You Oughta Know : Foster the People

It's hard to believe this upbeat attractive trio of friends from Los Angeles still feel like outsiders the way their debut EP single "Pumped Up Kicks" rips up the charts. Maybe it's because they're not trying to be the hippest band out there, just a favorite. Luckily, the brazen pop sensibilities of lead vocalist Mark Foster, bassist Cubbie Fink and drummer Mark Pontius accomplishes both. And luck certainly played a part in Foster the People's namesake hooking up with his bandmates in a city as expansive and musically diverse as L.A. in 2009. Each member brought a certain kismet complimentary aspect to the indie rock outfit from the beginning: Foster the artistic powerhouse, Fink the emotional glue, and Pontius the acute focus. And the result of their effortl... More»

It's hard to believe this upbeat attractive trio of friends from Los Angeles still feel like outsiders the way their debut EP single "Pumped Up Kicks" rips up the charts. Maybe it's because they're not trying to be the hippest band out there, just a favorite. Luckily, the brazen pop sensibilities of lead vocalist Mark Foster, bassist Cubbie Fink and drummer Mark Pontius accomplishes both. And luck certainly played a part in Foster the People's namesake hooking up with his bandmates in a city as expansive and musically diverse as L.A. in 2009. Each member brought a certain kismet complimentary aspect to the indie rock outfit from the beginning: Foster the artistic powerhouse, Fink the emotional glue, and Pontius the acute focus. And the result of their effortless vibe was the birth of a band with a sound Foster would call akin to a lovechild between Beach Boys' Brian Wilson and electronica godfather Aphex Twin. It's no wonder that within 18 months of joining forces, the trio went from playing their first show at the Dakota Lounge in Santa Monica for a crowd of 30 friends to selling out venues all over the country while still flying low under the media radar. Discover more about this dancey pop-rock act whose buzz continues to build and show they're more than just "Pumped Up Kicks."«Less