The SWITCHFOOT Experience

That blur right there is Mr Jon Foreman ... of Switchfoot!

The Switchfoot concert that just ended an hour ago was an awesome one. The band had a full sound and their keyboardist Jerome added a lot to the music. I never thought much of keyboards but now that I'm older I see the error of my ways. Ha ha!

In case you guys don't know (I didn't at first), Switchfoot is made up of (drum roll please) ...

• Jon Foreman on vocals & guitars (plus he writes the songs)
• Tim Foreman on bass & backing vocals
• Jerome Fontamillas on guitar, keys & backing vocals
• Drew Shirley on guitars
• Chad Butler on the drums

I loved the songs. It's so refreshing to hear songs about change and these things resonate in my soul. I guess that's why I do it. That's why I've given up living a normal every day life to try to build something in music. Nights like these remind me that it's all worth while and God knows I need reminder frequently so that I don't give up.

It's kinda tough though when I find myself doing daily mundane stuff like accounts but there are days when it's exciting ... to be at a radio station, a press conference or a gig itself. What I love most is the music and I should take a listen to what my label mates have done so far more often to force myself to remember that I do believe in their music ... each one of them; Juwita, Altered Frequency & Liang! The challenges of the market get to me sometimes but looking at Switchfoot ... well, the dream burns in me still and I hope that we make it somewhere further in time to come. It'd be so awesome to tour the country and the region ... and hopefully one day someplace far away like the States.

I had a great time at Switchfoot. Met quite a few industry contacts (Shaz ... this one's for you! Radio mention of the blog would be really nice! Ha ha!) which was great. I loved the music. I loved the awesome, awesome sound that was just so big & full. The band sang so much for us and you could hear the conviction in Jon's lyrics. Most of all I loved the fact that I got to hear one of the best & most refreshing bands to come out of the US of A in recent years LIVE!

For more on Switchfoot check out their official site here and more pix from the concert here. I must run out and get a copy of all their albums tomorrow (what an impulse to have?!). Till then adios amigos!

Switchfoot Live in KL!!!

It really is an exciting time to be in Four Forty Records. A whole bunch of things are happening this year, and in a sense we start off with a bang cos' Altered Frequency the rockers in our family will be opening in a couple of hours for Switchfoot!!!

The boys were asked to attend a press conference over at Sri Pentas and I came along to make contacts and at the same time see what I could do to help them. There wasn't much to be done because they were just expected to take part in the group shots. It was pretty cool and I befriended Andy (one of the guys traveling with Switchfoot) and talked to him a bit. He videos the band's activities and makes PODCASTS!!! Pretty cool! It's something to think about but there's just so much to do at Four Forty that really sometimes I just get so overwhelmed that I don't know where to start. Even with all my web expertise and experience we don't even have a proper website. That totally sucks. Sigh ...

Anyways, enjoy the pix below I took at the press con. Here's one of Switchfoot as they just settled down in front of all the reporters. The guys were rushed to Sri Pentas without even having gotten a bite to eat after touching down at KLIA. But that's what life on tour is like ...

Switchfoot!!!

And here's a group shoot of Andy, Agnel & Daniel together with the band their opening for. The guys in Switchfoot are really chilled out and it was a very enjoyable press conference. It was good to hear them talk about their music in such a positive manner and really digging the fact that their music makes a difference in the lives of their listeners PLUS to hear about the different causes that they support in the States. One day ... I hope we can be like that while at the same time not having to struggle as much as we do now in our start-up period.

AF & Switchfoot (duh!)

Anyways. the concert starts 18-and-a-half hours from now and I am pretty excited about it. I don't know all of their songs but I certainly will enjoy it. Tickets are going for RM140++ at the entrance so if you haven't gotten your tix yet tomorrow's still very much a go for all you last minute music goers. I got mine already and saved RM20 but no sense rubbing it in. Switchfoot is gonna be a once-a-lifetime experience and so far I think I've really been blessed with so much good music over the past 3 years (and also a lot of pain but then again that's past right?).

Here's to Switchfoot. And here's to good music compadres!

Hap ... hap ... Happy Birthday Raz!

Today's blog entry is dedicated to my friend Razlin (check out her Multiply page here).

Raz, is a good friend and it's great that not all my friends are Chinese. It's kinda uncool that most of the time most Malaysians hang out mostly with our own ethnic groups rather than having a mixed group of friends.

Razlin is one of the prettiest, sweetest and gentlest persons I know. She's got a great zest for the outdoors and life. I think what I like best about her is her laidback attitude, she knows how to take a step back and enjoy life instead of being caught up in the endless pursuit of things. She's on of the few people from my days in UM that I do catch up with. Unfortunately we don't catch up as often as we should even though we do enjoy each other's company.

Raz, I am so happy for you that you're doing so great after going through so much over the past 2 years especially. Here's wishing you an excellent year this year. Yeah, yeah I know we both hit a milestone in terms of age this year but I pray that all the wisdom that you need will be granted you by God. And here's to living life more fully and to enjoy all that He has given us ya? So much blessings to you Raz and don't forget that I owe you a birthday treat like I said over SMS last week.

Thanks for being a good friend and for listening & identifying with me when my heart was in such a bad shape. Have a great time with all your friends and loved ones today. I know you've got a packed birthday schedule.

God bless you on this your special day & beyond of course!