Guster often gets thrown into that jam band category for one reason or another, but probably because when they started out, they were two acoustic guitarists with a mad conga player. But the songs themselves have always been pop-rock oriented. Plus, they formed in Massachusetts, and there's plenty of that going on up there.
I first saw them in 1997, when they played in front of Frog Fountain to about 120 hippy wanna-be kids at my posh private University, along with me and a couple of my friends. I remember thinking they were pretty good live and I played some of their songs a lot on my radio show.
I lost track of them for one reason or another.
When Seth started tour managing them, I found myself at a show here in London and eventually playing with them on one of their new songs, Dear Valentine a couple of nights later. But the band I saw was miles away from the one I saw in 1997. They played a song called "Come Downstairs and Say Hello", which now ranks as one of my favourite songs ever. Their song writing has just gotten so good. Their music has gotten a lot more diverse, and now that they're a foursome, they're a lot fuller live.
"Ganging Up On The Sun" is their fifth record, but they're all good. I'd get them in reverse order, which is:
"Keep It Together"
"Lost And Gone Forever"
"Goldfly"
"Parachute"
As has been mentioned, Guster on Ice is awesome. They also have a lot of live records on itunes that are really great; they don't jam out a lot but they play some interesting things, and some of their own songs interestingly.
If you get the chance to see them live, do it. They're funny. And talented. And you might be lucky and get to hear a Violent Femmes or Belle & Sebastian Cover.
Alright I'll shut up now.
Oh, before I shut up though, go check out
their website and watch all the makings of this new record. They're f'n hilarious, and well produced.
Ok, that's it...