FOSTER THE PEOPLE AT THE UNITED PALACE THEATER

Foster The People played The United Palace Theater in Washington Heights Saturday night. While this was not an official CMJ Music Marathon event, the show that was there the night before was. The California based alternative dance band sold out two nights at this beautifully restored theater from 1930.

I photographed the band from up front for their first three songs, “Pseudologia Fantastica”, “Miss You” and “Life on the Nickel”. The set was high energy, with a heavy light show. I was back at my seat when they started playing their hit “Helena Beat”. While trying to capture some nice crowd shots, I was approached by an angry, old security guard who proceeded to throw myself and another press credentialed photographer out. I tried talking to the frustrated guard, but he wouldn’t listen to anything I had to say. A simple “Excuse me, you can’t shoot from your seats” would have done. Instead he physically escorted me out of the building. Oh well, maybe next time.

Article by: Michael DiGiovanni