“The Switch” Waits a Minute for Fame
By Jonathan Cyprowski, 10.25.2006
“The Switch” has become one of the hottest independent rock shows in the country. Ggiving over 180 concerts in one year alone is not the norm for an independent band, but for this pop-rock sensation it has become a lifestyle.
“When we first started we just wanted to make music. Never in our wildest dreams did we think this could turn into a career,” said lead vocalist Rob Johnston. For “The Switch those wildest dreams were formed on Easter Sunday five years ago.
“We were sitting around in Jed’s attic being bored,” said band drummer Aaron Johnston.
“No one knew we would be traveling and doing this full-time within a couple years.”
In 2005 “The Switch” shared the stage with bands, “Relient K”, “Dashboard Confessional” and “Pillar.”
Without a major record label behind them,” The Switch” is making plenty of progress. And they are doing it in unusual ways.
“They are succeeding because they are multi-media artists,” said Sue Ross, the band’s manager.
As a multi-media band they are pitching a television and radio show to major network executives this January. The radio show would include listener interaction, daily current event topics and entertainment bits that will give the show a Disney meets TRL flavor.
Ross, who was responsible for managing and developing the band “Everlife” has helped the band develop a vision for the future that transcends being signed by a major record label.
“When your focus goes to just one piece you lose sight of the bigger picture, but when you step back and look at everything they are capable of, you eliminate the risk of borrowing pieces from another box,” Ross said. He describes the record label as just a piece of the overall puzzle of what “The Switch” represents.
“The Switch’s box is full of pieces screaming with diverse possibilities. The band will work with producer Sam Barnhart, a long time member of band “Bleach.” They will collaborate on a mainstream single entitled “Wait a Minute,” a track from their independent album “Stay Tuned.” It is anticipated to be released by December of this year.
The band plans on keeping their busy tour schedule by embarking on a national tour. Fans can look forward to being entertained by an energy packed concert. The high octane, in your face, pop rock explosion that describes “The Switch” will leave spectators wanting more.
“It is like a visual explosion that you have to see to believe" said fan Andrew Bails. “You leave the show thinking man I would go see that again in a heart beat.”
The melody driven style of pop rock has “The Switch” in a class with bands like Fall Out Boy, but it is personality and message sets them apart.
“We do this because of our love for entertaining and captivating an audience with music,” Johnston said. “We had to make a decision whether we were doing this just for fun or if we were going to leave a lasting impression.”
“Ultimately “The Switch” decided to have a very entertaining show, but the lyrics to their songs stick when you walk away” Ross said. “They have made the message an experience you will never forget.”
