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Guster is an alternative band, originally formed in the Boston, Massachusetts area by members Ryan Miller (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards), Adam Gardner (guitar, vocals, bass, keyboards), and Brian Rosenworcel (drums/percussion). Joe Pisapia (bass, guitar, keyboards, banjo, vocals) has since joined.
History 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. This album established the band as a favorite of the same 1990s scene that became popular through bands such as the Dave Matthews Band, The Disco Biscuits, moe., Phish, and Widespread Panic. The band was still in college when they recorded the album. Shortly after the release of Parachute another artist calling himself 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 shows such as The Late Show with David Letterman. The band also released their first music video, for "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/DVD, Guster on Ice, compiled from two shows in Portland, Maine in December, 2003, was released in 2004. Guster released their fifth full length studio album, Ganging Up on the Sun, on June 20, 2006. The single "Manifest Destiny/Sorority Tears" was released in November 2005 on the Internet. Alongside Ganging Up on the Sun, the band released a documentary comedy series called Joe's Place on their website. Style
Fan reception Guster has a very intimate connection with their fans. The band regularly updates studio and road journals on their website, guster.com, and regularly sign autographs after their shows. Guster also maintains a Rep (representative) program, through which fans receive albums to sell and promotional materials for upcoming concerts. The band managed to sell more than 10,000 copies of Parachute and Goldfly through these word-of-mouth methods alone. Activism In 2006, Guster named their spring tour the Campus Consciousness Tour. They powered their buses and trucks with biodiesel and aimed to use the tour to teach audiences about the environment. Trivia Members Ryan Miller (1991-present) - lead vocals, guitar, bass, piano, banjo, harmonica Adam Gardner (1991-present) - backing vocals, guitar, bass, banjo Brian Rosenworcel (1991-present) - drums, percussion Joe Pisapia (2003-present) - backing vocals, guitar, bass, banjo piano, harmonica, lap steel guitar Discography Image:Guster - Parachute.jpg Image:Goldfly.jpg Image:Lostandgoneforever.jpg Image:Keepittogether.jpg Image:Gusteronice.jpg Image:Ganginguponthesun.jpg Studio albums Live albums | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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