Indie pop, bright visuals, and a crowd that never stood still!
The weather had other plans for Austin on Thursday night. The temperature dropped, and the cold caught plenty of people off guard at Moody Amphitheater. Still, the crowd wasn’t about to let that get in the way of a Friday night with Foster The People. Jackets stayed on, people gathered closer to the stage, and the excitement kept building as fans waited for the Los Angeles indie-pop band to arrive.
The evening started with Goth Babe, the project of musician Griff Washburn, whose breezy indie-rock sound offered a nice contrast to the cooler air. His songs gave the audience time to settle in, move around, and get into the mood before the headliner took over.
Once Foster The People hit the stage, though, standing still became a different story. The crowd sang, danced, and jumped along from the opening stretch, with familiar melodies bringing people together across the amphitheater. The band’s colorful screen graphics added another layer to the production, but the biggest draw was the music itself. With a set packed with fan favorites and a few deeper cuts, the group gave Austin plenty of reasons to forget about the temperature for a while.
GOTH BABE
Before Foster The People took over, Goth Babe brought a different kind of energy to Moody Amphitheater. The project of Griff Washburn has a sound that feels right at home outdoors, mixing indie rock with breezy melodies and an easygoing atmosphere. Even with the temperature dropping, his set gave the audience something warm to settle into.
Songs like “Sun Comes Up,” “I Wanna Help Your Mind,” “Encinitas,” and “Crocodile” showed off the relaxed side of his music, while “Casita” and “Canary Islands” kept the set moving without losing that laid-back feel. “Weekend Friend” was another highlight, giving fans another chance to connect with the songs before the headliner arrived.
What worked about Goth Babe’s performance was that it didn’t feel like he was trying to compete with the excitement surrounding Foster The People. Instead, he established his own mood and let the music do the work. His indie-rock sound was a natural fit for an outdoor show, even if the weather wasn’t exactly cooperating.
The crowd had already started singing and moving along, and Goth Babe gave them a solid reason to get into the evening early. His set was a reminder that an opening act doesn’t always need elaborate production or huge moments to make an impression. Sometimes a good collection of songs and the right atmosphere are enough to get a concert started on the right note.
FOSTER THE PEOPLE
THE GOOD MOURNING SUNSHINE TOUR
When Foster The People finally took the stage, the crowd was ready. The band wasted little time getting into the music, opening with “Life on the Nickel,” “Helena Beat,” and “Are You What You Want to Be?” It was a strong start, especially for fans who have followed the group’s mix of indie pop, alternative rock, and electronic textures over the years.
Led by founder and frontman Mark Foster, alongside keyboardist Isom Innis and the touring musicians, the band sounded tight throughout the night. The live arrangements had plenty of movement, while the large-screen graphics gave the performance a colorful visual backdrop without distracting from the songs.
The set continued with “Waste,” “Coming of Age,” and “Lamb’s Wool” before “Houdini” brought another familiar favorite into the mix. But the audience really showed its enthusiasm during “Call It What You Want.” People started jumping and singing loudly, and the energy carried straight into “Don’t Stop (Color on the Walls).” Looking around, it was hard to find a section of the crowd that wasn’t moving along.
The setlist felt balanced, switching between older favorites and tracks that showed different sides of the band’s catalog. Rather than saving everything recognizable for the end, Foster The People kept giving the audience reasons to stay engaged.
The encore was where the night really came together. “Ruby” and “Sit Next to Me” brought the crowd back for one more round of singing before the band closed with “Pumped Up Kicks.” Hearing that song live was a reminder of just how far it has traveled beyond its original release. People knew the melody, sang along, and gave the finale the kind of response you’d expect from a song that’s become part of modern pop culture.
The cold weather was still there, but by that point, nobody seemed particularly interested in talking about it.
WHY THE SET LIST WORKED
One of the best things about Foster The People’s set was how it moved between different stages of the band’s career without feeling disconnected. Opening with “Life on the Nickel” and “Helena Beat” immediately tapped into the sound that helped establish the group, while “Coming of Age” and “Lamb’s Wool” offered a different side of its indie-pop identity.
Then came the songs that turned the amphitheater into a dance party. “Call It What You Want” and “Don’t Stop (Color on the Walls)” brought out some of the loudest crowd reactions, while the encore gave everyone a chance to sing along to “Sit Next to Me” and “Pumped Up Kicks.”
That variety mattered. The show wasn’t just a run through the biggest hits, nor did it lean too heavily on newer material. It gave longtime listeners familiar moments while keeping the full set moving. Add the screen visuals and the tight live musicianship, and the result was a performance that felt carefully put together without losing its fun side.
FROM JINGLE WRITER TO INDIE-POP SUCCESS
Foster The People emerged from Los Angeles in 2009, when singer, songwriter, and founder Mark Foster decided to build a band after spending several years trying to make it as a musician. During that time, he worked as a commercial jingle writer to pay the bills, creating music for advertisements while continuing to develop his own sound. Those years helped shape the melodic instincts and knack for catchy hooks that would eventually become part of the band’s identity.
The group’s breakthrough came with its 2011 debut album, Torches, which introduced listeners to a distinctive mix of indie pop, electronic production, and alternative rock. Its hit “Pumped Up Kicks” quickly became a defining song of the era, reaching audiences well beyond the indie scene.
But Foster The People was never just about one track. Songs like “Helena Beat,” “Houdini,” and “Call It What You Want” helped establish the band’s sound, balancing bright melodies with thoughtful lyrics and inventive production. From those early Los Angeles days to packed venues like Austin’s Moody Amphitheater, the group has continued to evolve while holding on to the catchy songwriting that first brought fans on board.
