2008 Woodie Awards
4, 3, 2, 1... it's Guster
Alterna-rock band's frontman discusses group's new direction and upcoming show
Zach Dionne
Issue date: 11/13/06 Section: Style
The unique sound and soothing melodies of Guster will fill the Maine Center for the Arts once again this Thursday. The band is returning to Orono for the first time since 1999.
Boston-born Guster began in 1991 when bandmates Ryan Miller, Adam Gardner and Brian Rosenworcel were freshmen at Tufts University, under the name of "Gus." Joe Pisapia joined the three-piece in 2003 after supporting the band for several tours. Together they have released five studio albums and seven live albums, including "Guster on Ice," recorded in Portland in 2004.
Their latest album, "Ganging Up On the Sun" was released June 20 and has garnered critical acclaim. In September, it was awarded Best Album of the Year on a Major Label at the Boston Music Awards over Godsmack, The Dresden Dolls, Mission of Burma, The New Cars, Staind and Grace Potter & The Nocturnals.
In a phone interview Friday afternoon, Guster vocalist and guitarist Ryan Miller discussed the upcoming show, the new album, and the changes a band endures over 15 years.
MC: How was your last show at UMaine?
RM: I'm trying to remember. I think it was really good. I don't know if Adam [Gardner] was living [in Maine] at that point, so it might've been a hometown, home state show for him or not. I'm gonna say it was awesome.
MC: When tickets went on sale, there were fans in line at 4 a.m., five hours before the box office opened. You sold out about a third of the show within a couple days.
RM: Really? That's great.
MC: What can fans expect? How much new material, how much old?
RM: I'd say probably like a third of the set is new stuff, and two- thirds of it is sort of over the course of the last four records.
MC: If you were going to basically say something to get the students excited for the show, what would it be?
RM: Hopefully we'll play all our instruments in time with each other [laughs]. It'll…[pauses] hopefully it'll be an enlightening experience for all mankind [laughs].
Boston-born Guster began in 1991 when bandmates Ryan Miller, Adam Gardner and Brian Rosenworcel were freshmen at Tufts University, under the name of "Gus." Joe Pisapia joined the three-piece in 2003 after supporting the band for several tours. Together they have released five studio albums and seven live albums, including "Guster on Ice," recorded in Portland in 2004.
Their latest album, "Ganging Up On the Sun" was released June 20 and has garnered critical acclaim. In September, it was awarded Best Album of the Year on a Major Label at the Boston Music Awards over Godsmack, The Dresden Dolls, Mission of Burma, The New Cars, Staind and Grace Potter & The Nocturnals.
In a phone interview Friday afternoon, Guster vocalist and guitarist Ryan Miller discussed the upcoming show, the new album, and the changes a band endures over 15 years.
MC: How was your last show at UMaine?
RM: I'm trying to remember. I think it was really good. I don't know if Adam [Gardner] was living [in Maine] at that point, so it might've been a hometown, home state show for him or not. I'm gonna say it was awesome.
MC: When tickets went on sale, there were fans in line at 4 a.m., five hours before the box office opened. You sold out about a third of the show within a couple days.
RM: Really? That's great.
MC: What can fans expect? How much new material, how much old?
RM: I'd say probably like a third of the set is new stuff, and two- thirds of it is sort of over the course of the last four records.
MC: If you were going to basically say something to get the students excited for the show, what would it be?
RM: Hopefully we'll play all our instruments in time with each other [laughs]. It'll…[pauses] hopefully it'll be an enlightening experience for all mankind [laughs].
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