tour spotlight By Andy Argyrakis hit the road Switchfoot Something For the reSt oF US tour ChArter one pAvilion/ChiCAgo, il tUeSday, JUly 20, 2010 P h o to s b y A nd y A rg y ra k is . Anyone worried about Switchfoot’s status on the mainstream radar should know the group’s light is shining brighter than ever thanks to a slot on one of this summer’s hottest tours. Offering direct support to the chart dominating Goo Goo Dolls, the group split its hour long set between the current collection Hello Hurricane (lowercase people records/Atlantic) and as many of its greatest hits as time allowed. Even in the secular setting, nearly 8,000 fans sang along to high energy anthems like the inspiring pop pleasantry “This Is Your Life,” the mighty “Meant to Live,” the group’s most enduring calling card “Dare You To Move” and even a charging cover of Cheap Trick’s “Surrender.” New tunes also earned a favorable reaction given the group’s radio airplay on both sides of the dial, including the Led Zeppelin-like “Mess of Me,” the explosive “The Sound (John M. Perkins’ Blues)” and the vertically-tinged “Your Love Is a Song.” Yet more than merely the songs, Switchfoot continues to connect with all audiences given its ability to take risks and make the most of each moment. Unlike most warm- up acts, Jon Foreman fully embraced the opportunity to win over new fans as he jumped off stage and raced around the seating area during “On Fire,” involving even those who primarily considered themselves fans of the headliners. However, by the end of full-throttled stadium rock show, the masses were converted to Switchfoot’s dynamic sounds, spiritually-inspired sentiments and unparalleled showmanship. 20 CCM