Buies Creek, NC
4/13/07And so it happened again. Switchfoot blew my mind.
After a 4 hour drive we arrived at the venue about 6 hours before the show started, watching the roadies set-up and checking out the area. Campbell University's a nice place!
It was me, Emily; my sister, Michelle; our two friends, Melissa and Gentry, and my mom. So a good little group of 5.
The venue was outdoors and it was a perfect sunny and clear weather day.
Needing to cross the road to find food, we caught (hitchhiked (my mom's idea)) a ride in the back of this kid's pick up truck he had fixed up with his dad for 4 years. Pretty sweet ride, nice guy, and a fun time.
Before sound check we saw Andy Barron (SF's photographer) walking by with his camera. We stopped him and chatted, told him we had rings for the guys. "You guys have bling?" he responded with and mentioned he'd definitely take pictures of the rings later when the guys had them. I called and met Tommy (tparker), who was helping with the guys' dressing room, and talked with him for a bit before the show.
We stood next to the stage and watched SF do sound check. We, of course, were clapping and cheering after each song so they acknowledged us and cracked a few jokes from up on stage. Since we were behind a fence cheering Jon said "
They're keeping you guys safe with that fence... Otherwise we're ferocious!" Haha.
Just after sound check one of the roadies walked over and handed my mom Chad's practice drum stick (which she was psyched about, collecting them).
After sound check my sister, Michelle, waved down Drew who was on stage and told him we had something for him. He came over and recognized us from the concert a month ago. That was so cool to hear! There we gave him a ring that my dad had custom-made for each of the guys. It says "Switchfoot" on it with their symbols around the backside on a black background. Inside its engraved: Jon-Tim-Chad-Jerome-Drew-2007. Drew was amazed. He loved it so much and thanked us immensely. He hated that we were separated by the fence, but it was quite a walk for him to come around to our side, so he stayed there, posed for a picture, and after chatting for 10 more minutes and a "see ya later" went to their bus where the other guys were.
The show was starting soon so we got in line. I saw a few guys that we'd seen at the Charleston concert and chatted with. When the gates opened at 6 we sprinted as fast as we could across the field to the front. Center stage, second row standing not too bad! Luke, Vicky, and some other people who post on the SF boards were in front of us, which made for some fun throughout the concert.
There we watched the opening band, a group of nice guys who won the local battle of the bands. Then Reeve Oliver made their way on stage. They were hilarious, very entertaining, and everything I hoped they'd be.
My mom once again got the drumstick from Brad (drummer) who handed it to her with a huge moth on it's end. Pretty hilarious with the whole crowd watching and laughing. I got a guitar pick that says Reeve Oliver and had the lead singer, Otisserie (?), sign it after the show that night.
Of course Switchfoot comes up next and puts on an amazing show! It's so hard to put into words all of the feelings their show thrusts upon you.
Drew was wearing his ring during the concert : ). During a few songs Jon grabbed my friend Gentry's hand for stability twice while standing on the 1 inch rail and he also held up the microphone stand for Jon later. Then during Shadow he made his expected trip out into the audience. No rope lights this time, but still great.
The show was completely amazing. The setlist included:
stars
politicians (which wasn't on the set list at my last show)
oh! gravity
we are one tonight (which wasn't on the set list at my last show)
gone
this is your life
learning to breathe
faust, midas, and myself (yeah, Chad!)
on fire (which wasn't on the set list at my last show)
ammuntion
american dream
the shadow proves the sunshine
awakening
dirty second hands
meant to live
only hope
dare you to move
4:12 was on the setlist, but never got played, unfortunately!
During one song Jon grabbed Andy's camera, ran around stage filming the guys for a bit and pointed it at the audience for a bit of podcast footage. Can't wait.
During Meant to Live, Jon climbed the front rafters about 20 ft up to sing for a bit which is always fun to see, not to mention all of the cameras and camera phones that raise into the air during those few minutes. It was the last song on the set list and Jon was up on the rafters as we were repeating along "we were meant to liiiive." He climbed down and left stage after Chad had just walked off. Then Tim slowly walked off stage. Then Jerome followed after finishing his part. Drew was left playing M2L on guitar with a bright light behind him so you could only see his silhouette. His guitar part dwindled down slowly then the lights dimmed and he calmly walked off stage. GREAT ending. But then the encore of course! We screamed and they came out for Only Hope and DYTM.
I especially enjoyed On Fire and This Is Your Life that night. We Are One Tonight was also memorable singing "we are one" repeatedly.
After a lot of screaming, flashing lights, cymbal bashing, bass swinging, hair flipping, tambourining, drum bashing, photo flashing, singing along, and a blur, the concert ended. Needless to say, Melissa and Gentry who were with us became die-hard fans after that concert experience.
Then of course, the guys are ALWAYS so patient and kind enough to wait around for over an hour to meet the fans who stick around after the show.
We saw Chad walking over and called his name. He comes striding over and recognizes me and Michelle from the last show. He said, "Oh yeah you were the ones who got into the soundcheck at Charelston and you had that cool shirt you made. It was St. Patricks day." I was so excited that he remembered us. What a compliment. We chit-chatted with him for a bit and got a photo or two. We gave him his ring after saying he had seen Drew's earlier and he loved it. Said he "had big knuckles" cause he's a drummer, so he got the largest size. We talked about the Stars and Happy is a Yuppie Word music videos and he said he liked the Yuppie video better… "Better lighting" and other things about it.
Drew walked over to us next and said he was glad we "stuck around after the show" so the other guys could get their gifts. (He was the only we got to talk to before the show.) We also gave Drew and Tim photos that we made into cards of me, Michelle, Tim, and Drew on the front from the last show and a paragraph inside thanking them, etc. We talked with Drew for about 10 min (felt like a long time!) then headed over to the other guys to let other fans chat with D.
Amazingly enough all of the other guys remembered us as well.
Tim tried on rings and after 2 got stuck on his finger he said "You'd think I would've learned!" He cracked us up for a bit but we soon helped him find his size in the bag of rings my mom was holding. We talked for 5 more minutes discussing things like skydiving, music videos, and the show. I also showed him the SF earrings me and Michelle were wearing and the Learning to Breathe necklace flower pendant I had around my neck. He thought they were great.
Then after chatting on the phone with a boardie, Jon talked with us for a while about the rings and upcoming projects. I asked Jon about all of the songs shown on a list on a podcast that no one's ever heard (We Walk Alone, Red Eyes, etc.) and if he wants to get them out. He said "Yeah!" that he wanted people to hear them and wanted to put them together on some kind of an EP cd or "movie soundtrack" (?) sometime soon. He said we'll get to hear them for sure ;D.
My camera battery then died, so after finishing with Jon, I ran back to the car with my mom and we searched for some batteries and headed back toward the tour bus to finish up with the guys. Most people had cleared the field, merchandise was packed and gone, and there were maybe 5 fans left by the tour bus. 11:45 pm by this time. While walking back I hear a voice screaming "Emily!" and getting closer I find out it's Jerome yelling. Michelle told him to call for me..Pretty funny moment. Loved it.
Lastly we talk with Jerome. At first he didn't remember us until we told him we were the ones who showed him how to do the SF symbol with your arms. "Oh my gosh! That was YOU guys?!!" he exclaimed as he swung his arms animatedly. He definitely remembered us then.
When I told him we were ones giving the guys the rings he freaked out and got on his knees and begged for one. He's such a comedian.
We chatted with him for a long time about the tour and songs and when we'd see them next. He said he was sad he'd have to wait 4 months to see us again and offered Michelle his bed on the tour bus and said he'd sleep where the luggage is so she could come along. Hah! My mom tried to persuade him to come home with us with "home cooking" and he almost took up the offer ;).
Later in the conversation I asked if he had done the Ammunition remix or Shadow remix. He said no, but his friend from his former band (F Z or Mortal probably) did the remixes… I was secretly hoping it was Jerome's work.
After some more group pictures and a last goodbye to Jerome and Tim (the last two outside), we were off to Waffle House (where we saw some concert folk) and then to find our hotel.
[My mom, me, Michelle ^]
This concert was just as amazing as the last one. The venue being set up outside was wonderful. You could see the stars like Jon mentioned just before singing Stars (Michelle saw a shooting star afterwards) and feel the cool breeze in the air. But there is something so surreal about your favorite band recognizing you and being so comfortable having a casual conversation with you. I just love this group of guys :)
More photos at my photobucket:
http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y60/swimxbabe/Switchfoot%20in%20Buies%20Creek%204%2013%2007/ Such rings and jewelry pieces are available at MARK Diamond Studio in Charlotte, NC 28277.