Over the weekend, I went to go see Foster the People in Seattle. Mostly this was my mistake because I thought I had an extra week of Winter Break…I did not. Since Foster the People has been decreasing in members after their 2020 EP and their Torches 10 year anniversary. But, unexpectedly in August they released a new album, 7 years after Sacred Hearts Club. Now, it was my chance to go see them live I was old enough to know their discography and they were playing nearby in Minneapolis & Chicago but I didn’t expect to go to Seattle.
Good Neighbours & Before the Show
While at dinner, I was checking their Instagram story, and the band was posting stuff like “first concert”, and other details like doors opening and the time they would theoretically be on. Then, they put up pics of the merch or at least some of it? It was 2 shirts, one had tour dates and the other was city specific and then a beanie. Me, like everyone was hoping for more and some had worries. The two shirts didn’t really fit the album theme in any way so it was worrying but I was hopeful for a poster.
Good Neighbours were the openers, and looking them up on Apple Music I was surprised they could make a 45 minute set. They have only 6 songs released and that’s not including the covers. But, they started on time and Foster the People was late by 20 minutes. The opener wasn’t too bad, they had good songs but the crowd was pretty dead. Even in the seats where I was, people (like me) sat during the opener but the pit couldn’t hype them up enough.
The Concert
At 9:20, Foster the People started. The opener, unexpected because I never would imagine “Feed Me” to be their opening song of choice. In total they played about 5 songs from their latest album out of the total 11 from Paradise State of Mind but I was pretty content with it. It played most of my favorites, the only one being “Take me Back” but apparently after the Seattle concert they added “Chasing Low Vibrations” and switched it out for “Beginner’s Guide to Destroying the Moon” which is probably my favorite song from their album Supermodel. I will say, the crowd did feel dead as I mentioned earlier. Which was disappointing because the band hasn’t been on tour for almost 7 years so it’s been a while. But, I enjoyed myself with dancing and singing similar to Mark Foster who looked like he was enjoying himself up there.
One issue that persisted throughout that didn’t necessarily ruin my concert experience but was something noticeable was the amount of sound issues but it also added to the experience. It’s why I personally listen to live music because yes there’s mistakes but it’s also paying for an experience. I don’t want to go to a concert to hear the same thing I can hear from Apple Music I come for the musician to showcase their music, faults and all and be goofy. Like Mark’s dancing was definitely a mood, made me feel better about my own dance moves.
Now, the main reason why I went to the concert: to hear Pumped Up Kicks live. It was incredible, and because it seemed like that was why a lot of people came to see them it was like a sing-a-long because it’s what they’re known for. It’s what anyone knows them for whenever they ask about them. Even while writing this article, I’m listening to the full video I got of the song because I miss it. Sure it might not be the best quality, but I have this memory forever.
Concert Ranking
With the amount of concerts I’ve been to, this is the first small venue concert I’ve been to. The capacity is a little bit under 3,000 and compared to twenty one pilots, Glass Animals, AJR and Imagine Dragons this was tiny. But it does show that their time in the spotlight is relatively gone. But, why rank the concerts? Honestly, I can’t but it gives me a space to reflect. The concert was amazing, and simple. It was like Glass Animals in which there was minimal talking or anything other than singing. Which I enjoy a lot, but that’s also not to say the speciality of twenty one pilots or AJR. The fakeout in the Maybe Man tour is something I will forever remember, same with the giant puppet. Or at twenty one pilots the live album or being commanded by Tyler Joseph to sit.
So, whenever someone asks me to say what my favorite concert was: it’s difficult to say. Because, every concert is such a unique experience and I hope I get to see Foster the People again. But now, I wait until March for the next concert I go to where I’m taking my good friend to see one of her favorite groups.
