It isn't cool enough that Guster recorded 10 songs with a symphony (actually, probably many), but they are giving it away free. Link here. They are not exactly forthcoming with what symphony, hence the title: Live With The Redacted Symphony. I'm guessing they've culled their favorite performances from several shows.
Album includes the following: Satellite What You Call Love Ramona Two Points For Honesty Fa Fa This Is How It Feels To Have A Broken Heart Lightning Rod Demons On The Ocean Come Downstairs and Say Hello
The beauty of living in New York City is being able to take advantage of the bounty of cultural events. For under $30, one can experience a magical evening of music, art, culture, etc. These events always have produce moments that give you a chill, making you think, damn I'm so glad I experienced that. Guster and artist Jon Sarkin provided those moments on Friday evening at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You're probably as surprised to hear Guster played there, as lead singer Ryan Miller and Sarkin were to in awe to be playing there.
Sarkin's art is a big part of Guster's latest project, Easy Wonderful. From the packaging to merch to the video, Sarkin's art is there. Drummer Brian Rosenworcel was the first to discover Sarkin's work and as fellow bandmate Adam Gardner said, they all fell in love with his paintings. Apparently he sent them so much art for the album, that they had a hard time choosing just one painting. They immediately knew the color wheel would be the cover. From there Sarkin wound up doing the whole booklet and participated in the video for Do You Love Me. He is creating art as the video progresses. Brian brought pieces of art that Sarkin left on the ground at the end of the video shoot and passed them around for the audience to look at. Sarkin explained that the joy is in creating the art and he doesn't necessarily have to keep it. He does keep whatever his wife likes. His recent work brings to mind Roz Chast, most famous for her New Yorker cartoons.
The show started off with curators explaining music's relativity to pieces in the museum's collection. One caught Ryan off guard by asking how he would explain an ancient Greek instrument depicted on an urn to his daughter. The conversation continued to explore the relationship between the band, Sarkin and video director Chad Carlberg. The band originally wanted to shoot the video in Sarkin's studio, but realized that wasn't possible as it's filled wall to wall with his work. The interview below from Good Morning Gloucester begins in his studio. Carlberg talked about the hardest part of making the video. They got the go ahead from the record company on a Friday and made the video on that Monday. Nice to see things haven't changed in the making of music videos.
After the conversation, Sarkin took his place at the easel and began to work while the band performed. Ryan, Adam and Luke played musical chairs, each taking on the bass, guitar and piano. They reworked their songs specifically for this "acoustic" show, keeping in mind that it might be a format to take on the road (Yes!). The bulk of the 45 minute set consisted of songs from Easy Wonderful including Bad Bad World, Stay With Me Jesus, That's The Way To Get To Heaven and a rousing version of This Could All Be Yours. Harmonies were in full swing.
In a hypnotic and powerful Satellite, the band was accompanied by two guest players on violin and cello. It made the song a religious experience. They concluded the set with Do You Love Me. This has got to be the band's new anthem. Didn't think they could match the pop magic of Amsterdam, but they did it with this song. Speaking of religious experience, the encore of Jesus On The Radio brought the band and Sarkin to the front of the stage, all unplugged. Brian played tambourine and Sarkin on teeny tiny maracas. It was an epiphany.
Apparently in the next few weeks, the Met will be posting a video of the whole evening. In the meantime, here's a snippet.
Guster is in Daryl's House. I have such respect and love for both artists music, but would never have thought Guster would be dropping by Daryl Hall's. As a new father, Adam didn't make the trip. The event was described on the band's website. It's a show, on the interweb, where you go to Daryl's house and sing songs together (Daryl's songs, Guster's songs) in his studio while a renowned chef makes duck a l'orange and steamed mussels in the kitchen. Then when the music is over you drink a lot of wine, eat good food, ask Daryl a million questions about what it's like to be a rock star, and pee in the snow in Daryl's backyard. At least, I hope they included this in our episode.
Guster surprised everyone by choosing to cover an obscure Daryl solo song (from the album Sacred Songs) Babs and Babs (another surprise: it's about the left and right brain). There were a few selections from Easy Wonderful, which is Guster's latest arsenal of power packed tunes. In the show Ryan describes their music as Pop, the same way one would describe the music of Harry Nilsson or The Lovin' Spoonful. He's spot on. On that note, here's the Claparoo of the show: Do You Love Me. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
Guster engages their audience and therefore, they have a very loyal fan base. The band recently asked fans to submit a video (in their quest to create 12 videos from 12 directors for the 12 songs on their album Easy Wonderful -they just accomplished that goal.) for the song Bad Bad World. Guster crowned director Nora McCormack at Soft Shell Productions, the winner. She randomly gave pedestrians in Portland, ME $10 and asked them to find a way to change a stranger's life with that money. The resulting video renews your faith in humankind. As the band said "Nora, you made us weep, and you made us want to be better people."
These times are strange
I can feel it in the night
I'm standing in the dark
Holding up for the light
And here I'll remain
Til the great sun shines
Standing in the dark
Waiting up for the light
Watch the video, listen to the song. It will put you in a good mood.
New music from Guster. New album Easy Wonderful comes out on October 5th. You can download the song Bad, Bad World from their website and/or listen here.
Guster has been engaging their fans for years. They are on tour performing their Lost and Gone Forever album in it's entirety. They're also giving away tickets via video clues on YouTube or Twitter. They are entertaining. Do they spend late nights on the bus coming up with creative ideas to get fans involved? You Gotta Love Guster!
. From the packaging to merch to the video, 
) Babs and Babs (another surprise: it's about the left and right brain). There were a few selections from 
, which is Guster's latest arsenal of power packed tunes. In the show Ryan describes their music as Pop, the same way one would describe the music of 
. Guster crowned director