Local heroes Foster the People returned to The Roxy last Wednesday night to celebrate the pending release of their new album Paradise State of Mind. The packed house led to a humid, sweaty dance party as the band played a mix of their disco-fied new songs and alt rock catalog classics.
It was standing room only on the floor and in the VIP section, where a mix of label people mingled with stars like Aaron Paul and Josh Hutcherson, all out to get a first-listen to new songs from the band’s forthcoming record, marking what Foster would call a “new era” from the band. And when the band hit the stage at 8:37pm, they didn’t waste time showing the new direction their music is taking, playing “Feed Me” and the album’s first single “Lost in Space”. For these songs, guitars have been put to the wayside, with a heavier focus on synths, dance rhythms and Foster’s falsetto. For lack of a better description, these are dance and disco songs. While those who were raised on Torches may find this change as something of a shock, it’s not a shocking evolution, as there have always been dance elements to the band’s music. I could certainly hear as the band launched into their early single “Helena Beat”.
Whatever your preferences for the band’s sound, the audience was ready to dance despite the heat and shoulder-to-shoulder space in the venue. The band bounced between new tracks (“See You in the Afterlife”), deep cuts (“Call It What You Want”), and hits (“Coming of Age”, “Imagination”), working the crowd and frontman Mark Foster into a sweater. Foster seemed to be enjoying getting into the vibe of their new sound, raising his hands into the air, dancing across the stage and feeding off the audience’s excitement.
This was my first time seeing the band live, and hearing them run through their catalog, I could definitely give them credit for being able to go from disco to alt pop to even punk tunes like “Lotus Eater”. And they had fans of all of their work; “Don’t Stop (Color of the Walls)” had fists pumping in the air, while some folks were putting heart signs up for “Miss You”. Couples were dancing, people were singing along, and no one moved as the band left the stage, knowing the one-two encore punch of “Sit Next to Me” and “Pumped Up Kicks” closed the show. The band took their bow – they are back and ready to continue the strong legacy they’ve already built.
Foster the People‘s Paradise State of Mind is out Friday (8/16), and you can hear the tracks already released here!
The Indy Review 