Foster, the People didn’t say much during their hour-long set on Friday afternoon, but they didn’t need to. The electronic pulses, danceable melodies and dreamy vocals said more than words could.
Foster, the People has been making music since 2009, rising to fame after the 2010 release of its single “Pumped Up Kicks.”
Since that breakthrough release 15 years ago, the three-piece band has evolved its sound quite a bit, with its latest album “Paradise State of Mind” shying away from alternative rock and taking on a psychedelic pop sound.
A quiet drum roll was the first indicator that the L.A.-based band was about to take the T-Mobile stage, and a deafening droning was the second. It was only a few minutes after 4:40 p.m. when the band marched out on the stage, the jumbo screens lighting up bright red.
They needed no introduction, and lead singer Mark Foster didn’t give one — instead, he immediately dove into their performance. The first quarter of their set consisted of an ’80s synth-pop sound, with Foster dancing around the stage in a black jacket and sunglasses.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
Foster’s heavily distorted and often robotic-sounding vocals, reminiscent of Air’s 2004 release “Talkie Walkie,” complemented the rhythmic, synthetic beat of “Lost in Space.” The song’s ethereal sound was further enhanced with psychedelic visuals that appeared on the jumbo screen in a hazy blend of distorted colors.
For a Friday afternoon, the T-Mobile stage wasn’t overly crowded, with patches of open space that let the audience dance and move freely — and that’s exactly what people did.
Festivalgoers swayed along to each song, singing along to the lyrics as they grooved throughout the set in a light-hearted environment.
“Glitchzig,” a song off of “Paradise State of Mind,” pulsated and shimmered with electronic influences and twinges of alternative rock. Techno skitters, the warmth of the synthesizer and keyboard created the perfect danceable backdrop to Foster’s distinct vocals.
The pound of the drum and electronic distortion introduce “Call It What You Want,” the lyrics appearing on the jumbo screen in thick white letters. This song followed a more indie-pop formula with an upbeat melody, a memorable hook and a steady drumbeat.
“What a beautiful day for a festival,” Foster said, following the song, eliciting cheers from the crowd. He continued to express his gratitude for his fans, going on to mention how the band played at Lollapalooza 14 years ago when they were first starting out.
“Being back here with you guys means the world to us,” Foster said, his voice filled with genuine appreciation.
During their set, Foster, the People proved one thing — that they can’t be confined to one genre.
With a sound ranging from light-hearted indie-pop, grittier alternative rock to the bubbly electronic sound of their most recent album, they made it clear that their music is simply whatever they want it to be.
