REVIEW: FOSTER THE PEOPLE – FORUM, MELBOURNE

Alice Ivy bounces around the stage with infectious energy as she creates a whirlwind of funky beats to boogie along to. She’s about to release her debut album titled ‘I’m Dreaming,’ next month so she shares a few new songs including the very danceable Charlie. "I feel like every band that plays The Forum should bring their parents. My mum’s here tonight, so if anyone sees her then go buy her a beer!” She shouts. Georgia van Etten joins in with her powerhouse vocals on a “Almost Here” and Ivy moves around her from one instrument to the next to mix up a bunch of lively and unique samples get the party started. After her last song “Get Me A Drink” she asks us one last favour as she ties her shoelace before continuing to jump around the stage. On command the audience gets down really low for one final drop with a sneaky chorus of Beyonce’s “Naughty Girl”.

The stage is packed full of instruments and a whole lot of synth gear ready for Foster The People’s seven-piece band. They kick off with “Pay The Man” from their latest album ‘Sacred Hearts Club’. Lead singer Mark Foster’s grown an impressive moustache since we saw him last and he wears a Blondie satin jacket. It heats up pretty quickly so he strips down to a white singlet by the second song “Helena Beat.” The band first toured Australia in 2012 and was last here in 2014. Foster reveals that we were the first people outside of America to really get their music and the reason why they keep coming back.

A kaleidoscope of rainbow coloured lights flash out on the audience for “Pseudologia Fantastica” and the band jams together for some alluring instrumentals to transition smoothly between each song. Foster acts like a conductor for his people as they shift the tone with a different style to keep the set exciting. They enter a heavy rock section with “Lotus Eater” and a cover of The Ramones’ “Hey Ho, Let’s Go.” Foster takes a moment to open up about going through tough times during making of their last album ‘Supermodel’. “Coming Of Age” is a song about mistakes in relationships. “I wrote it as an apology – when you can man up to your mistakes it's true growth,” he adds.

Foster tells us that his prayer this year is for unity. “I applaud you for voting YES because a lot of discrimination like racism and homophobia are still happening in my country right now,” he explains. “Things that make us different make us interesting. Who are you to think you are better than anybody else?” He questions. Their latest single “Sit Next To Me” explores this important and relevant theme. Foster shares one last important message before the band leave us with an encore of the crowd favourite “Pumped Up Kicks” and their most experimental electronic track “Loyal Like Sid & Nancy.” “You are the future so don't be afraid to step forward and use your voice. Stand up for what's right because politicians won't change anything it's up to us,” he says.

WRITTEN BY: MICHAEL PREBEG

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