TJ Foster

4.14.2025

Mount Ida Preservation Hall

548 Congress St, Troy, NY 12180

Doors open at 6:30pm, show at 7pm

About:

Despite wearing a plethora of hats within the industry, these days TJ Foster is probably best known for fronting local indie-punk band, E.R.I.E., and simultaneously playing guitar for songwriter extraordinaire, Sydney Worthley (sometimes even within the same show). The truth is, his prolificity is remarkable, having put out so much music in various projects over the years, it would be a bore to list it all. You’ll just have to trust us. With songs ranging from achingly existential to sarcastically observant, the throughline that connects them all is earnestness. Whether it be loud and bombastic a la E.R.I.E.’s latest concept effort “The Highs, The Lows, And Everything in Between”, somber and intimate a la his 2018 solo record “First Person Vol. 1”, or even conceptually astute like The Cast Before the Break’s 2007 masterpiece “As Your Shoulders Turn On You”, Foster’s songwriting is rife with emotion and a deep yearning to understand the world around him.

Lately, he’s received several casual comparisons to Michael Stipe, which he’s yet to understand, other than the fact that he wakes up most days wondering if this truly is the end of the world as we know it. With half a dozen Eddies Award nominations to his name, and countless other accolades in the form of way-too-kind, passionate independent blog reviews, Foster may be a songwriter you’ve never heard of, but he’s well-worth getting acquainted with.