Guster has come a long way from its early days of selling five dollar demo tapes out of a guitar case in Harvard Square.
Ryan Miller (guitar, vocals), Adam Gardner (guitar, vocals) and Brian Rosenworcel (percussion) are the three men that compose the alternative pop rock group that is Guster.
They met back in 1992 at their freshman orientation at Tufts University. While talking about bands they had been a part of in high school, they eventually became close friends. They all shared a passion for writing music and started writing songs in each other’s dorm rooms.
Miller, Gardner, and Rosenworcel began playing local shows around the Boston area under the name “Gus.” The trio, who did not have a bass player and only used a bongo set for percussion, attracted crowds with their innovative and new sound.
Their debut album “Parachute” was an instant hit and was awarded the title of Best Local Debut Album in 1995 by the Boston Globe. They went on to sell 40,000 copies of “Parachute” by word of mouth alone.
Two years after the release of their debut album, Guster was named the Best Live Act at the Boston Music Awards in 1997.
Guster has also invited a fourth member on the road with them: Joe Pisapia, who plays guitar, banjo, bass, keyboards, harmonica and occasionally sings.
The band met Pisapia while he was on hiatus with his former band. Pisapia wrote and recorded “Jesus On The Radio (Daddy On the Phone)” with Guster, which is a track from their most recent album.
“I’m really excited that Guster’s coming to Fairfield,” said Francesca O’Brien ’06. “FUSA’s really pulled through for the student body, especially all the graduating seniors who are looking to make the best of their last year.”
Casey Migliori ’06 shared O’Brien’s enthusiasm.
“I’ve never really been into Guster, but I’ve started listening to their music and now I’m really stoked they’re coming,” she said. “I’m amped.”
Guster is also in the process of recording a new album, and in about a month a digital single from the album will be released onto i-Tunes. They have completed rough mixes for about six songs, and they plan on finishing mixing the songs after they complete their current tour.
Guster is excited about the way the songs have been coming out thus far, announcing that “they’re a bit more band-y-sounding than the others, which were a bit more band-y sounding than ‘Keep It Together.’ It’s fun to be in a quartet.” The album is set for a release date in April, and more information can be found at www.guster.com.
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