Portland has an iconic intimate concert venue called the Crystal Ballroom. Last night I surprised my wife with tickets to see one of her favourite bands, Switchfoot play the venue.
Paper Tongue opened for them.
Paper Tongue is a brand new band out of North Carolina. Young and full of energy, they played a five piece opening set that pleasantly surprised the Portland audience. It was difficult to hear the lyrics on the Mezzanine level where Shell and I sat but they sounded good enough for me to go buy their EP. I hope this seven member band finds an audience.
When Switchfoot took the stage everyone was looking for Jon. A spotlight finally found him half way back in the audience singing the opening to the first track to their new album, Hello Hurricane -- "the world begins with newborn skin..." This ten-year veteran band knows how to tell a story with their music. The word pictures they create are plaintively beautiful.
Though I've appreciated Switchfoot, they have never been a band I'd choose to have on my ipod. That will change after last night. For my money, Hello Hurricane is their best release yet. Now Shell and I can enjoy them together. As a matter of fact we're listening to them together right now.
"The Beautiful Letdown" is my favorite album. I don't know if I've heard anything from "Hello Hurricane."
Posted by: Barefootmeg | 13 January 2010 at 09:05 PM