Photos and Words: Valerie Ryan
I love going to a show where it’s clear that the bands are happy to be there performing for their fans. This Thursday night at one of my favorite venues, Mars Music Hall in Huntsville, was no exception. The crowd seemed wholesome, as the the millennials brought their kids to enjoy alternative rock band Switchfoot, for a taste of their youth.
Arlie opened tonight, and impressed the masses! Dressed in Angus Young-style dinner jackets and ties, this band wailed, harmonized, and delivered to us some funky Indie Rock. Arlie was wild and energetic, and even gave us some saxophone and tambourine, which added an extra dazzle to the show. “Didya Think” off their EP “Wait” was the closing song and my favorite of the set, but their whole show was quality tunes and I’d definitely enjoy seeing them perform again.
Setlist:
Water Damage
Big Fat Mouth
Titanic
Barcelona
Sickk
Karma
Didya Think
Switchfoot came out in a blaze of all smiles and opened with one of their greatest hits “Something More”. They were crisp and clean and sounded just as good as when I first heard the song in 2003. Jon Foreman gravitated immediately towards the crowd; reaching in closer and closer til he hopped on in and became the center of the room, surrounded by starry-eyed fans screaming his songs. I looked around the venue during “Dare You to Move” and it seemed everyone in the building had a personal connection with the song, all entranced and singing every word.
Every moment of this gig was enjoyable, and I’m so glad Huntsville was lucky enough to make it on the list for this tour. This was an album that the band has stated “almost never” saw the light of day”, and we’re thankful it persevered through the dark for the fans that so obviously have a deep connection with it.
https://switchfoot.com/pages/tour
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