Switchfoot
W/ Copeland
Feb. 28, 2007
Kool Haus

Knowing really very little about Switchfoot, except that there were a few hit songs of theirs that really grabbed me, I was looking forward to seeing them live. I was bewildered to hear someone say they were surprised alcohol would be served tonight. Sure, Switchfoot is labeled as Christian rock but I consider myself a Christian and alcohol flows freely down my throat with little guilt (at least until the morning after). Besides, “thou shall not consume alcohol” isn’t a commandment and I believe wine was served at the last supper.

Copeland, a five piece hailing from Florida opened to an impressively packed Kool Haus. The kids there loved these guys and there wasn’t any of the distain you usual see on parents’ faces when they are forced to chaperone on a Wednesday evening. Lead singer, Aaron Marsh started on keys for “Control Freak” and switched it up with guitar as the band played through tracks from their latest Eat, Sleep, Repeat. Musically, the guys delivered but as performers, something was lacking. I longed for a seat so I could kick back, close my eyes and just listen. Marsh’s supple vocals and aching lyrics are truly stunning. If he were playing a solo gig, I’d definitely be in but there’d better be a comfy couch nearby.

As the stage hands busily went to work readying the stage for the headliners, the crowd drew closer and dads’ poked around the barriers to check in on their little girls. The band would be filming tonight so attention to detail was high priority. Everything from the backdrop to the guitar was draped with artwork from their new disc Oh Gravity.

Bursting out with their radio friendly hit “Stars,” Switchfoot through the night into high gear and pretty much kept it there for the entire 90+ minute set. Jon Foreman and crew led us through a surreal, inspirational but rocking journey as they played through most of Oh Gravity. These guys pride themselves in having a strong bond with their fans; even letting them choose tonight’s set list via their fan website and letting one of them introduce the band. The connection with their youth had Jon right in the crowd for most of the performance. He even pulled a bold Bono-esque stroll through the crowd to the back of the venue as he had the crowd singing along to “On Fire.” It was all about that human union tonight as Foreman had us “just put (our) arm around the person beside you and sway back and forth;” everyone happily obliged and sang and clapped along.

Before you start thinking the night was a gushy love-fest, the boys know how to rock too. Jon was all over the stage, pulling impressive stunts from spread eagle leaps from the drums to hoping up on the piano. And lyrically, they touch on everything from teenage angst with “desperate youth and pain” to slams at our “success equated to excess” society. Foreman even shouted out to Canadians in “American Dream;” “This is not my Canadian dream; I want out of this machine; I want to live and die for bigger things.”

Being a sucker for anything pretty and acoustic, the encore had it all. Foreman on the dimly lit stage with just his guitar, tenderly crooning out a love song and again for the final hit “Dare You to Move.” The latter had the rest of the group gently join in and ended the set beautifully.

Clearly, Switchfoot is a band striving to reach its young audience with their inspiring tunes cleverly disguised in their layered, electronic sound and pop hooks; proving that you don’t have to include “God” or “Jesus” in your lyrics to be a damn good Christian Rock band. Now, which way to the bar?

- Lisa Kerr





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