Switchfoot adds to Birds of Prey excitement

As a San Diego rock band, Switchfoot grew up soaking in gritty, eclectic music outside mainstream sounds from big cities like Los Angeles or New York, said co-founder and drummer Chad Butler.

“I would call it guitar-driven California rock — songs for thinking people,” he said. “Music has been our vehicle to explore the world between the broken and the beautiful — honest songs asking big questions, wrestling with the tension of pain and beauty, faith and doubt.”

The band, which has sold nearly 10 million copies between its 12 studio albums — including the 2003 double-platinum breakthrough “The Beautiful Letdown” and 2009’s Grammy Award-winning “Hello Hurricane,” joins the live music lineup as part of the Birds of Prey. In fact, they can’t wait to ride in Colorado during the tour — when they’re not making music and are at home they’re usually surfing in the ocean.

The band’s uplifting, intelligent alternative rock has garnered hits including “Meant to Live,” “Dare You to Move,” “I Won’t Let You Go,” “Your Love Is a Song” and “Only Hope.”

The musicians are currently finishing up a new album, which Butler calls “the loudest rock record we’ve made in a long time.”

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They also dedicate their time to humanitarian projects. They’ve raised more than $2 million to aid kids through the BRO-AM Foundation, an annual surf contest and music festival on the beach. The single-use-plastic-bottle-free event focuses on recycling, composting and waste reduction education.

“We are so grateful for the support we received growing up in the San Diego community, and want to take every opportunity to use our platform for good. Giving back for us means helping kids in need in our hometown,” he said. “It’s a community celebration raising awareness and support for local youth programs focusing on music, surfing and art.”

Like Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Switchfoot shows are never the same.

“Our live show is a living, breathing, once-in-a-lifetime moment,” he said. “We may write a set list of songs from all 12 of our albums, but really it’s the spontaneous energy of the crowd that drives the night. Hearing thousands of people from all walks of life singing the same song is a beautiful moment. That’s the power of live music: to bring people together like nothing else can.”