"Honest. Live. Rock." That's how Drew Shirley describes the sound of Switchfoot, the band he's been a part of for half a decade. Having completed their sixth album, Oh! Gravity, in 2006 and working on the Up in Arms tour to help teens with depression, the members of Switchfoot have been around for the last 10 years or so proving that they can rock socks off both live and in the studio. Guitarist Drew Shirley gives the inside beat the scoop on the life of Switchfoot.
Good looks, killer sound, and dedicated to a good cause? It seems that Switchfoot has the total package. The five-man band is Jon Foreman (Vocals, song writing, and guitar), Tim Foreman (Bass and backing vocals), Chad Butler (drums), Jerome Fontamillas (guitar, keys, and backing vocals), and Drew Shirley (guitar).
Although this wasn't always the band's line up, it seems like these guys have been together forever. "I was added before [2003's] The Beautiful Letdown," Shirley sayss. "It seemed pretty much like a natural fit because I've been playing with them for a while and it happened organically."
Ot seems that the line-up isn't the only thing Switchfoot has formed naturally. Inspired by true honesty, Switchfoot taps into the bands of yesteryear that have a clear message: great music comes from a true place within.
"We're influenced by bands that make great songs, such as The Beatles, The Police, and Led Zeppelin," Shirley says, adding that making great music is the sole force behind Switchfoot.
Who would be better producers for Oh! Gravity than Steve Lilywhite - who previously produced for Phish, Dave Matthews Band, Rush, U2, and Chris Cornell - and former producer of The Cure, U2, and Pearl Jam Tim Palmer?
The two producers have clearly influenced the band's sound and musical philosophy. While describing the atmosphere inside the studio, Drew Shirley explains, "[Lillywhite] would tell us to ask ourselves, 'How does this music make you feel?' It wasn't just about playing the notes right, it was more about asking yourself how the music evokes emotion. We didn't overthink things; we just listened to it and went with what sounds good."
Shirley continues, "[Palmer] jumps into it as if he were a sixth band member. He goes along with the song's ideas pulls a lot out of us as a band."
As Lillywhite and Palmer continue to evoke greatness from the band, Switchfoot attempts to extract answers from its listeners. The band continues to prod at its audience, asking "Why can't we keep it together?" on all levels - from relationships to politics.
"Everything today is falling apart from marriages to the economy to our relationships with other countries and our relationships with each other," Shirley says. "When it comes down to it, the song is asking what is wrong with the world and we are longing for a solution."
How is Switchfoot contributing to the solution? According to the band, one of the major problems in our overall society is a lack of hope in today's youth. That is why Switchfoot has collaborated with Jamie Tworkowski to create To Write Love on Her Arms, an American nonprofit organization, which aims to present hope and find help for teens who struggle with problems such as depression, drug addiction, self-injury, and suicide.
"What we really want to do is to bring hope to people who seem hopeless," Shirley says. "We want to let them know that there is help and they aren't alone. These are huge issues but we want to let them know there is always a way out and there are people who want to lift you up in arms."
Want to contribute to the cause? The Up in Arms Tour will be stopping at the RAC (For tickets, call 1-866-445-GORU) May 3 featuring both Switchfoot and the UK's platinum-selling artists Athlete. Not only will you witness two truly great bands do what they do best, you'll be rockin' out for a good cause.
