Well, I can die happy.

On Sunday, September 25, 2011, Switchfoot and Anberlin played at the Best Buy Theater in Times Square, New York City, and it was awesome. I had interviewed Jerome of Switchfoot three days pior (click here to read it!!), so I was ansy and pumped as I stood in line for HOURS with other Switchfoot fans, called "Friends of the Foot." Honestly, I couldn't believe what was happening. I was standing in line with a ticket in hand and a press pass in the other. My year had been made. I met a lot of great people. I listed to the new Switchfoot album via someone's iphone. I saw things (like a tranny dressed in pink spandex) I never would see again.





The first band to play was this local band Atomic Tom. They seemed like really solid guys who had some decent talent to back it up. They all seemed to have a character... or role... and played it well. They sounded similar to Switchfoot and Anberlin with a funky vibe like Maroon 5.





Switchfoot came up next. It's rare to find a band that has lasted so long and has stayed true to themselves. They opened with "Mess of Me," which was their lead single off their Grammy winning album, Hello Hurricane. The crowd exploded with energy as the first three songs went by. The guys played a few songs from their new album, "Vice Verses," due to drop September 27, 2011. However, the guys stayed to a similar playlist playing most songs from Hello Hurricane mixed in with classic songs like "Meant to Live," "Dare You To Move," and "Stars." At one point during the show, Jon Foreman stepped down from the stage and made his way through the massive crowd of people and on to the inner balcony ledge. With every pulsating beat of every song, the lyrical depth was felt throughout. They ended the set with "The Sound," which set the crowd ready for Anberlin.

























Once Anberlin hit the stage, the energy could not be contained. I've seen Anberlin before in Seattle, and have always felt off set by them. They have always been a GREAT studio band with lyrical value and talent to back it up, but they had always seemed to miss the mark while playing live. Well, this certainly wasn't the case. They opened with "Reclusion," a song not easily familiar to the stage, at least on a regular basis. One thing Anberlin does right is have AWESOME special effects. Their play with lighting set the tone for the rest of the night. My mind was changing slowly about Anberlin as a live band. Anberlin did a fabulous job connecting the new album, Dark is the Way, Light is the Place, with old favorites like "Paperthin Hymn" and "Never Take Friendship Personal." In the middle of their set, they slowed it down with some favorite acoustic pieces they've recorded before. I was very impressed with how Anberlin transitioned from high high energy to slow mellow acoustic without losing their flavor. They ended their set with "Godspeed," a crowd favorite.




















After it was all said and done, Jon Foreman (Switchfoot) tweeted: "Meet by the bleachers," for an after show. After receiving the tweet, a group swarmed the lit steps in Times Square as Jon stood there with a guitar in hand, ready to perform another set. After three songs, the NY Police asked him to move to a different location away from the steps. About 40 fans and Jon walked 300 yards to a location right next to the American Eagle in Times Square where Jon finished up the set. He connected on a whole different level with the fans that captivated each person who knew the lyrics as if they were their own thoughts.









Honestly, I've been to a lot of shows with fancy lights and huge headlining bands. Something was different about this show; it was something more honest than ever. Both bands are excellent in study. Both bands are different. Both bands bring different crowds. What amazed me was how both bands did exceedingly well putting on a great show for the fans. I am excited to see what the rest of 2011 brings for Anberlin and Switchfoot.