HotStar: Foster The People

While a still-down economy has the concert industry working to make tickets an affordable choice, Los Angeles-based Foster The People keeps attracting fans wherever it goes.

The band, composed of singer/multi-instrumentalist Mark Foster, bassist Cubbie Fink and drummer/percussionist Mark Pontius, formed in 2009 and released its first single “Pumped Up Kicks” on the Internet early last year. The song quickly became one that DJs and fans couldn’t get enough of.

The Windish Agency’s Tom Windish first experienced Foster The People’s charisma and catchy sound at a club gig in Indio, Calif.

“It was very early in [the band’s] career, but I thought the songwriting was definitely there and the live show was very good,” Windish told Pollstar. “The lineup has changed a bit – they’ve added some extra players – but even back then, they were still very, very good.”
Windish said the plan was to book gigs for Foster The People in secondary and tertiary markets so the band could get comfortable touring and performing.

That strategy helped the group raise its profile at South By Southwest.

Festival slots at Coachella, Lollapalooza, Glastonbury and Splendour In The Grass as well as an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” put the band further into the spotlight.

Foster the People has been playing to sold-out crowds at nearly every stop since hitting the road earlier this year. A good portion of its shows are sold out through the end of November.

So what keeps fans of all ages packing Foster The People’s concerts when money is tight?

“The songs are fantastic, hard for a lot of people to get out of their head and they’re easy to listen to.

“And when you see them live, they totally deliver,” Windish said.