Tongues and Feet Fly in Montreal
Packed into the Just For Laughs Theatre in Montreal, fans craned their necks in anticipation, waiting for two bands who seem to gain new fans wherever they go. The bands? Paper Tongues and Switchfoot.
Paper Tongues
Bursting onto the stage with energy that was nothing short of infectious, the North Carolina natives commanded respect from the crowd with a solid performance. I've been racking my brain, trying to figure out what I find so intriguing about this band - is it their upbeat music? Their interesting fusion of various genres? Their enthusiasm, perhaps? While these attributes play a part, their live performance is a major factor. Although they were not the headliners, they do not perform as an opening act; they make the most of their time onstage, leaving a lasting impression. This is a sign of musicians on their way to the top.
It did not take long for the audience to move to the music and sing along - even without knowing the words. Although it was only their second Montreal performance, they are already cultivating a fan base.
Highlights from this performance include the song, Everybody, and, of course, Ride to California. Dedicating the song to the people of Haiti and others down on their luck, frontman Aswan North reminded us to lend a hand to our fellow neighbor.
Their last tour date with Switchfoot, Montreal sent them off with a warm farewell and a hopeful 'see you soon.'
Click on the photo below to enter our photo gallery for Paper Tongues.
Switchfoot
Intimate. Energetic. Magical. When frontman Jon Foreman announced that he had a feeling it would be a night to remember, I don't think anyone could fathom how special the night would be. The San Diego natives started their set by playing their newest album, Hello Hurricane, from cover to cover. One could not help but smirk at their reactions when the crowd sang along, word for word.
Yet and Sing It Out, two of my favorites from Hello Hurricane, were among of the quiet, most intimate moments of the show, where the crowd sang along in earnest, ceasing to be observers and becoming an integral part of what was going on around them. Community. Sing It Out, especially, felt like a diary sung out loud.
Red Eyes was dedicated to the people of Haiti, a message begging them to hold on, and, in time, be able to look towards hope beyond the tragedy.
Once Hello Hurricane was complete, Switchfoot jumped into fan favorites as old as Chem6a and as new as Awakening, from album Oh! Gravity. Other highlights included This Is Your Life, Meant to Live, Learning to Breathe, Oh! Gravity, and Stars. Bringing a giant plush tiger - named Beyonce - onstage, the audience cheered as they listened to their cover of Crazy in Love, originally by Beyonce, that lead into the track Gone, from album The Beautiful Letdown.
Montrealers, regardless of the song, irrespective of the album, sang along, every step of the way. After having left the stage, Switchfoot was drawn back to the crowd when the air filled with the sound of hundreds of fans singing Hello Hurricane together, willing them back onto the stage. It was unlike anything I've seen at any concert. And when we were afforded the privilege of witnessing their reactions, that's when we knew Jon was right; it was an unforgettable night.
