Guster

Guster is a rock band, originally formed in Boston, Massachusetts by members Ryan Miller (guitar/vocals), Adam Gardner (guitar/vocals), and Brian Rosenworcel (drums/percussion).

Related Topics:
Boston, Massachusetts - Ryan Miller - Adam Gardner - Brian Rosenworcel

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The band members met during freshman orientation at Tufts University in 1991. A year later, after writing a few songs in their dorm rooms, the band named themselves "Gus" and booked their first gig. The band independently recorded their first album in 1994, entitled Parachute, while still in college. Shortly after the release of Parachute another artist called Gus signed a deal with a major record company, forcing the band to rename themselves "Guster." In 1996, the band independently recorded their second album, Goldfly, releasing it early the next year. In 1998 the band signed to Sire Records and re-released Goldfly. A year later, the band released the album Lost and Gone Forever, produced by Steve Lillywhite. With the backing of a major label, the band appeared on late night shows like David Letterman. The band also released their first video, a song from Lost and Gone Forever entitled "Fa Fa". The band released their fourth album, Keep It Together in 2003, with the first single, "Amsterdam", getting significant play on the radio. A live album, Guster on Ice, compiled from two shows at Portland, Maine in December, 2003, was released in 2004.

Related Topics:
Tufts University - 1991 - 1994 - 1996 - 1998 - Sire Records - Steve Lillywhite - David Letterman - 2003 - Portland, Maine - December - 2004

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The characteristic of the band is their choices of instruments during their earlier years: two members playing acoustic guitars and one member playing drums and various percussion. Brian Rosenworcel, the band's percussionist, added to Guster's unique sound with a combination of bongos, cymbals, and other drums, playing live shows using only his bare hands. Gardner sometimes played a downtuned guitar as a bass instrument.

Related Topics:
Acoustic guitars - Drums - Percussion - Brian Rosenworcel - Bongos - Cymbals

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While Guster's studio albums included more instruments (e.g. violin, bass, drum kit), their live shows generally kept this line up until tours supporting their album "Lost and Gone Forever" in which the band diversified by playing different instruments on some songs (e.g. Miller playing bass, Rosenworcel playing drum kit).

Related Topics:
Violin - Bass - Drum kit

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

With the release of Keep it Together, Guster added Joe Pisapia (bass, guitar, keyboards, banjo, harmonica, backup vocals). Guster's sound is also defined by their vocal harmonies, with both Miller and Gardner singing lead vocals on different songs; in "What You Wish For," all three sing different lyrics simultaneously.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The band is also known for their connection with their fans. The band regularly updates a road journal on their website (primarily written by Rosenworcel) and can often be found after shows for autographs.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~