What to expect at Foster The People’s Good Mourning Sunshine Tour: Setlist, start time, and more

Welcome to SeatGeek Front Row, where music writers share their tips for attending the biggest concert tours around the country. For this edition, Seattle resident Olivia Petty breaks down what it’s really like to see Foster The People's "Good Mourning Sunshine" Tour in person, sharing everything from the setlist to the merch situation. Olivia is a freelance features and music writer in the greater Seattle area.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to 2011. 

Foster The People, the old guard indie pop band known for their diamond-certified hit “Pumped Up Kicks,” are making their rounds in North America yet again. Following a successful two-year tour to celebrate their 2024 album Paradise State of Mind, their new 2026 tour “Good Mourning Sunshine” kicked off earlier this month on the West Coast. This time, in lieu of another new album, they’re bringing audiences a dazzling stage production, narrative and near-cinematic in form — but more on that later.

Even if you’re only familiar with a fraction of their catalog, you’re sure to hear plenty of their most popular songs at these shows, and may even walk away with some new favorites. Suspenseful, loud and daringly danceable, here’s what went down at their Seattle concert at the WAMU Theater on Wednesday, September 16.

What a Foster The People “Good Mourning Sunshine” concert is actually like

Foster The People put on a scorching show in Seattle on Wednesday night, the WAMU Theater at Lumen Field flooding with a multigenerational crowd of fans. A mix of long-time listeners, families with young kids and a healthy dose of Gen Zers, the atmosphere leading up to the show was laid back and comfortable. Doors to the venue opened at 7 p.m. sharp, and it didn’t take long to get inside; instead of a torrential force, a steady trickle of fans filled up the auditorium before 8 p.m., many sporting band t-shirts from other likeminded 2010s favorites like Glass Animals, MGMT, Passion Pit and Two Door Cinema Club.  

Helmed by multi-instrumentalist Mark Foster, Foster The People are one of those acts that have essentially become canonized in pop music; their hits haven’t gone stale, and it doesn’t seem like they will anytime soon. But in the 15 years they’ve been around, they have only released four full studio albums, most of which live in the shadow of their goliath 2011 debut record Torches. And sure, maybe there were a handful of fans who were only there to hear “Pumped Up Kicks” — but with General Admission tickets starting around $50 and some reselling for up to $100, that song alone appears to be worth the investment. For the particularly die-hard fans, VIP tickets were available for early entry and other bonuses. 

The show began at 8 p.m., an hour after doors opened, with the opening set running about 40 minutes. After a 30-minute turnover, Foster The People took the stage around 9:10 p.m. The show concluded at 10:52, running just barely an hour and 45 minutes.

Who is opening for Foster The People’s “Good Mourning Sunshine” Tour?

Goth Babe is the opener for nearly all shows on Foster The People’s 2026 tour, excluding a couple of festival dates and one night at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado, where they will be joined by The Beaches. 

Despite the name, Goth Babe is neither goth nor babe in the traditional sense of either word; it is the chipper indie-rock project of Tennessee singer-songwriter Griff Washburn, who was inspired by the Surf Curse song of the same name. Though ticketed as a solo project, Washburn was joined by two other bandmates: a drummer and guitarist/keyboardist.

Dressed the PNW part in overalls and funky-colored beanies, they played a quick and colorful set, serving as hypemen for the night ahead. At one point, to keep the crowd engaged, they facilitated a dance battle between two split sides of the auditorium, tossing signed snacks to the winner’s side. Make sure to show up before or by 8 p.m. to catch their good vibe.

What songs did Foster The People perform in Seattle? What was the setlist?

For those who are primarily interested in “Pumped Up Kicks,” patience is a virtue — and one that will serve you well. Sixteen powerful songs from the rest of Foster The People’s discography preceded their encore performance of their most popular hits, but the wait didn’t feel long whatsoever. 

The band came out swinging with “Life on the Nickel,” amber lights beaming through mysteriously-shaped scaffolding on stage while each member made their dramatic entrance. The lights began to shapeshift and swirl as the first notes rang out, and then locked into relentless rhythm. The WAMU came alive as Foster himself took instant command of the stage, his vocals on-point and his guitar authoritative.

The band moved fluidly from their oldies (and goodies) to their new material, weaving in plenty of favorites off of Torches with a handful from Sacred Hearts Club, Supermodel and Paradise State of Mind. It was truly a mixed bag, with no album fully overtaking another — though Torches and Paradise took the lead overall. Some high points were “Call It What You Want,” “Coming of Age” and “Lost In Space,” all of which were infectiously catchy. “Lotus Eater” was dizzying and gnarly, and “Tabloid Super Junkie” — a deep cut off of a special version of Supermodel that isn’t available on most streaming platforms — shook the walls. 

The WAMU Theater can pose some sonic challenges to performers, as the venue is more or less a huge warehouse space padded by curtains and rigged up with heavy-duty speaker systems, so the acoustics are never 100% stellar. Where Goth Babe’s set befell some discordant echoing, Foster completely overcame those challenges by virtue of volume and full-bodied, smooth sound mixing. It was a fairly loud concert, with thrumming bass and swells of piano and guitar. They’re no Deep Purple, but definitely consider bringing earplugs or grabbing some from Guest Services. 

In the second half of the show, the lights and visuals went down, and all band members except for Foster left the stage, leaving him alone with an acoustic guitar. He took a moment to speak from the heart, talking about his struggles with addiction — something he seldom brings up onstage — and his subsequent experience with spirituality. He followed the short speech with a solo rendition of “Goats in Trees,” and some fans lifted up their phone flashlights to show their support as they quietly swayed along.

The melancholy didn’t last long, though, as the rest of the band rejoined Foster onstage and picked right back up, playing through their last song — a melodramatic “Pseudologia Fantastica” — and then followed up with an encore of “Sit Next to Me” and, of course, “Pumped Up Kicks.”

Here’s the full setlist, in order, of what they played in Seattle:

1. Life on the Nickel

2. SHC

3. Helena Beat

4. Are You What You Want to Be?

5. Coming of Age

6. Lamb's Wool

7. Houdini

8. Call It What You Want

9. Broken Jaw

10. Lost in Space

11. Goats in Trees

12. Tabloid Super Junkie

13. Don't Stop (Color on the Walls)

14. Lotus Eater

15. A Diamond to Be Born

16. Pseudologia Fantastica

Encore:

17. Sit Next to Me 18. Pumped Up Kicks

What did the stage and production look like?

At first, the stage seemed like a run-of-the-mill three-walled rectangle, but part of the draw of this particular tour is the production. A huge 36-foot-wide by 12-foot-deep LED house, inspired a la Palm Springs architecture of the 1950s and 60s, sat onstage throughout the entirety of the show — and while it seemed out of place at first, a narrative quickly unfolded. 

Foster The People have long liked to play with juxtaposition, balancing morbid themes and dark lyrics with beats and melodies that you can’t help but dance along to, worming their way into your brain and refusing to leave. So, naturally, the theme of this year’s tour: dancing through destruction.

Made up of a series of see-through screens where images could be projected, the house (and the fictional family that lived inside) began to change and deteriorate with each new song. A giant screen behind the house flashed through, essentially, the several stages of a psychedelic apocalypse, from nuclear family to nuclear devastation. The pioneering idea behind the production was to start with a so-called perfect 1950s world and then degrade it over time, the open windows of the house starting to shut as vaguely threatening billboards and advertisements rose up around it, followed by extreme surveillance, fire, alien abduction and much more. 

The show was made even more immersive and intense with complex strobe and stage lights, dancing, pulsing and changing color to fit each new song and development in the story. There were also multiple cameras onstage, some being manned by cameramen and others that were positioned in various places for band members to interact and play with, the feeds broadcasting to the giant screen from odd and visually striking angles.

Foster The People worked with production and lighting designer Shepherd Lowrey to actualize their creative concept. Lowrey told TPI magazine that the entire production was meant to be a “journey from 1950 to 2026, starting bright and cheery before gradually becoming stranger and eventually over-the-top scary.” 

The show concluded, prior to its encore, with Foster standing on top of the roof of the house, arms raised in a near-religious fashion during a huge crescendo before the lights went out, leaving the audience with plenty of food for thought. 

What were fans wearing?

There was no strict or consistent dress code on Wednesday night, as many fans opted for function over fashion. Most people wore jeans and t-shirts, though some got a little more gussied up with leather jackets, flannels and fun colors. Plenty of people wore their Foster The People merch, or merch from similar bands. Ultimately, with WAMU concerts, you should dress primarily for comfort; if you pick a spot on the floor, you’re likely to get warm and a little sweaty from all the dancing. If you’re sitting on any of the risers in the back, the AC can be intense, so plan to bring some layers. 

What’s the merch situation?

Speaking of merch, both Foster The People and Goth Babe had plenty of options for fans to pick from. There were peach-colored hoodies ($85), several styles of t-shirts with tour dates on the back ($45), black crewnecks ($75), tour posters ($30), two styles of tote bag ($25), a brown baseball hat ($35) and vinyl copies of all four studio albums ($35). Goth Babe had two styles of t-shirt ($45), one long-sleeve shirt ($45) and a hoodie ($80). 

The line for merch wasn’t too long before the show, but was about a 10-minute wait to get to the front. There was no line during Foster The People’s performance, making it the best time to grab merch if you could easily come and go from your seat. The busiest time for grabbing merch was before the show started, during the 30-minute turnover between sets and after the show ended. 

Is the show family-friendly?

Foster The People have generally family-friendly music; though they explore dark themes, they avoid expletives and curse words. Plenty of families with children were in attendance at their Seattle show, though noise-canceling headphones might be good for younger ears given the volume of the show. 

What attending a Foster The People concert at WAMU was like

Doors to the WAMU Theater opened at 7 p.m., so fans began lining up about 30 minutes in advance. WAMU only offers General Admission or VIP tickets, so there is a benefit to showing up on the earlier side; however, Foster The People’s crowd was relatively laid back, and there wasn’t a mad dash to get to the barricade. People with VIP access were granted early entry.

After the doors opened at 7 p.m., the security line took less than 15 minutes to get through. Fans were required to go through metal detectors and follow a strict clear bag policy, the only exception being medically necessary bags or small clutches at or under 4.5" x 6.5". Those without a bag got in faster. The policy on food and drink fluctuates show to show, but personal water bottles and containers are generally a no-go; sealed clear water bottles, which you can purchase outside or inside the venue, are allowed.

What was seating at WAMU like?

WAMU is a large black-box warehouse that offers a lot of open floor space and two risers in the back with limited seating. The only reserved seats in the house are the ADA-accessible risers, which are smaller and closer to the stage than the GA risers. There is a bar in the lobby with more comfortable seating, as well as a beer-garden style bar inside the auditorium itself, so fans can sip their drinks and watch the show from a designated 21+ area. 

For a more intimate and party-like experience, the crowd standing on the floor is the place to be; for a slightly more relaxed experience with a full view of the stage, even from far back, the risers may be more your speed. 

How should I get to WAMU?

For getting down to WAMU Theater, you can take the Link Light Rail and get off at Pioneer Square, the International District/Chinatown stop, or the Stadium stop. All of these options will involve a 10-15 minute walk to get to Occidental Ave S — and keep in mind that the light rail stops running after midnight. The King County bus line is also a good option, with over 15 bus routes that stop within a few blocks of Lumen Field. 

Parking is available on-site at Lumen Field starting at $20, but make sure to check the rates ahead of time — they can fluctuate depending on what’s going down at the stadiums. Bike parking is also available in the North Lot near Occidental Ave S and at the end of the Event Center off of Royal Brougham Way. 

How can I get tickets for an upcoming Foster The People concert on SeatGeek?

Start by heading over to Foster The People’s ticket page on SeatGeek and put in your location to see if there are any upcoming shows near you. Once you’ve found a show date, pick how many tickets you’re looking to buy and choose General Admission, Accessible Seating, Premium or VIP (if available) using the interactive venue map. The types of tickets available will range from venue to venue, and in some cases you may be able to pick a specific section and seat based on your preferences.

Once you’re happy with your choices, hit “checkout,” and get ready to party with Foster The People.