Show Date: March 25th, 2011
Ticket Price: ~$10
Set Time: 10:45-~11:30
Photo by ChrisT
Mississippi Studios! Been here many times for local acts. Never rolled it for YOTS. So….here we fucking go and all that jazz.
Mississippi Studios, for the PDX uninitiated, is on Mississippi Ave. Hence, the geographical mismatch. All good. The venue is pretty cool. An upstairs that can pretty much only handle one deep on the rail and a lower section with a nice cozy vibe. Alcohol served on the venue floor and in the adjacent stutterifically named Bar Bar (shorter line bitches).
Bar Bar, not to be outdone, is across the street from Crow Bar (I know). I meet up with ChrisT there. We get our initial drink on, meet some local color: financial planners, a self impressed headhunter (do you know what it means to walk into a business and say “I am google”? Nah bitch, I’m a complete moron), and a roadie. Welcome to PDX. Pool shot. Drinks consumed. Move on to more pre-func festivities elsewhere. Mississippi Ave is undergoing urban renewal/gentrification (depending on the view), so it is an easy source of good/trendy eats.
ChrisT is my partner in crime. Always will be. So this show has a special expectation. You know what I mean party people. ChrisT has an endearing quality of always thinking the opening act is the headliner. The economics of show promotion seem lost on him. I cherish this quality (No, ChrisT, The Kills are not opening for a Jack White band tonight, etc. No Chris, Foster The People isn’t opening).
Rawk! Rock.
So. I’m here to see Foster The People. And not because local radio is flogging them more than Pee-Wee Herman’s joint at a porn film festival. Since Foster The People is selling out ultra-small venues from coast to coast, I don’t think it is a secret to talk about them. Their debut EP spawned the hit “Pumped Up Kicks” which is about as good as a codeine buzz on the first warm day of spring.
ChrisT and I roll into the venue and find it lovably packed with a female heavy audience. And not just normal PDX female-heavy. Hot ass. Don’t act offended. You primped for it.
So…2011. Music. Here’s the difference between the post-Napster shit and the pre. You ready? This is deep shit. The rhythm section is no longer the 5th member playing guitar. It is a dude on sampler/drum/etc. Percussion heavy. Less riff. More flow.
Which describes new punk. New blah blah. I refuse to call shit post- anything. Post means it is over. Music isn’t over. Just ask…
Foster The People. Kids look young. Because they are kids. In this era, a good track and solid work can blow up without professional marketing polish/push. Just look at the youtube video for “Pumped Up Kicks”. Pre-napster? You got a gold record. Now? You get a show in a less than 500 capacity venue.
The crowd is comprised of crazy hot tail and crazy drunk males in our section. The crazy hot tail seems thrashed. It matches the drunk level of the 20-something males who prefer drink over pussy around us. Remarkably sloppy shit like that doesn’t deserve to be laid. The crowd isn’t post-punk/post-pop. Post-sober.
You tired of this shit yet? Wanna hit it? OK.
Foster The People come on.
I’m not easily impressed.
But I am impressed. The band is tight. The lead singer brings fire and the rhythm section (often comprised of 3/5 of the band members) is full of energy/in the pocket. Gentrification of that extra percussion.
The leader singer, Mark Foster, has the looks that could put him on the cover of People in 3 years with something high level on his arm. At least the comments around me indicate that. Talking about vocal pitch and all that is a waste given today’s technology. But I liked the tone and intensity. For sureeee. The band loses itself in songs and rocks the fuck out. Percussionist banging a tambourine with a maraca Small club show yummy.
Foster The People only have an EP and a fresh longplayer out, so the set is short. 35minutes long. When “Pumped Up Kicks” starts, the crowd goes nuts and turns into a dance party. Could see some redhead up front rocking it hard. Wonder why? It’s all good. Here’s the thing. Alot of people review shit like this and try and find the deeper meaning. Make it sound like a transcendent experience breaking the laws of emotional physics. I’m not going to do that. I’m a jaded fuck. Foster The People have punched a ticket on the fame ride. Just a question of what they do with it. And. It is a really good show. For a band with this level of experience? Give it an A+ (I know they crave my approval).
The encore is “Helena Beat”.
I actually like this song better than “Pumped Up Kicks”. Good stuff, huh? Crowd adored the show. And the band. Very fun. ChrisT and I finish up our drinks at the front window watching people flow by like a viewing window at a fish ladder. Lots of smiles. Good times. Portland always knows what’s up.
Always interesting to hear people lament the passing of the arena/stadium rock era. Personally? Good riddance. I understand the appeal of a common cultural identity. Don’t understand the need to share an infierior product across demographics just because distribution was previously limited. Who. Gives. A. Fuck? Sharing music with people who truly love it is always more fun. Sharing the experience with fewer, but more passionate, is more appealing to me. I understand the lack of appeal to corporate America. Specifically, Live Nation. Tough shit. Boo hoo, your economy of scale/vertical monopoly is gone/a long ROI trip. Stop sucking. Invest in true talent. If you are as good as you say you are, then no problem. If not? Enjoy promoting Charlie Sheen type train wreck tours.
Loved my night. Thanks to the good and bad who made it happen.
