Guster in Austin after a 2-3 year hiatus.
For Earth Day, I finally got to see Guster; a band who really impressed me with their 2006 release, Ganging up on the Sun. Sadly, there’s no solid information/plans on when their next album will be appearing but currently they’re touring to raise awareness about environmental issues. Austin is one of the few dates not on a college campus too. Compared to the previous night’s show of Ladytron and the Faint, this was an improvement. Nothing as drastic as a 180, more like a 45-degree move over in the right direction: no split audience, 80-minute set, etc.
There were also some great surprises in Guster’s performance. They threw in the bridge and ending from Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper” to wrap up their own song “Red Oyster Cult.” Having someone run around, banging a cowbell is rather cliche but they get a pass for enthusiasm. Later on, recent Austin resident, Ben Kweller joined them on stage to sing and play guitar to a Guster tune followed by covering Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So.” Pretty awesome. It was like watching a five people play Rock Band at Expert level yet it wasn’t with the 80% scale toys using only five buttons. I should’ve paid more attention to their CDs as well. I never knew the members of Guster not just swapped around on the singing duties, they do the same regarding the instruments which makes them an American version of Sloan or is it the other way around? I mentioned this to band member Joe Pisapia and how the Onion left them out unfairly in an article of this nature last year.
Ryan is a pro at taking a picture (at arm's length) without any help.
After the encore, Guster came out to thank all the Earth Day volunteers for their time (more on this below). Me? I was with Ecology Action which treats every day as Earth Day anyway. I really wanted to meet them to at least thank them for having some of the most well-behaved/cooperative fans because I didn’t have to fish out as many plastic cups from the recycling bins. Plus there were fewer empty soy milk boxes in them from my previous prediction when I was setting up before the audience was let in. All four of them, Ryan, Adam, Brian and Joe graciously signed my copy of Guster on Ice: Live from Portland, Maine which I scored from the merchandise booth: it has a cover the Talking Heads’ “(Nothing But) Flowers.” Other bands usually go with the easier choices like “Burning Down the House.”
Brian signing my copy of Guster on Ice, a live album with a DVD.
I need to pursue/listen to more Guster when I get the chance. Solid Power Pop is what the world needs more of amongst the genre bands.
Now the Earth Day elements were decent, especially the free samples of chocolate Silk (soy milk). I had two for dessert after eating a slice of NY-style pizza. There were booths explaining the arguments on carbon neutrality/caps, biodiesel, the Hill Country Conservancy and I think a retailer. The first spot didn’t have any literature to make better points against people who regurgitate the talking points of corporations or worse, the editorial staff of The Economist. The biodiesel stand was more on the ball regarding the myths, namely this only contributing to three percent of the recent hike in food prices. Besides, this alternative fuel is promoting more sustainable crops which aren’t foodstuffs. I didn’t look over the rest too thoroughly other than agreeing with preserving the water supply, its recharge zones and all matters related to it.
This stuff rocks when making a latte.