Switchfoot and Gungor pulled in over 3,000 guests to the Felix Event Center for the bands’ concert Friday, Oct. 31. Long before the show started, lines were out the doors and spilling into the parking lot. At 7 p.m., guests flooded both the upper and lower sectors of the center.
While the upper section provided seating, the floor level was mostly standing. The stage was front and center, as a typical chapel would present, but much larger and included a catwalk jetting straight out from the center into the pit, which was sectioned off for VIP attendees only.
Gungor opened the show at 8 p.m., building the anticipation for the rest of the night to unfold, starting with some of its slower-paced songs and moving into a set that left the crowd screaming. After a short intermission, Switchfoot took the stage and the audience went crazy.
Lisa Gungor blows away the audience with her talented voice. Photo credit: Megan Ramirez
“Seeing Switchfoot and Gungor was worth starving for a ticket for,” said junior youth ministry major Andrew Rinard. “I arrived shaking from excitement and was left in awe of the showmanship of both bands. Easily one of the best shows I have been to.”
In an atmosphere of spectacular lighting, powerful voices, a little alternative rock and a die-hard fan base, the concert went on up till 11:00 p.m. after two encores by Switchfoot.
“Switchfoot has been an inspiration to me my entire life,” said Brian Terada, grad assistant for chapel programs and 2013 graduate of APU. “Different phases of my life I remember so vividly when I listen to their music, simply because specific memories and emotions are evoked when I hear their albums. Jon Foreman is a hero of mine because of how humble, authentic and honest he is with where he is in life and faith.
The band first debuted in 1996, with their album The Legend of Chin, and then in 2003 their album, Beautiful Letdown started the Switchfoot craze. Switchfoot included songs from several of their different albums throughout the years and multiple tracks from their newest album, Fading West.
Jon Foreman takes joy in his work. Photo credit: Megan Ramirez
“They blew up the Felix Event Center the second they came on stage and kept the energy and inspiration rising for the following two hours. This was by far the best Switchfoot show I’ve ever attended, and I’m proud to say it was hosted by my home and alma mater, Azusa Pacific University,” Terada said.
Switchfoot, known equally in mainstream and Christian realms, has accomplished what many aspiring Christian artists hope to do, and that is to bring the hope and truth of Jesus Christ to the masses.
“We are believers,” said Jerome Fontamillas, pianist for Switchfoot. “We tend to look at ourselves as more of a band that plays honest music that everyone can relate to. The fact that we are believers and that our faith is very important to us means that it will come out in the stuff that we sing about. These are the things that are important to us, and when we write honestly about these things – a lot of people appreciate the honesty in music. Our music is honest music, and we play for everyone.”
APU houses a rigorous and rapidly growing music program compiled of musicians who hope to use their talents in the same way – a way that will best represent Christ. For some, that may be writing and leading worship, while for others, that may be done through transparency and relation to and for a larger audience. Regardless of which path every musician chooses, Fontamillas made it clear that with the rewards come many challenges as a believer living in the limelight.
“You take it a day at a time,” Fontamillas said. “You want to be smart about the decisions that you make, and for us because faith is important, we want to be able to be guided by our faith and what we believe in. With all the situations that come at us – you do have to take it a day at a time. Whether it’s a decision of ‘Should we tour here, or should we do a show over here? Do we write a song about this, or do we have our song played by this TV show?’ In those kinds of situations we consider how does this reflect what we believe in.”
The Office of Communiversity pulled in a large crowd for this event, one that hopefully lead to more concerts like this in the future!