Vice Verses, the eighth album from Switchfoot, debuted on the Billboard 200 at #8. Their single, “Dark Horses,” is climbing the charts, and the Grammy award-winning group is set to perform the hit on Conan on October 25, 2011.
In addition, the Vice Verses track “The War Inside” is included in the In Time trailer and their “Out of Control” song is part of the Hawaii Five-0 soundtrack.
In an interview with Huffington Post, Jon Foreman explained how Vice Verses explores what it means to be human. “Between the dialectic of life and death we are pulled tight, stretched out like the strings of my guitar,” said Foreman. “We are the notes dancing from the strings of time, held firm between life and death. This is the polarity of our existence, pulled tight between despair and hope, belief and doubt. We are strung tight between our birth and the grave. Humanity is dancing on the fretboard in-between. Death will one day cut the string. Until then, we live in the tension.”
The group’s currently on the road touring with Anberlin, with Atlantic Records reporting that during the tour the nonprofit organization StandUp for Kids is collecting new and used backpacks that will be used to distribute food and other essentials to at-risk, homeless, and street kids.
More on Switchfoot [Courtesy of Atlantic Records]:
Switchfoot, comprised of Jon Foreman (vocals/guitar), Tim Foreman (bass), Chad Butler (drums), Jerome Fontamillas (keys/guitar), and Drew Shirley (guitar), recorded most of Vice Verses in the band’s San Diego, CA home studio, working with producer Neal Avron (Sara Bareilles, Weezer). Mike Elizondo (Eminem, Dr. Dre, Pink), who produced 2009’s Hello Hurricane, served as executive producer. Hello Hurricane entered The Billboard 200 at No. 13 and contained the Modern Rock hits “The Sound (John M. Perkins’ Blues)” and “Mess of Me.”
The band took home “Artist of the Year” honors at the San Diego Music Awards earlier this year and remains very connected to their hometown. Each year, they host the Switchfoot Bro-Am Presented By Hurley, an annual concert/surf contest/silent auction. The event has raised more than $500,000 to date for San Diego-based children’s charities, including StandUp for Kids.
Switchfoot and Anberlin Fall 2011 US Tour
10/7 Boulder, CO – Boulder Theatre
10/8 Salt Lake City, UT – Gallivan Center, X96 concert
10/10 San Francisco, CA – The Warfield Theatre
10/11 Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
10/13 Amarillo, TX – Azteca Music Hall
10/14 Siloam Springs, AR – John Brown University, Bill George Arena
10/15 Longview, TX – Le Tourneau University, Belcher Center
10/17 Dallas, TX – House of Blues
10/18 Austin, TX – Stubbs Waller Creek
10/20 Albuquerque, NM – Kiva Auditorium
10/21 Phoenix, AZ – Grand Canyon University Arena (Switchfoot Only)
