“You’re onstage looking at a sea of people. Why are they there to see you?” the host asked one of our questions to Foster the People during the presscon. “Fancy socks,” bassist Cubbie Fink jokes. “I don’t know. [Laughs] That’s a question for them,” says Mark Foster. So, why exactly? Read on.
Maybe you’re one of those lucky people who got their debut album, Torches, signed during the presscon or maybe took videos of their enchanting live performance filled with Mark Foster and his band busting out their infectious dance moves and happy beats in Araneta Coliseum last Saturday night. The truth is, Foster the People is everything but material. It was a night to remember, and the effect they left with us is abstract. I am still listening to Torches to this moment because damn those boys know how to keep us wanting more.
Araneta Coliseum was packed with fans, celebrities, VIPs, sponsors, myself, and lovely STATUS readers. Foster the People could either amp you up or wreak a havoc for the ones near the stage.
I was wearing my spiked flats, thinking they would protect me from the fans running up front, but my weapon served useless; I just lost some of the spikes (insert sad face here). I didn’t care, though, as soon as Foster the People appeared onstage after the equally pumped performance of local act Techy Romantics. It was a non-stop dance party. And surprisingly, almost everyone knew the lyrics to their songs! “You guys got history, you guys got passion,” Mark Foster said. It was spectacular, and you could actually see Mark with his genuine smile.
The band brought it, and we took it in, losing ourselves both in catchy moments from the opening song “Miss You” to my favorites “Broken Jaw,” “Waste,” “Don’t Stop (Color On The Walls),” ”Helena Beat” (where I almost fell off the chair from dancing; the entire VIP and Patron were standing on the chairs that looked as if they would break at anytime, but who cared?), to the slow-burning song “Ruby,” and finally, “Pumped Up Kicks.” I could confidently say that it was one of the best concerts in Manila that I’ve been to.
Oh, and they brought their balloon monsters with them, too!
Big thanks to Dayly Entertainment, Ivory Music, Karpos Multimedia Inc & Midas Promotions for bringing them here. Can’t wait for the sophomore album coming out next year. They promised they’ll be back, so to those who missed out on their musical brilliance, learn from your mistakes, people.—HITGIRL
Presscon photos by Danica Condez, Concert photos by Kris Rocha for Dayly Entertainment
