Phoenix got the first taste of Foster The People’s “Good Mourning Sunshine” tour on Wednesday, September 9, when the band brought their colorful production and extensive catalog to Arizona Financial Theatre. With Goth Babe opening the night, fans were treated to a full evening of indie and alternative sounds, with Foster The People delivering a set that mixed longtime favorites with deeper cuts, a song being played live for the very first time, and a few songs that had not been performed in years.
Goth Babe, the solo project of Griff Washburn, kicked off the night, bringing a fun, laid-back energy to the stage as Washburn and his bandmates took the stage, each sporting their own pair of overalls. The 9-song set included “Spinnaker Days,” “Casita,” “I Wanna Help Your Mind,” “Encinitas,” “Crocodile,” “Whole World,” “The Tongass,” “Sun Comes Up,” and “Weekend Friend,” and while the music provided plenty of the good vibes that Goth Babe is known for, it was the interaction with the crowd that really made the set memorable. During “Encinitas,” the audience was split into two sides for a dance-off, with Washburn promising a food prize to the winning side. As the competition ended, he pulled out bags of Cheez-Its, Cheeto Puffs, and popcorn, tossing the snacks into the crowd as both sides as they both gave it their best shot. The audience got another chance to participate during “Sun Comes Up,” with Washburn leading a call-and-response that had the room answering back.
The audience did not bat an eye as Washburn flawlessly worked through a tech issue. When he was temporarily without his guitar, he simply broke into some air guitar while waiting for the issue to be resolved, keeping the audience laughing and the energy going. With Washburn’s easygoing personality and the band’s relaxed sound, Goth Babe made for a great opener and had the crowd warmed up and ready for the main event by the time they left the stage.
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The stage setup for Foster The People was quite a sight, with a large house structure taking center stage and an equally large screen positioned behind it. As the lights dimmed, Mark Foster walked through the house’s bright orange door, kicking off the show with “Life on the Nickel” before moving into “Helena Beat” and “SHC.” The crowd was immediately on their feet, and they stayed there for much of the night as the band worked their way through a setlist that covered a large portion of their catalog.
This year marks 15 years since the release of Torches, and the album was well represented throughout the set with songs including “Helena Beat,” “Houdini,” “Broken Jaw,” “Don’t Stop (Color on the Walls),” and “Pumped Up Kicks.” There were also some less expected choices, including “Static Space Lover,” which received its live debut in Phoenix. Foster had previously explained that the band planned to play songs they had not performed in a long time, including some that fans had been asking for, as well as songs they had never played live. After playing “Static Space Lover,” he acknowledged that some people may have been hearing it for the first time, assuring them that was okay because everyone in the room was hearing it live for the first time. It was a pretty special way for Phoenix to be the first audience to experience the song live.
One of the highlights for me will always be “Houdini,” and seeing Foster take his place at the keyboard for the song was a particularly great moment. The crowd sang along as the colorful lighting continued to change around the stage, but the production really became another performer in its own right as the night went on. Projections transformed the house for each song, with different things happening in the windows, garage, and other parts of the structure, while the screen behind it showed the band or imagery that complemented what was happening on stage.
During “Call It What You Want,” a camera suspended from the ceiling captured Foster performing directly into it, creating some really interesting visuals on the screen. The audience was completely into it, dancing with their hands in the air and singing along. “Goats in Trees” provided a much quieter moment as Foster sat on the porch in front of the house under a spotlight for an acoustic performance. The song had not been played live since 2018, making its return another treat for longtime fans.
The production continued to evolve throughout the set. The message “nobody gets left behind” was displayed across the wall of the house during several songs, while a camera positioned in the door’s peephole offered another unique perspective. “Don’t Stop (Color on the Walls)” brought an old-school feel to the house, which was covered in vintage-looking advertisements and imagery as Foster bounced around the stage with his guitar, wearing a Ramones tee. By the time the band reached “Pseudologia Fantastica,” Foster had made his way onto the roof of the house, eventually bringing the song to a close with flashing lights, a burst of color, and visuals that created the feeling of traveling through a tunnel in space.
The house was lit up in pink as the band returned for the encore, opening with “Sit Next to Me.” The opening notes immediately sent the crowd into another round of cheers, with Foster encouraging everyone to sing along as projections of dancing people appeared in the windows of the house. A disco ball descended over the audience, adding one final bit of fun to the already elaborate production.
Before closing out the night, Foster took a moment to speak directly to the audience, acknowledging fans who had traveled from different cities across Arizona and thanking them for making the effort to be there. What followed was an unexpectedly emotional moment as he opened up about how difficult the past year has been for him and how much being back on stage has meant.
Foster talked about the healing power of music and how he had stepped away from speaking online because of fear, but now felt ready to connect with people again. He spoke about the fear and division that has become so prevalent, the effects of constant exposure to the internet and misinformation, and the importance of being together in a real room with other people. He also shared that he had anticipated having a new record finished before the tour, but that writing had been difficult while his heart was not whole. He thanked the audience and told them how much being there with them was healing him, too.
The band closed the night with “Pumped Up Kicks,” sending everyone home with one of the band’s biggest hits. Between the live debut of “Static Space Lover,” the return of “Goats in Trees,” a setlist filled with fan favorites, and an elaborate visual production, Foster The People gave Phoenix plenty to talk about after the first night of the “Good Mourning Sunshine” tour. Add in Foster’s heartfelt message to the audience, and it made for a night that fans will not soon forget.
The “Good Mourning Sunshine” tour is just getting started with over 20 dates left. The band will make their way across North American through October, when the tour wraps in Los Angeles on October 23. To purchase tickets, visit: https://fosterthepeople.com/#tour
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