Switchfoot took the outdoor stage at Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday night, performing two songs from the band’s recently released album, Fading West.
The San Diego rock band played “When We Come Alive” and “Say It Like You Mean It” during the Feb. 19 episode. For anyone who missed Switchfoot on Jimmy Kimmel, the appearance offered two different sides of the band’s newest record.
The television performance came just over a month after the Jan. 14 release of Fading West, Switchfoot’s ninth studio album.
Switchfoot on Jimmy Kimmel Shows Both Sides of Fading West
The record grew alongside the band’s documentary of the same name. The film followed Switchfoot through touring, surfing and recording sessions around the world.
As a result, that travel-heavy origin reaches well beyond the album’s title. The band explores electronic textures, polished pop production and atmospheric arrangements alongside its familiar guitars.
Fans had already heard some of that shift before the full album arrived. The earlier Fading West EP included “Who We Are” and “Love Alone Is Worth the Fight,” which later became the first two tracks on the full-length record.
However, the album does not abandon the rock sound that built Switchfoot’s reputation. Instead, it stretches that foundation into something wider.
‘When We Come Alive’ Meets ‘Say It Like You Mean It’
“When We Come Alive” represents the brighter and more expansive side of the record. The song builds toward a broad chorus that fits comfortably on an outdoor television stage.
Meanwhile, “Say It Like You Mean It” gives the band more room to push back toward rock. Its sharper rhythm and heavier attack provide a useful contrast to the atmosphere surrounding much of Fading West.
Together, the two performances capture the tension running through the album. It is part arena anthem, part atmospheric road movie and part reminder that Switchfoot still knows when to turn up.
The pairing also makes sense for a late-night television appearance. Rather than simply performing two songs that occupy the same corner of the record, Switchfoot gives viewers a quick tour of where Fading West can go.
For longtime listeners, that may be the most interesting part of this era. The band is clearly experimenting, but it still sounds like Switchfoot when the guitars arrive.