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Guster Information
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'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).
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.
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.
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).
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," the two sing different lyrics simultaneously.
The band is also known for their connection with their fans. The band regularly updates a road journal on their (primarily written by Rosenworcel) and can often be found after shows for autographs.
The next full length studio album from Guster, titled Ganging Up On The Sun, is set to be released in April 2006. The single "Manifest Destiny/Sorority Tears" was released in November 2005 through the digital medium (iTunes, etc.). The title of the album comes from the lyrics of Manifest Desity, indicating that song will be released on the album. More information (including a potential tracklist) can be found .
Side projects and other bands
* The three members of Guster opened a number of shows as "The Peace Soldiers," three redneck-looking musicians. They never released any material commercially.
* Pisapia was a member of the band Joe, Marc's Brother.
* Gardner recently teamed up with Dave Schnieder of the Zambonis to record a holiday album called Hanukkah Rocks under the moniker "The LeeVees." The album consisted of nine songs with Hanukkah themes, and it was released by Reprise Records in 2005 before starting a tour with Barenaked Ladies.
Discography
* 2006 - Ganging Up On The Sun (To Be Released in April)
* 2005 - Manifest Destiny/Sorority Tears (Single)
* 2005 - Come Downstairs and Say Hello (limited edition UK EP release)
* 2004 - Live at Bonnaroo Music Festival (2-disc set; live 6/13/2004)
* 2004 - Guster on Ice
* 2003 - Live in Knoxville (live 9/4/2003)
* 2003 - Live in Allston, MA (live 11/2/03)
* 2003 - Live in Sayreville, NJ (live 12/13/03)
* 2003 - Keep It Together
* 1999 - Lost and Gone Forever
* 1997 - Goldfly
* 1994 - Parachute
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