One of the perks for writing for a music blog is discovering new music and being a part of its promotion. My friends joke that I don’t know the difference between mainstream and indie. When a band hits the blogs hard, I assume that they have thus become mainstream. I’m apparently wrong. According to my friends mainstream music is defined by what is played on the radio, but honestly, who listens to the radio anymore? All this to say, I thought I was way behind the curve with this new band Foster the People, and I was beginning to question myself. While LBYB posted “Helena Beat” back in January of this year, I had not focused on them until recently.
If you haven’t heard, this LA-based band is kind of a big deal. They fall in line with some of the other newer bands utilizing electronic beats (though in a diminished way), warping vocals (again, in an understated way), and simple but catchy beats. Their sound is really new and fresh – to a point where I was struggling to think of who they remind me of. Their first hit, “Pumped Up Kicks” has it all – infectious beats, handclaps (if you don’t know by now, they are my favorite), whistling (just dawned on me! They remind me of Peter Bjorn and John, but still very different), and fun lyrics.
Foster the People gained well-deserved attention, recently, after playing at SXSW and Coachella. And then again when “Houdini” (RAC Remix) hit the music blogosphere. This trio – Mark Foster belting out his falsetto vocals, drummer Mark Pontius, and bassist Cubbie Fink – was originally going to be called Foster & the People, since Mark Foster was the lead singer. However, in interviews they explained that a number of their first shows were for charities/benefits (such sweet boys), and they liked the thought of doing something for someone else/taking care of other people and they came up with Foster the People – “it kind of clicked.” I hope it keeps clicking. Watch the video for “Pumped Up Kicks” below and look out for their debut album.
Connect with Foster the People – Facebook / Twitter / Myspace / Website / Tumblr
