, Switchfoot showed they could rock with the best of them on Saturday afternoon. The second band to play after Anberlin, Jon Foreman and friends brought their A-game. Here are videos from every single performance yesterday. Thanks to everyone from D.C. who shot these awesome quality vids.

We've arranged the video clips according to setlist order.

"Oh! Gravity."



"Bullet Soul"



"Stars"



"Sabotage/Needle and Haystack Life" (This one is THE BEST performance by the band all afternoon)



"Mess of Me"



"The Sound"



"Free"



"Dare You to Move"



"Meant to Live"



for more perspectives and angles, check the videos godieinhell2 posted.

After the event was over, the radio station hosted an after-party and spun songs from the performing bands for a solid hour or so. Switchfoot tunes "We Are One Tonight," "The Sound," "Dare You to Move," "Stars," "Oh! Gravity.," and "Mess of Me" were played amongst the shuffle. Pretty sweet.

I really think Switchfoot turned heads in D.C. with their, passion, and willingness to lay it all out there on the stage or amongst the crowd. Great job guys!

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The day before this event occurred, the band also played a show in Charleston, SC. Here are some great videos from that:

"Meant to Live"



Mess of Me



Sabotage



Your Love Is a Song



The Sound



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And to complete this video-tastic reel, here's a video Journeys posted of the band purchasing their very own Macbeth Switchfoot shoes:

Friday, May 21, 2010

Vault Friday: "Your Love Is a Song" (Chris Lord-Alge AC Mix) Radio Rip


Here it is! You can now download the radio rip of this stellar remix now!

LINK.

BOOM! Happy Friday everyone. For more downloads, check out The Vault.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Air1 interview recap; 106.5 THE END radio performance; new radio contest; radio radio!

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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So Jon and Tim Foreman of Switchfoot did an interview with Air1 yesterday. We got a recording of the entire interview, which you can download here.

The guys talk about eating horses amongst other compelling topics, and also performed a harmonica-laced acoustic version of The Sound and a stripped down version of Your Love Is a Song, as well. You can also download mp3's of the two songs as well below:

The Sound

Your Love Is a Song

Air1 also posted photos of Jon and Tim for your viewing pleasure on their Facebook page. Example below:



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Speaking of radio interviews, our friend Jesse said Charlotte's 106.5 THE END was supposed to have interviewed Jon Foreman and Drew Shirley this morning. Anyone got a recording?

We do have a Youtube video of the guys performing "Mess of Me" though:



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And last in the string of radio promotions, Switchfoot just announced a new contest with x1029.



It's not abnormal for a band from the West Coast to be big fans of surfing. What could be considered "out of the ordinary" is a band having a day off of the grueling tour schedule, and hanging with listeners to catch some waves. That is exactly what the guys from the band Switchfoot will be doing on May 23rd at the Jax Beach Pier. That's why X102.9 is inviting all of you to the beach to catch the tide on your longboards. Once the waves have been adequately dominated, a select few contest winners will be invited to attend a "meet and eat" with a special X-clusive acoustic performance from the band at Lynch's Irish Pub. It's another X102.9 X-perience that you can't get anywhere else on the "Planet".

Full details here.

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POLLS

Switchfoot's "The Sound" is doing spectacularly well on Alternative Radio. But we need to keep it up. So below are links to request the single on key alternative stations around the country. These stations do "top songs requested" lists in the evenings, so we need everyone's help to get "The Sound" recognized! If we all fill out at least one request for all of these, we will be able to impact the stations!

91x (email christy@91x.com, subject line: Really Big Countdown Submission to vote for "The Sound")

Q101

KPNT

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

DOWNLOAD: Jon and Tim Foreman's interview on Air1 Radio!

For those of you who missed the broadcast this afternoon, no need to fear! We've got the entire interview up for download here!

DOWNLOAD LINK.

Also, download the individual song performances:

The Sound (With Harmonica)

Your Love Is a Song

"The Sound" is taking off!; Atlantic Records press release discusses Bidfire auction and new singles

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 those of you who are going to the free Nascar show tomorrow:

URGENT: Anyone in Charlotte willing to do some last-minute promo at the Nascar show tomorrow? Free show, free materials! Comment us ASAP!

Thanks friends.

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It's Chart Wednesday! As long as there are charts to talk about, we will be posting every Wednesday about how Switchfoot songs and albums are doing on the charts!

This week, "The Sound" makes a whopping eight-spot jump to vault into the top 30 of Alternative Songs, from No. 37 to No. 29! In just two weeks, the song is already well ahead of "Mess of Me" at the same point; a great sign of things to come! We don't even have a music video yet...

Also, "Your Love Is a Song" takes a jump as well, going from 47-44 on the Billboard Christian Songs chart.

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Speaking of which, Atlantic just put out a new press release about the upcoming Switchfoot BIDFIRE auction and Switchfoot's progress on radio:

SOURCE: Atlantic Records

May 18, 2010 17:32 ET

Winner of "Record a Song with Switchfoot," BIDFIRE'S First-Ever Charity Auction, Will Record With Band at the Band's Own Studio in San Diego and Record a Track for Release on iTunes and MySpace; Auction and 6th Annual Switchfoot Bro-Am Events Will Benefit StandUp for Kids; SWITCHFOOT Tours With Goo Goo Dolls This Summer; Band Will Play Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits Festival; New Single "The Sound" Is Top 30 at Modern Rock Radio

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - May 18, 2010) - SWITCHFOOT has teamed up with BIDFIRE (http://bidfire.com/), a competitive shopping site, to offer one lucky fan the ultimate experience: the opportunity to record a song with the band during a deluxe, four-day trip to the group's hometown of San Diego, CA. The resulting track, recorded in SWITCHFOOT'S home studio, will be released on iTunes and MySpace.com. No musical talent is required -- the winning bidder can opt to play on the session or just help shape the recording.

"Record a Song with Switchfoot," BIDFIRE'S first charity auction, will begin on Friday, May 28th, at noon Pacific. Bidder registration is currently underway at http://www.bidfire.com/switchfoot. Proceeds of this charity auction will benefit StandUp for Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of at-risk and homeless youth (www.standupforkids.org).

BIDFIRE is a different type of online auction -- users purchase bids for $1 and it only takes a single bid to win. The last bid placed when the auction closes wins. Fans are encouraged to reserve their seats since space is limited and the "Record a Song with Switchfoot" charity auction is expected to sell out.

The winning bidder will be flown to San Diego and put up at The Grand Del Mar, a Five Diamond resort. In addition to recording with SWITCHFOOT, they'll have VIP access to the band's June 24th show at the San Diego County Fair and the events of the weekend's 6th Annual Switchfoot Bro-Am, including a charity auction at a private home in La Jolla on June 25th and the concert/surf contest on June 26th. The Bro-Am will once again benefit San Diego area chapters of StandUp for Kids. Last year's event raised more than $100,000 for the charity and drew a crowd of over 7,000. Held at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, CA, the free event will also feature live mural art, beach vendors and more. It will be followed by the Teva Blackout after party at The Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach. Party attendees will get a firsthand look at the illum, Teva's new surf-inspired flip-flop. The band recently shot a video to launch the illum, which features a detachable, waterproof LED Pedlamp™, making it ideal for midnight or dawn patrol surf sessions.

SWITCHFOOT returns to the road this week, playing a series of U.S. shows and European festivals before embarking on a tour with the Goo Goo Dolls on July 17th. The group will also perform at Lollapalooza (August 8th) and the Austin City Limits Festival (October 10th). (See below for itinerary.)

"The Sound (John M. Perkins' Blues)," the second single from the band's latest album, Hello Hurricane, is currently climbing at radio. The track, which was used in Verizon Wireless' fall 2009 ad campaign for the BlackBerry® Storm™ 2, is already in the Top 30 at Modern Rock radio where it's getting airplay at many major stations. It is the follow-up to lead single "Mess of Me," which was a Top 15 hit at Modern Rock.

Jon Foreman, lead singer/guitarist for SWITCHFOOT, recently penned his fourth piece for the Huffington Post. You can read the article, entitled "The Dark Horse: Joan of Arc, Elliot Smith and Me," at:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-foreman/the-dark-horse-joan-of-ar_b_558967.html

The band has also joined forces with Pennyroyal Silver to support MusiCares®, offering a limited edition SWITCHFOOT pendant designed by the band and Tim Foster, Pennyroyal Silver's founder. The pendant will be available through May 31st, 2010 at http://www.pennyroyalsilver.com and 30 percent of proceeds will go to MusiCares. Established in 1989 by The Recording Academy®, MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need.

SWITCHFOOT - UPCOMING TOUR DATES
( * indicates dates with Goo Goo Dolls)
Date City/State (Province/Country) Venue

5/20 CHARLOTTE, NC Nascar All-Star Week Concert (free show)
5/21 CHARLESTON, SC The Music Farm
5/22 WASHINGTON, DC 101 Chili Cookoff / RFK Stadium
5/29 LEICESTERSHIRE, ENGLAND Leicestershire Music Festival
5/30-31 WEST SUSSEX, ENGLAND West Sussex Music Festival
6/1 LONDON, ENGLAND London HMV Forum
6/2 KOLN, GERMANY Luxor
6/3 BERLIN, GERMANY Postbahnof
6/5 TRNAVA, SLOVAKIA Festival Lumen
6/6 FRAUENFELD, SWITZERLAND Springtime Festival
6/8 HAMBURG, GERMANY Knust
6/9 SILKEBORG, DENMARK Jysk Musik og Teaterhus
6/10 AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND Melkweg
6/11 BALLYMENA, IRELAND Fuel 2010 Festival (Northern Ireland)
6/12 EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND Frenzy Festival
6/13 DONINGTON PARK, UK Download Festival
6/19 COLUMBUS, OH Newport Music Hall
6/20 WILLIAMSBURGH, VA Busch Gardens
6/24 DEL MAR, CA Del Mar Fairgrounds
7/3 VAUGHN, ONTARIO Canada's Wonderland
7/17* CLEVELAND, OH Time Warner Cable Amphitheatre
7/18* DETROIT, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
7/20* CHICAGO, IL Charter One Pavilion
7/22* SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
7/23* BUFFALO, NY Darien Lake
7/27* HOLMDEL, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
7/28* UNCASVILLE, CT Mohegan Sun
7/30* JONES BEACH, NY Nikon at Jones Beach
8/3* BALTIMORE, MD Pier Six Pavilion
8/7* SCRANTON, PA Toyota Pavilion
8/8 CHICAGO, IL Lollapalooza
8/9* RALEIGH, NC Raleigh Boutique Amphitheatre
8/10* CHARLOTTE, NC Uptown Theatre
8/18* ST CHARLES, MO Family Arena
8/26* CONCORD, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre
8/28* PHOENIX, AZ Dodge Theatre
8/29* LOS ANGELES, CA Greek Theatre
10/10 AUSTIN, TX Austin City Limits Festival

About Switchfoot:
Switchfoot -- comprising Jon Foreman (vocals/guitar), Tim Foreman (bass), Chad Butler (drums), Jerome Fontamillas (keys/guitar) and Drew Shirley (guitar) -- has sold over 4.4 million albums in its career. Founded in San Diego, CA in 1996, Switchfoot released three independent records before its breakthrough album, 2003's The Beautiful Letdown, which was certified multi-Platinum. Each of the band's subsequent studio albums -- 2005's Nothing Is Sound, 2006's Oh! Gravity and 2009's Hello Hurricane -- debuted in the Top 20 of The Billboard 200 and elicited critical acclaim. The Best Yet, the group's first-ever greatest hits collection, was released in November of 2008. Switchfoot has been touring extensively in support of Hello Hurricane and has recently appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien," "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon," and "Jimmy Kimmel Live." In addition to StandUp For Kids, the band has partnered with Habitat for Humanity, the ONE Campaign, To Write Love on Her Arms and numerous other charities.

About BIDFIRE:
Founded in 2009, BIDFIRE is a competitive shopping site. Based on a unique shopping game model, BIDFIRE sells premium electronics, fashion shoes and handbags, mp3 players, e-book readers and more at discounts ranging from 80-99% off. Consumers compete for the discount through various shopping games such as campfire.


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I've decided to put the radio rip of the "Your Love Is a Song" AC mix this FRIDAY for our Vault Friday segment. Stay tuned, ok? Ok. Be excited! :)

Friday, May 14, 2010

Bonus Coverage: Jon Foreman and John M. Perkins

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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Courtesy of an Andy Barron (@andybarron) tweet.

- just got done shooting @jonathanforeman & john perkins. i'm inspired, and my head hurts. http://twitpic.com/1nv0qz



UPDATE (May 15, 2010):

Jon Foreman (@jonathanforeman) has been tweeting about how excited he is for this music video. Check it out:

- wow. yes. amen & thank you, Mr. Perkins. "the sound" video could quite possibly be the best video I've ever been a part of.

- Here's a shot from Andy: http://twitpic.com/1nv0qz ...I hope to put the whole thing up online somewhere... (same shot as above)

Switchfoot (@switchfoot) tweet:
- The filming for "the Sound: John M. Perkins' Blues" is done. Spent yesterday with Mr. Perkins himself- remarkable.

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Also, check out the new Daily Foot entry that was just posted here.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Switchfoot/Goo Goo Dolls tour dates; Air1 adds "Your Love Is a Song"

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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NOTE: For those wondering about the accuracy of our report that Jennifer Love Hewitt will no longer be working with Switchfoot on a music video, we got it directly from management. So it's fairly accurate.

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From switchfoot.com:

Switchfoot is excited to announce more tour dates with Goo Goo Dolls. Please see new dates listed below along with presale information for FOTF and general onsale:

7/22 Saratoga Springs, NY - FOTF presale 5/19, onsale 5/22

7/23 Buffalo, NY - FOTF presale 5/19, onsale 5/22

8/3 Baltimore, MD - FOTF presale 5/19, onsale 5/20

8/7 Scranton, PA - FOTF presale 5/19, onsale 5/21

8/9 Raleigh, NC - FOTF presale 6/9, onsale 6/11

8/10 Charlotte, NC - FOTF presale 6/9, onsale 6/11


^This is the best co-headlining-type match I've seen in awhile. These two bands have a similar type of sound, same hopeful lyrics, and have played together before. What do you think?

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Air1 has added "Your Love Is a Song" to their playlist. Looks like it's going to be the main Christian single now. But expect it to get worked to the mainstream after "The Sound" wraps up.

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Florida's Buzz 103.1 (WPBZ) will have Switchfoot in the studio on May 25th:

On Tuesday, May 25th – 103.1 The Buzz welcomes Switchfoot back to the Buzz Lounge.


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LIVE105 in San Francisco has more details on the upcoming Switchfoot gig at the Giants game.

SF Giants Presents: Switchfoot
Tuesday May 11th, vs. San Diego Padres
The Special Switchfoot ticket gets you:
A private pre-game acoustic set by Switchfoot
A meet & greet with the band
A Club Level ticket to see the Giants vs. the Padres
All for just $75


For tickets visit www.sfgiants.com/switchfoot or call 415.972.2233

SF Giants Presents: Switchfoot VIP
All that comes with the aforementioned package
Enjoy the game in a Suite with the band
Sing take me out to the ballgame with the band in the 7th inning
Just $200

For tickets call 415.972.2231


^You'll find a sweet video montage of Switchfoot and the Giants on the team's website. Check it out (link under Tim Lincecum's head):



LINK

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Here's a press release about the Pennyroyal Switchfoot pendant:

Switchfoot Rocks Out with Pennyroyal Silver’s Signature Collection on May 5th, 2010


Los Angeles, CA, May 07, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Alt-rocker’s Switchfoot have become the latest supporters of MusiCares by teaming up with Pennyroyal Silver to benefit the foundation. The multi-platinum band designed the limited edition pendant with Pennyroyal Silver’s founder, Tim Foster, thirty percent of proceeds for which go to MusiCares.

Switchfoot joins a diverse roster of artists who have teamed up with Pennyroyal Silver to benefit charity through their Signature Collection. Switchfoot’s design features the band’s iconic logo drawn and signed by bassist, Tim Foreman. The back of the pendant is marked with Foreman’s signature and with each pendant, fans will receive a collector card with lyrics of the band’s uplifting song “Always,” a track from their new album “Hello Hurricane.” As Pennyroyal Founder Foster explains, “I’ve been a fan of Switchfoot since my days in the music business and it’s great to be able to work with them again in a totally different way for a great cause.”

The Switchfoot Signature Collection pendant will be available for limited release from May 5th to May 31st, 2010. The pendant will retail for $75 and will available for purchase exclusively through www.pennyroyalsilver.com and will be retired and unavailable after May 31st.

About Pennyroyal Silver: Pennyroyal’s Owner/Designer, Tim Foster, a music industry veteran-turned jewelry designer, created the Pennyroyal® Signature Collection to combine his passion for music and jewelry designs to benefit charities of all types. Artists who have contributed designs to the Signature Collection include Adam Lambert, Jack Black, Cobra Starship and Jewel, among others. To date, the Signature Collection has raised over $40,000 for various charities. For more information, please visit www.pennyroyalsilver.com

About MusiCares®: Established in 1989 by The Recording Academy®, MusiCares® provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares® also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. For more information, please visit www.musicares.com.


SOURCE

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Risen Magazine in San Diego did a sweet interview with Jon Foreman a couple months back. Their online edition of the mag can be read here. It can be found on pages 48-56.



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CHARTS

"The Sound" jumped a whopping seven spots over the weekend, and is now at No. 41 on Alternative. Keep requesting!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Journeys BBQ Recap

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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By all accounts, Saturday was a blast for everyone involved. Switchfoot got to see and purchase their brand new Switchfoot-themed Macbeth shoes while playing the Journeys free event to an ecstatic audience. Roadie contest winners got to meet the band, and it was great fun for all! Here are some of the highlights from yesterday.

First off, Drew Shirley uploaded a new Drewcast video showing off the Switchfoot shoe:



Next, some footage from the free show Switchfoot played:

Mess of Me



This Is Your Life



Meant to Live (Featuring Tristan, the roadie for the day, and a fan who played the song with the band)



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Twitter was abuzz with activity from the Journeys-sponsored event.

@switchfoot: Our roadies for the day: Tristan & Kirsten... Congrats! -jon http://yfrog.com/ev5qxj



Journeys (@journeysshooes) was also tweeting throughout the day. Here are their Switchfoot-related tweets, and there were quite a few:

@switchfoot - @jonathanforeman - trying on their new shoes from @Macbethfootwear in the @JOURNEYSshoes store!!! http://twitpic.com/1m6x6k

@switchfoot - @jonathanforeman - trying on the new switchfoot... on Twitpic

#JourneysBBQ @switchfoot - @timforeman - trying on some shoes from @Macbethfootwear at the @JOURNEYSshoes http://twitpic.com/1m6xye

#JourneysBBQ @switchfoot - @timforeman - trying on some shoes... on Twitpic

@switchfoot set-list? Woop woop! http://twitpic.com/1m8iyi #JourneysBBQ

@switchfoot set-list? Woop woop! on Twitpic

@jonathanforeman from @switchfoot at the #JourneysBBQ http://twitpic.com/1m8l6v

@jonathanforeman from @switchfoot at the #JourneysBBQ  on Twitpic

this Sacramento crowd is insane! #JourneysBBQ http://twitpic.com/1m8p88

this Sacramento crowd is insane! #JourneysBBQ  on Twitpic

Here's a link 2 a vid on YouTube. Check out how big the crowd was 4 the @Switchfoot show! http://www.bit.ly/CrowdSacBBQ



^Sweetness. The end.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Jennifer Love Hewitt no longer directing "Your Love Is a Song" music video

The rumors about working with JLH are no longer true, and the band is moving in a different direction.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Switchfoot TV Episode 48!


^By far the strangest episode I have seen. What did you all think?! :)

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Bonus Coverage: TwitPics from "The Sound" music video shoot

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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First off, Drew Shirley (@thedrewcast) had this picture to show us on Twitter:



- Video shoot today for "the sound"... Coming out soon!!! Tell ya more about it later. -d

Next, Jerome Fontamillas posted this picture:



- Shooting a video for "the sound". Coming out soon. http://twitpic.com/1l1xfk

Also, Andy Barron posted this "pretty" picture of Drew:



- apparently drew is ready for his closeup. he look pretty.

7:33 pm PST:

Tim Foreman and Chad Butler play along to "The Sound" in halftime. Sounds legit!



- The Sound video shoot- Chad & Tim in half-life. Can't wait to show y'all the full deal!

10:41 pm PST:

@TimForeman: Riding in a box truck with drew, on our way back from video shoot. It's a bouncy ride!

UPDATE: May 12, 2010:

- Filming John M Perkins this Friday for "the sound" music video... Honored to meet this man- goodbye SanFrancisco.

UPDATE: May 14, 2010:

Courtesy of an Andy Barron (@andybarron) tweet.

- just got done shooting @jonathanforeman & john perkins. i'm inspired, and my head hurts. http://twitpic.com/1nv0qz

Monday, May 3, 2010

Bonus Coverage: Meatloaf's latest album features unreleased Jon Foreman song, "Running Away From Me"

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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This is our third post of the day, but there's some exciting news to tell you in addition to Jon Foreman's latest inspirational post and the new Switchfoot music video shoot tomorrow.


Billboard.com reports that Meat Loaf's new album will feature a song written by Jon Foreman, and according Amazon and Wikipedia, it will be the song called "Running Away From Me."

Here's the portion of the Billboard report that mention Jon:

Meanwhile, Meat Loaf is anxious for fans on this side of the pond to get an earful of "...Teddy Bear," which was produced by Rob Cavallo and features songs by Jon Bon Jovi, Justin Hawkins (the Darkness, Hot Leg), Our Lady Peace's Raine Maida, Switchfoot's Jon Foreman, Desmond Child, "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi, James Michael and newcomer Rick Brantley. Guests include DioGuardi, Jack Black, Patti Russo, guitarists Brian May of Queen and Steve Vai, actor Hugh Laurie and Meat Loaf's daughter Pearl Aday.


^Sweetness. Excited to hear this thing.

Hear Jon Foreman playing it live:



Listen to Meat Loaf's interesting rendition here:

BREAKING: Drew Shirley announces a "new video shoot" tomorrow

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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Drew Shirley (@TheDrewCast on Twitter) just tweeted the following:

Unwinding from Australia, japan, Guam, two Texas shows! Internationally awesome videos to come. Resting up for a new video shoot tomorrow!-d


^Could this be "The Sound"? Sure is sounding like it!

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For today's regular update, click here.