Blog

Tue 5 Jun – Guster, Luke Temple



I first heard of Guster when I was downloading rare and unreleased Ben Folds tracks, though I was not aware that they were a band; the track was titled "All the Way Up to Heaven (with Guster)" - leading me to believe that "Guster" was some sort of semi-casual musical term (e.g. "Once more... with feeling!"). I admit that this was an incredibly stupid mistake to make and one that I shall regret to my dying day. I later found out that they were a BAND, and one that a friend of mine recommended, too. This must've been around Summer 2005 as I purchased their third album - "Lost and Gone Forever" from the Virgin Megastore in New York. I think it was the first CD from that trip that I played, and the first track - "What You Wish For" - instantly spoke to me. I was somewhat concerned, actually, as, when I removed it from its' case, I noticed a HUGE chunk missing from the CD. Fortunately, this did not affect the play quality. Anyway, I fell in love with the upbeat, mainstream-worthy "tropical" sound of the fantastic foursome (note: they were a trio at the time that said album was released). The most remarkable thing about them, however, was the drumming; Brian Roselworcel plays the drums primarily with his fingers and the album carried the warning that "all drums on this record were played with fingers (no sticks)"! Obviously, I purchased the band's entire back catalogue (actually, I think it formed the majority of Christmas 2005...) as well as "Ganging Up on the Sun" (their latest offering) when that was released, though, upon first listen, I was not incredibly impressed (with time, however, I came to appreciate the album as one of their best). I knew I must see them live, but the question was - when? I knew they had been to these shores in the past, but it was a rare occasion. Then I read what I had been waiting for in a mailing list update:

""Ganging Up on the Sun" comes out in England June 4th on Rykodisc Records. To celebrate, we're coming to England on June 4th too. We're planning to set up a couple of shows out there, and we'll know more about it in next week's emailer. Tell your British friends!" - Guster mailing list (06/04/2007)

So, naturally I was excited. 4th June clashed with Sparklehorse, but I figured that was likely to be a date in London...

I figured right. TOO right.

It turns out that ALL the dates were in London, falling initially on the 4th and the 5th (a later date was added for the 6th, but we shalln't be talking about that... Or the date on the 4th. Shush). I was rather crushed, as you imagine.

Fortunately, my dad happens to love me very much, so, after much begging, I convinced him not only to take me to two gigs in two nights, but to take me to freaking London for the second. This was GOOD NEWS.

There was, however, bad news yet to come; the venue managed to fuff up and our tickets disappeared in the post. We futilely phoned the venue, but no extra tickets were sent. They said they'd keep an eye out for us and give us new tickets upon arrival, but it was still pretty risky heading all that way with the chance of disappointment (I'll tell you now, to end the despair you are likely experienced, there was NO disappointment, so relax. Enjoy the blog!)

Having seen the fabulous Sparklehorse the night before, I was very very tired, so the journey to the train station was a bit... nauseauting? I kept worrying that I'd forgotten stuff - most worrying of all was the notion that I had left my ID at home, which could've totally wrecked the trip had I been asked for it (again, I hadn't left it at home and I didn't get asked). We arrived at the station and I did a quick check (and found my stuff) and we went to get food from the place we got food when we went to see Roman Candle in February. The exact same lady was serving (her name was Marta Ann and she was from Eastern Europe and had a very funny accent) but she was not making bageuttes, which was irritating as I wanted one. We went and got on the train and that and I can't remember much about the journey other than I revised US history (I'm pretty sure I was doing Foreign Policy that day...) and that I would have rather liked a bageutte.

We arrived in London and got the tube a few stops, but came out pretty far away from our hotel. The search for the hotel took ages and, consequently, my dad was not best pleased as he was meant to be heading for work. We found it eventually, however, and it was not far at all from the venue. During the day, I revised a lot more, considered sleeping, listened to a LOT of music, went on a few walks (found a McDonalds and had a meal, which I can remember very vividly - for no particular reason, it just stands out in my memory...), went back to the hotel, ran myself a bath and turned my iPod up to full so that I had something to do while bathing, then essentially did it all again. It was a long day, but I got a lot of revision done (in retrospect, I wish I'd had a nap instead). Eventually, my dad got back (he had a bad day at work) and we walked to find a restaurant. We went to an Italian place and, as soon as we got in, someone phoned my dad and kept him on the phone for 45 minutes before we could order. This left us with little time to get to the gig, but we managed it. The guy at the door knew about us and, fortunately, there was no "queue" per se; just a room full of people. Very easy to get to the front... Hehe...

The room was perhaps the smallest venue I've been in. Possibly tied with the place I saw Roman Candle. This made for a very intimate atmosphere. There were a lot of American people there and I was listening to their conversations. Most of them seemed to have seen Guster 15 times before. Bastards. My dad made friends with a few ladies (no, not like THAT) and was talking to them a lot. He had a bit to drink (as he wasn't driving) and, when the support - Luke Temple - came on, he spoke a little bit loudly and was very nearly "that guy" that everyone gets mad at. Fortunately, Luke was good, otherwise my dad might've spoken a bit loudly about him and got into trouble. Luke is, I believe, from New York, and I have his first album, "Hold A Match For A Gasoline World". He's rather good (recommends).



Before Luke came on, an American techie came and put the setlists out. This led to we at the front leaning in to read/steal them and the guy soon came back and had a little joke with us (but took them all away again). Also, some techies had to move a big speaker I was standing by, so I had to move to let them. I was front row centre, though, but this meant I had a stupid box in front of me that hurt my legs a bit (I dealt with this by alternating between legs and putting one on the box, which actually gave me a bit of elevation, though I wasn't that pleased about having to do it).

Guster came on with Adam and Ryan entering through the unsuspecting crowd. The show was freakin' amazing; they did songs from every record except the first one. Occasionally, Brian used sticks, but mostly he used his hands. It's hard to put into words how great live Guster are, but they really, really are. Go and see them now. GO!!! Ryan told us that he loved British comedy and asked if anybody watched "Man stroke woman". Nobody did. He voiced disappointment and was met with the reply "That's because they're all American!" from a Brit at the back of the room. They really were. Ryan later mentioned The Mighty Boosh and was met with a huge cheer, then did a little impression of Old Gregg.



The band didn't go off for the "encore", but instead asked us if we wanted them to stay and encouraged us to boo them a little bit so that we could pretend they hadn't done an encore. We did, but only a little. It was fun. "The Captain" was a last minute addition (or at least wasn't written on the sets) but was certainly a highlight. They ended on the amazing "Come Downstairs And Say Hello" (a favourite of mine), but were urged back onstage by we screaming fans to do an accoustic version of "Jesus on the Radio" (with banjo), which was probably the overall highlight of the night's music.



Setlist:

1. What you wish for
2. Manifest Destiny
3. Satellite
4. The Beginning of the End
5. Keep It Together
6. Airport Song
7. G Major
8. Ruby Falls
9. C'Mon
10. The song from "Brazil"
11. Empire State
12. Demons
13. Center of Attention
14. Amsterdam
---ENCORE---
15. Diane
16. One Man Wrecking Machine
17. The Captain
18. Come Downstairs and say Hello
---ENCORE 2---
19. Jesus on the radio (accoustic)

At the end of the show, I beat one of my dad's American friends to getting Ryan's setlist, but I also managed to get a few of his numerous guitar picks, so politely offered her some. I should've really given her the setlist, but I'm glad I didn't, as all 4 members of the band signed it after. They took awhile to come out; first out was Joe Pisapia (the newest member). I have his solo album. Me and him talked a few times (by which I mean, we talked, then I went off to talk to someone else, then came back over; wash, rinse, repeat) about his album, the band and the rest of the UK (he told me he'd get his people on it when I told him that London was shit).



Adam (who is one of the band's two frontmen) talked to me about his side-project, The LeeVees, a band who write songs about Hanukkah and Jewish traditions. He was impressed that I knew of them and said that they'd come to the UK but they didn't think there were any Jews over here. He then asked me if I was Jewish, which is probably one of the nicest things anyone has ever said about me. I told him that I wasn't but that I tell people I am, then he said he was the same. Haha.



My meeting with Ryan was the most fleeting (well, he's the front-frontman, haha) and he took our photo, which is why it's so bad. He was a nice enough guy.



Finally, I met Brian, who shook my hand and introduced himself, then signed my setlist (and put "The Captain" on it, yay!) and explained to me that he'd just had his hands in a box of ice. Cool. Pun not intended.



We went back and said bye to Joe and Adam, then made our way out.

On the way back to the hotel we stopped off at a rubbish chicken takeaway, then made our way back. Dad went straight to sleep, but I found it difficult and ended up playing with my iPod. I think we left first thing the next morning.

It was awesome. The end.

Best Bit: Guster, obviously! Guh!
Worst Bit: The uncomfortable box in front of me; getting up early; the ticket trauma; having to go to London.

Shows I've been to in my lifetime (as far as I can remember)

7/26/01 - Blink182/New Found Glory/Sugarcult @ PNC Bank Arts Center
7/30/01 - Madonna's drowned world tour @ Madison Square Garden
5/31/02 - pop disaster tour w/ Saves the Day, Green Day, Blink182 @ Madison Square Garden
7/27/02 - Jimmy Eat World/The Promise Ring/Desaparecidos @ Asbury Park Convention Hall
11/28/02 - Saves the Day/Ash/Kind of Like Spitting/Circle Square @ Roseland Ballroom
9/4/03 - Dashboard Confessional (full band)/MxPx/Brand New @ Roseland Ballroom
11/28/03 - Something Corporate/RX Bandits/Mae/Days Away @ Irving Plaza
6/4/04 - Blink-182/No Doubt/The Living End @ PNC Bank Arts Center
6/26/04 - Dashboard Confessional (full band)/Thrice/The Get Up Kids/Head Automatica @ PNC Bank Arts Center
8/something/04 - John Mayer/Maroon5 @ PNC Bank Arts Center
10/2/04 - Something Corporate (free show) @ the Philadelphia Museum of Art
12/30/04 - The Starting Line/Early November @ Starland Ballroom
3/30/05 - New Found Glory/Reggie and the Full Effect/Eisley @ the Trocadero
4/14/05 - Jimmy Eat World/Taking Back Sunday/The Format @ Continental Airlines Arena
4/15/05 - Something Corporate/Motion City Soundtrack/JamisonParker @ St. Joe's University
4/29/05 - Dashboard Confessional (solo acoustic)/Hot Rod Circuit/John Ralston @ Elizabethtown College
5/11/05 - Weezer/Ringside @ Roseland Ballroom
5/24/05 - Jack's Mannequin/Wakefield/The High Tigers @ the Knitting Factory
5/25/05 - Jack's Mannequin/Wakefield/The Blue Scene @ The Downtown
6/17/05 - Firescape @ marsRED music
6/29/05 - The Get Up Kids @ Starland Ballroom
7/13/05 - Weezer/Taking Back Sunday/The Fray @ Nassau Coliseum
7/22/05 - Oar @ PNC Bank Arts Center
8/4/05 - Ben Folds/Rufus Wainwright/Ben Lee @ Prospect Park
8/6/05 - Crosby, Stills and Nash @ The Borgata
8/14/05 - Warped Tour (some bands I watched, whether I wanted to or not: The Offspring, Mae, Motion City Soundtrack, The Starting Line, My Chemical Romance, Hawthorne Heights, Bedouin Soundclash, etc) @ Raceway Park
9/11/05 - The Juliana Theory/Lovedrug/Days Away @ The TLA
9/28/05 - Dashboard Confessional (just chris and johnny mostly acoustic)/Coheed and Cambria (acoustic)/The New Amsterdams/The Honorary Title @ Starland Ballroom
10/7/05 - Mae/Circa Survive/The Working Title @ The Trocadero
10/12/05 - Jason Mraz/Raul Midon/Carbon Leaf (free ticket, last minute show, meet and greet with carbon leaf) @ The Electric Factory
10/14/05 - Foo Fighters/Weezer/Hot Hot Heat @ Continental Airlines Arena
10/15/05 - Dashboard Confessional (full band)/John Ralston @ Eastern Connecticut State University
10/17/05 - Dashboard Confessional (solo)/John Ralston @ East Stroudsburg University
10/21/05 - Saves the Day/Early November/Emanuel (left before senses fail) @ the Electric Factory
10/25/05 - Death Cab for Cutie/ Stars @ the Electric Facory
11/6/05 - Gwen Stefani/The Black Eyed Peas @ The Wachovia Center
12/12/05 - Hellogoodbye/The Rocket Summer/Dave Melillo @ the TLA
12/26/05 - The LeeVees @ Bowery Ballroom
3/14/06 - Queen with Paul Rodgers @ the Wachovia Center
4/3/06 - Jack's Mannequin/ Rock Kills Kid @ Irving Plaza
4/14/06 - Oar/Scratch Track @ Penn
5/5/06 - John Ralston @ The Fire
6/21/06 - Brand New @ the TLA
6/22/06 - Sri Chinmoy in Concert (HAHAHAHAH) @ the Kimmel Center
6/23/06 - Guster in store appearance @ Tower Records
7/13/06 - Guster/Ray LaMontagne @ Festival Pier at Penn's Landing
8/10/06 - Oar/Jack's Mannequin @ the Tweeter Center
8/11/06 - Dashboard Confessional/Say Anything/Ben Lee/John Ralston @ the Tweeter Center
8/15/06 - The Format/Anathallo/Street to Nowhere @ the TLA
8/17/06 - Mae/The Spill Canvas @ the TLA
10/24/06 - Red Hot Chili Peppers/ Mars Volta @ The Wachovia Center
10/29/06 - Ben Lee/Rooney/John Ralston @ the TLA
11/19/06 - Jack's Mannequin/The Plain White T's/Panic! At The Disco @ the Wachova Center
1/?/07 - Paolo Nutini @ World Cafe Live
2/20/07 - Jack's Mannequin/Head Automatica/The Audition/We Are The Fury @ The Electric Factory
2/24/07 - Jack's Mannequin/Head Automatica/The Audition/We Are The Fury @ The Electric Factory
4/13/07 - Ben Folds/Third Eye Blind/Eef Barzeley @ Penn
4/19/07 - Dashboard Confessional/Nightmare of You @ St. Joe's University
4/29/07 - MTVu Campus Invasion Tour - Dashboard Confessional/Gym Class Heroes/Augustana/Kenna/K-Os/Kidz in the Hall @ Penn's Landing
5/13/07 - Jack's Mannequin/ SAU @ Drexel University
6/30/07 - Jack's Mannequin @ Newport RI Sunset Music Festival
7/27/07 - Ben Folds/ John Mayer/ James Morrison
8/3/07 - Ben Kweller/ Guster @ Penn's Landing
8/11/07 - Mae/ As Tall As Lions/ Dear and the Headlights @ North Star Bar
8/24/07 - The Format/ Piebald/Limbeck]/ Steel Train/ Reuben's Accomplice @ Webster Hall
10/2/07 - Ben Kweller/ Ingrid Michaelson @ Irvine Auditorium
10/26/07 - New Found Glory / Senses Fail/ The Receiving End of Sirens/ Bedlight for Blue Eyes @ The Electric Factory
11/1/07 - The Academy Is.../ Armor for Sleep/ The Rocket Summer/ Sherwood/ Cobra Starship @ The Electric Factory
11/12/07 - Dashboard Confessional/ Augustana/ John Ralston @ the Electric Factory
11/13/07 - Dashboard Confessional/ Augustana/ John Ralston @ the Electric Factory
12/6/07 - John Ralston/ The Modern Skirts/ Grammar Debate @ The North Star Bar

I need a break from work! Stole this from eliseyac.

My iTunes Alphabet:

A
Favorite: Andrew Bird
First: A New Found Glory
Last: Azure Ray

B
Favorite:Brian Factor
First: the Balls
Last: Butch Walker

C
Favorite: Charlotte Martin
First: Caitlin Cary
Last: The Czars

D
Favorite: Damien Rice
First:Daisy May
Last: Dustin Kensrue

E
Favorite: Elliott Smith
First: Editors
Last: Extreme (haha)

F
Favorite: Fiona Apple/The Frames
First: Fastball
Last: Furslide

G
Favorite: Glenn Kotche/Gomez
First: G. Love
Last: Gwen Stefani

H
Favorite: Haley Bonar (who would've known the day would come when Howie Day was not even my favorite artist starting with an H)
First: Haley Bonar
Last: Howie Day

I
Favorite: Iron & Wine
First:Imogen Heap
Last: Iron & Wine

J
Favorite: Josh Ritter
First: Jack Johnson
Last: Jump Little Children

K
Favorite:Kelly Clarkson/Kings of Leon(what a combo)
First:K's Choice
Last: Kyle Riabko

L
Favorite: Liz Phair/The LeeVees/Leona Naess
First: Laura Burton
Last: Lynyrd Skynyrd

M
Favorite: Matt Nathanson/Mason Jennings
First: M. Ward
Last: My Morning Jacket

N
Favorite: No Doubt
First: N*E*R*D
Last: NYCO

O
Favorite:Old 97's
First:O.A.R.
Last: Owsley

P
Favorite: Portastatic
First: Panic! At the Disco
Last: The Promise Ring

Q
Favorite: Queen
First: Queen
Last:Queen

R
Favorite: Ryan Adams/Ray LaMontagne
First: R. Kelly
Last: Ryan Cabrera

S
Favorite: Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers (duh)
First: Sade
Last: Syd

T
Favorite: Todd Martin/Ted Leo/Pharmacists
First: Tapes 'n Tapes
Last: Tyler Hilton

U
Favorite: U2
First:U2
Last: The Unicorns

V
Favorite: I don't really love any Vs.
First: Velvet Chain
Last: Voxtrot

W
Favorite: Wilco
First: The Walkmen
Last: The Wreckers

Y
Favorite: Yann Tierson
First: Yann Tierson
Last:Yusuf Islam

Z
Favorite: The Zombies
First: Zero 7
Last: The Zombies

-The Academy Is...
-AFI
/Angels & Airwaves
-Atreyu
+Beck
+Bela Fleck (with Stanley Clarke and Jean-Luc Ponty
+Damian Marley
+Damien Rice
/Dashboard Confessional
+Dave Grohl
+Dave Matthews Band
+David Ford
+Guster
-HIM
+Hugh Masekela
+Incendio
+Jackie Greene
/Le Tigre
+The LeeVees
/Makana
-Matchbook Romance
+Matisyahu
-Panic! At the Disco
+Ray LaMontagne
+raul midon
+Red Hot Chili Peppers
/Rob Zombie
/Rock Kills Kid
+Sam Bush
+Suburban Legends
-Taking Back Sunday
++Vieux Farka Toure
++Wolfmother

My 11-year-old sister just got an iPod, and I'm responsible for filling it. This is what she's requested:

Green Day
American Idiot
International Superhits
Warning

Brand New
Your Favorite Weapon
Deja Entendu

The Click Five

John Mayer

Barenaked Ladies - "Some" CDs

The LeeVees

Ben Lee
Running With Scissors

Obviously I'm going to give her all the Green Day albums, and whatever I have by the other artists, and duh I'm gonna casually slip in some other artists for her discovery. Mostly accessible pop stuff.

I think I'll add in Guster and Ben Folds stuff and stop there. If I give her too many unknowns, she'll ignore them all. Any suggestions? She likes punk influenced pop, folk influenced pop, acoustic pop and HATES profanity.

Favorite Artists A to Z.

A - Arctic Monkeys
B - The Beatles
C - Cat Stevens
D - Dave Barnes
E - Elvis Costello
F - Franz Ferdinand
G - Guster
H - The Honey Brothers
I - Iron & Wine?
J - John Mayer and Trio or Jeff Buckley
K - Kings of Leon
L - The LeeVees
M - Matt Wertz
N - Nirvana
O - OK Go
P - Phoenix or Paul McCartney or Peter Frampton
Q - Couldn't think of one
R - The Raconteurs
S - Stevie Ray Vaughan or Steadman or The Strokes
T - Teddy Geiger or Tegan & Sara
U - U2
V - Violent Femmes
W - The White Stripes
X - XTC
Y - Yoko Ono, no, just kidding! Don't have one.
Z - The Zambonis

Vertical Horizon
Barenaked Ladies

Ben Folds
Rufus Wainwright
Guster

David Berkeley
Dante Mazzetti
Guster

Rilo Kiley
Coldplay

British Sea Power
The Killers

Matt Pond PA
Guster

Yuri Lane
The LeeVees

Eagles of Death Metal
The Strokes

The Spinto Band
Arctic Monkeys

The Cribs
Franz Ferdinand
Death Cab for Cutie

The Lovely Feathers
Dr. Dog
The Spinto Band

The Adored
Every Move a Picture
The Rakes

The Fruit Bats
Ray LaMontagne
Guster (again)

The Cloud Room
Muse

Scissors For Lefty
Dirty Pretty Things

Rogue Wave
Ray LaMontagne
Guster

Black Hollies
Uncle John and Whitelock
Dirty on Purpose
The Spinto Band

The Spinto Band
The Hold Steady

Mew
Kasabian

The Annuals
The Spinto Band
Art Brut

Marcellus Wall
Love as Laughter
Modest Mouse

Mr. Lif
Matisyahu

Balkan Beat Box
Tim Fite
The LeeVees

The Annuals
Kaiser Chiefs

The Format
Guster

The Films
Pop Levi
Mando Diao

The Faint

Photo Atlas
The Cinematics
The Bravery

Pidgeon Detectives
The Rakes

fujiya and miyagi

White Rabbits
Art Brut

Ben Kweller
Guster

Cold War Kids
Muse MSG (Best concert ever!!)

Cold War Kids
Muse Philly (Also best concert ever)


Voxtrot
Arctic Monkeys

Step 1: Open up whatever MP3 program you use and add every song in your collection.
Step 2: Put it on random.
Step 3: Post the first line from the first 50 songs that play, no matter how embarassing.
Step 4: Post and let everyone guess what song and artist the lines come from.
Step 5: Cross out the songs that someone guesses correctly.
Step 6: Looking them up on Google or any other search engine is CHEATING!

1. It's 7 'o clock the moon is turning the streets are burning and all roads lead to nowhere

2. The world is a vampire

3. I feel my wings have broken in your hands

4. Monday, back from the dead

5. Find yourself a girl, and settle down

6. Time's rollin' forward

7. Lack of knowledge has a source

8. He came from somewhere back in her long ago

9. I know it's been a long, long year God forbid you to listen to me now.

10. The furrowed bed of sand worries again

11. i wish i could eat the salt off of your lost faded lips

12. You strangle people with a piercing stare

13. One more time I have crossed the line.

14. From the back of your big brown eyes

15. I get home from work and you're still standing in your dressing gown

16. How many people wanna kick some ass?

17. You took a trip and climbed a tree

18. I want to live where soul meets body

19. born in a manger, your getting stranger everyday.

20. I built a time machine

21. Love your hate, your faith lost

22. The road is long, with many a winding turn

23. Fall out, fall through, fall apart

24. the sun will rise

25. Send away for a priceless gift

26. I'm gonna get free

27. Some folks are born to wave the flag

28. He said to only look up

29. My apologies, Dear

30. She was diagnosed on a Friday

31. Drive into the sky until it turns the afternoon black.

32. Same dances in the same old shoes

33. Out the door just in time

34. Where is my soul?

35. Heaven is a bliss

36. shakedown 1979,cool kids never have the time

37. This is where the helicopters came to take me away

38. Shining like a work of art

39. I've seen you darling, seen you hanging round town

40. I'm so scared, because along with this infection, i will fear rejection.

41. It's the only way that I want it - Inside

42. Is it with a "C" or "H"? I am confused

43. I thought I was smart

44. I let go of the world that was holding

45. Blame me for the elevator - I know you will

46. This party is old and uninviting

47. Lightning crashes, a new mother cries

48. I won't suffer, be broken

49. nobody's safe 'round here no more

50. My own intent's not easy to see.



BANDS:
The Flaming Lips
Monty
Guster
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Doobie Brothers
Ben Folds
ZOX
Default
The Hush Sound
Ted Leo and The Pharmacists
The LeeVees
Ben Lee
The Hollies
Incubus
Marty Casey & Lovehammers
Our Lady Peace
Hard-Fi
Super Furry Animals
Breaking Benjamin
Live
Hot Hot Heat
Weezer
AFI
The Vines
Head Automatica
Lazlo Bane
Mute Math
The Eagles
Dispatch
Catch 22
Oar
Barenaked Ladies
Shinedown
Ben Folds Five
The Smashing Pumpkins
Interpol
Remy Zero
Radiohead
Stone Temple Pilots
Unwritten Law
Collective Soul
The Raconteurs
30 Seconds to Mars
Stroke 9