Switchfoot has come a long way

It’s exciting when a local band that has sold nearly 6 million copies of their nine studio albums returns to their hometown for a concert, especially when they play at an intimate venue like Music Box.

The San Diego alt-rock band Switchfoot performed in Little Italy April 25 to help celebrate what was officially proclaimed by Mayor Faulconer’s office as “Local Music Appreciation Day.”

The event felt more like a high school reunion than a concert, with Switchfoot front man Jon Foreman hugging everyone around him as he made his way through the crowd while singing, “Love Alone Is Worth the Fight” early in the set. Boosted by fans, he climbed up to the second floor balcony and dangled on the ledge as everyone sang along to the chorus.

A musician in the audience had a night he’ll never forget when he started playing harmonica and was then invited onstage to join the band for “Your Love Is a Song.” Next came a kumbaya moment when the entire band left the stage, formed a semi-circle in the audience, and played an acoustic rendition of 2009’s Grammy Award–winning “Hello Hurricane.”

Switchfoot has come a long way since the days when Foreman spent his time surfing and writing songs from his P.B. apartment “with shag carpet and rats — lots of rats.” Their 10th album is scheduled for release in July.

• Concert: Switchfoot
• Date: April 25
• Venue: Music Box
• Seats: GA, front balcony