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Guster
May 18, 2005
Night ‘n Day Café
by Rachel Waxman
I got off the bus and
walked into the mild Manchester evening. Fighting off
the flies, I strode through the city center, where gritty
Joy Division footage was being shown on the gigantic outdoor
television to thousands of somber Mancunians. It was the
anniversary of Ian Curtis’ death and the demise
of the legendary band. But the band I was off to see is
very much alive.
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Guster was scheduled to play that night in Manchester’s
intimate Night ‘n Day café. I had planned to go alone,
but I was delighted to see several of my fellow American exchange
students at the head of the queue. And what a queue it was. A
generous gathering of American kids from all over England had
made the pilgrimage to Manchester for the band with a large, loyal
college-kid following.
Steadily building up
a fanatic fan-base over their decade-plus long existence,
Guster now regularly sells out Hammerstein-ballroom sized
venues. (Coincidentally, that is where I saw them in 2002.)
Although the band is well on its way, Guster has yet to
reach this level of fame in the United Kingdom. Not able
to hold more than a few hundred people, the Night ‘n
Day was filled to capacity with people hungry for Guster’s
fantastic brand of bongo-driven pop-rock. Seeing Ryan, Brian
and Adam (and new Guster, Joe) in such an intimate venue
was a rare treat.
Although there were definitely some
Brits present, the preponderance of American accents and
frat-boy antics made me feel like I was back on the other
side of the Atlantic.
With the original opening band bowing
out last minute, Steve Reynolds was called in as replacement.
This small Canadian fellow tried to satiate our music-hunger
with his unique brand of sensitive singer-songwriter tunes.
He is obviously talented but perhaps his slow moving, pessimistic
songs were lost on the lively crowd.
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After all, it was just he who stood in-between us and Guster.
At twenty minutes to ten the boys of Guster finally took the
stage. Clutching their instruments, they launched into “Careful,”
a catchy number from their latest CD, Keep It Together. Several
more gems from the same album followed the opening number, which
produced massive grins and mass sing-alongs from the happy crowd.
Clearly pleased by the impressive turnout in Britain, vocalist/guitarist
Ryan asked how many in the audience were actually British; a hearty
cry erupted from the crowd. He then asked how many Americans were
present, only to be answered with a similar response. Half and
half it was, then. Making an attempt not to upset the Americans,
Ryan expressed Guster’s extra thanks to their British fans,
and told them how essential they are to the band’s overseas
success. He proclaimed that Guster would definitely be back in
Manchester - at least for the curry, if not the fans.
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Die hard fan that I am, I was separated from
the band by only one row of people and amplifiers. The kids
surrounding me took advantage of their proximity to the
stage to peep at the set-list, calling out each song before
it was actually sung. I did not, as I like being surprised.
The crowd went joyfully insane during the songs they knew
and turned quiet during those they did not. Much to our
excitement, four new songs were played that night. These
were surprises the set-list peepers could not have spoiled.
The new material promises that the new album (which we may
see early next year) will be fantastic. On one song, “You’re
My Satellite” Guster veers slightly from their sometimes
folk-ish tendencies yet still includes their heavenly trademarked
harmonies.
Another one of the band’s trademarks is its adorably
scruffy bongo player, Brian.
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While he has also been known to pick up the sticks and play on
a proper drum kit, that is not how he has built his reputation.
A “legendary conguero,” he slams his hands and bangs
his palms on his various congas, bongos and djembes - sometimes
drawing blood, but always drawing cheers from the crowd. That
Wednesday night The Thundergod did not disappoint, as he pounded
furiously away on his drums.
The new songs were great,
and the newest Guster was fantastic (banjo, anyone?), but
my personal highlight of the night was the classic song,
“Demons,” from their second album, Goldfly.
Mouthing along lyrics to the songs all night, I shut myself
up for my favorite Guster lyric ever. “Honest is easy,
fiction’s where genius lies,” sang Adam in his
beautiful voice. Soon he was joined by Ryan’s soaring
vocals for some harmonies that must have touched even the
stuffiest Brit.
Guster are amazing. Guster are even
more amazing in England. Out of their element, and their
country, they are more earnest and more eager to please
- and more accessible!
The sweaty crowd did not disperse after
the hour-plus long set; it merely rearranged itself. People
queued around the merchandise table - where shirts were
being snapped up like hot cakes - and around the bar - where
the Gusters were hydrating themselves and holding court
amongst their adoring fans. It was what one would imagine
a Guster show to be like, circa 1995.
I’ll never forget it.
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| Visit Guster's Website: www.guster.com |
Graphics:
Andy Van Ness
Photos: Rachel Waxman |
