[ATTENDED: November 1, 2018] Guster
It had been over two years since we’d since Guster and we were going through some withdrawal. So it was pretty exciting that they were starting their latest tour at out favorite club in Jersey City.
We’d never seen them at the beginning of a tour before and I have to say the rest does them well. They seemed energetic (which they usually are) but more importantly everyone’s (especially Ryan’s) voices sounded amazing–best I’ve ever heard them.
They have a new album coming out in January so we thought it might be a show of all new songs . But it wasn’t. They played two brand new songs (and none of the singles that they’ve released so far). The rest of the show (all 23-2 songs + two improvs) were familiar and more than welcomed.
When we saw them last time, we had seen them three times in 14 months and during those three shows they had played a ton of songs that we hadn’t heard before (or not since a decade earlier). So this show was a lot more songs that we’ve heard (which is still fine). But with a few that were more or less new. And of course those wonderful improvs.
They opened with “Long Night” a song that they had been playing as the first encore song. I didn’t really like it as an encore–it’s a slow song and the encore is suppose to get you hyped. But it was a nice opener–especially with the xylophone ringing out out in the great sound of that hall.
Then came Happier and something that I have never noticed before at White Eagle Hall. The floor was bouncing! The fans and everyone were all jumping with the song and the floor was certainly bouncing along with us (the venue says the floor has “isolation springs in floors and walls.” This was also a great opportunity to showcase the Thundergod.
It was followed by What You Call Love which is typically an encore song as well. So these were nice changes. Adam played the trumpet of course (two times during the show, but no trombone this time).
They followed it with “I Spy” a song they haven’t played for us since 2004! It was great to hear. After a pretty Endlessly they played Airport Song which I love–as do all the fans who bring ping-pong balls to the shows to throw at the end of the song. They usually play it but not always. This time Ryan caught a ping-pong ball and spit it back into the crowd and then he swatted one right at someone in the audience and then apologized profusely. He said “we’re literally middle-aged dads” so this is amazing.
They played a new song called “Hello Mr. Sun.” (Thanks for letting us play new songs and not just shouting “Play Parachute!”).
A guy in the audience had a rainbow hat on which Ryan borrowed and wore for the song (which is about rainbows). he also wore it for “Stay with Me Jesus.”
Then they started Doin’ it By Myself and the coolest Guster moment happened. Previously, the best Guster moment was when Kishi Bashi played Satellite with them and then crowd surfed right over us (and I helped). In this show, Ryan Miller came out into the crowd and walked right past me. He sang a few bars right next to me and then hung out with us for a few more verses. S. picked the best spot to stand! When he got back onstage he commented that everybody spread out like at a bar mitzvah and he didn’t know what to do while in the center. The band then played an improv which he sag about being at Levi’s bar mitzvah.
After a terrific Come Downstairs and Say Hello (withe some great Thundergod work) we all sang along to Do You Love Me. Actually this was the most sing-along crowd I’ve ever been to. Sometimes they were louder than the band (and were at least all in tune).
They followed that with Rocketship, a song they have never played for us before! I hadn’t realized that but I was super psyched to hear it. Then came Manifests Destiny and a wonderful take on Amsterdam. I love this song and they haven’t played it for us since 2004, so it was great to sing along to that one.
Ryan mentioned how it felt like the show was running long but they had so many songs to play. That’s great!
I love the vocal melody of Ruby Falls, a song I can never remember the title of, but I was so happy they played it (only the second time we’ve heard it). It was followed by Ramona. It’s always great to hear Adam take a lead vocals. Wonder why he doesn’t do it that much.
It was followed by Satellite. By this point everyone in the band hd played a different instrument I think. Ryan had played bass once or twice and played ukulele on “What You Call Love.” He sat at the piano for “Manifest Destiny.” Luke Reynolds is an official member of the band now and he plays just about everything–keys, bass, guitar and banjo during the encore. And Adam played guitar bass and keyboard samples at one point during the encore.
I never get tired of hearing Barrel of a Gun–4! 3! 2! 1! or of the the set closing joy of This Could All Be Yours. Never was there such an uplifting ending.
They left for an “encore” which really meant that the lights were turned down and they just stood around and told us to talk as if they had left. They started with a new song “Mind Kontrol” which was outstanding. It was trippy and weird and quite long and pretty unlike anything they’ve done. I’m looking forward it hearing it properly.
I don’t always love the Guster merch–the band is so creative but their shirts are kind of bland. They have a shirt for “2 points for honesty” which is okay but they don’t always play it. They did this time, and the crowd was really into it.
They ended the show with Demons.
They left the stage and a whole bunch of people left the building but the band came out with acoustic instruments–banjo, guitar, shaker and no microphone They proceeded to play an umnmic’d version of Jesus on the Radio which was absolutely wonderful. Their voices sounded so good.
A few days ago they announced that they would be touring more in the new year so I got us tickets to see them at the Fillmore (again) in January. I’m pretty psyched.
Oh, and as if Ryan singing with us and the doing a second encore wasn’t good enough We showed up at Tim Hortons on the way home and their sour cream donuts were freshly warm and they were sublime.
What a great night out!
| 11/1/2018–White Eagle Hall | ||
| Long Night | ||
| Happier | ||
| What You Call Love | ||
| I Spy (haven’t heard since 2004) | ||
| Endlessly | ||
| Airport Song | ||
| Hello Mr. Sun (new) | ||
| Stay With Me Jesus | ||
| Doin’ It By Myself | ||
| improv Levi’s bar mitzvah | ||
| Come Downstairs and Say Hello | ||
| Do You Love Me | ||
| Rocketship (never before) | ||
| Manifest Destiny | ||
| Amsterdam (not since 2004) | ||
| Ruby Falls | ||
| Ramona | ||
| Satellite | ||
| Barrel of a Gun | ||
| improv-“False encore” song | ||
| This Could All be Yours | ||
| “encore” | ||
| Mind Kontrol (new) | ||
| Two Points for Honesty | ||
| Demons | ||
| 2nd encore | ||
| Jesus on the Radio (acoustic, no mics) |
| 6/16/2016–Fillmore | 11/21/2015–Wellmont | 4/24/2015–TLA |
| What You Wish For |
Ramona | Demons |
| Satellite | Satellite | Center of Attention |
| Doin’ It By Myself |
Simple Machine | Doin’ It By Myself |
| Barrel of a Gun |
Happier | The Beginning of the End |
| Ramona | Hercules | Ramona |
| Never Coming Down | Careful/”Chariots of Fire” | Gangway |
| Architects & Engineers | Doin’ It By Myself | Endlessly |
| Lightning Rod | Captain | Stay with Me Jesus |
| Come Downstairs and Say Hello | Kid Dreams | Come Downstairs and Say Hello |
| Do You Love Me | Homecoming King | Do You Love Me |
| Dear Valentine |
Come Downstairs and Say Hello | (Everything I Do) I Do It for You |
| That’s No Way to Get to Heaven |
Do You Love Me | Hang On |
| Red Oyster Cult | Never Coming Down | Lazy Love |
| Mona Lisa |
Demons | Hercules (with Kishi Bashi) |
| Manifest Destiny |
Two Points for Honesty | Satellite (with Kishi Bashi) |
| Simple Machine | Happy Frappy | Simple Machine |
| Airport Song |
Ruby Falls | Never Coming Down |
| Kid Dreams |
Lazy Love | Two Points for Honesty |
| Demons | Barrel of a Gun | Diane |
| This Could All Be Yours | This Could All Be Yours | Careful |
| encore “Improv” |
“encore” (“Zombie Jews”) | This Could All Be Yours |
| Long Night |
Long Night | “encore” |
| Bad Bad World |
One Man Wrecking Machine | Long Night |
| What You Call Love |
Manifest Destiny | Manifest Destiny |
| Fa Fa | Airport Song | What You Call Love |
| encore “boooo” | Careless Whisper | Happier |
| Jesus on the Radio | ||
| 7/20/2013–PNC Bank Center | 7/5/2004–Starland | |
| The Captain | Happier | |
| Architects & Engineers | I Spy | |
| Homecoming King | Airport Song | |
| Come Downstairs and Say Hello | Demons | |
| Do You Love Me | Amsterdam | |
| Airport Song | Come Downstairs and Say Hello | |
| Hang On | Barrel of a Gun | |
| Demons | Mona Lisa | |
| Satellite | Red Oyster Cult | |
| Barrel of a Gun (with Ed Robertson) | California Dreamin’ | |
| This Could All Be Yours Someday | Fa Fa | |
| Jam (with Ben Folds) | ||
| Backyard (with Ben Folds) | ||
| All the Way Up to Heaven |
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