Guster - 2013-07-30 - Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY

Guster 07-21-2013 - Bangor, ME photo by BBKron

Guster
2013-07-30
Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY
Last show of the 'Last Summer On Earth' Tour 2013 (which also featured Ben Folds Five and Barenaked Ladies)
Audience recording (S.Bernstein - archives.org), Good sound quality
mp3 (VBR ~192 kbps) files (Lossless version available at archives.org)

Continuing with artists that I have seen live recently, here is Guster. I saw Guster last summer as part of the 'Last Summer On Earth Tour', which featured Guster, Ben Folds Five, and Barenaked Ladies in a great combination of bands I love for a sensational tour de force concert program. I have to admit, though, that it was primarily the pairing of BF5 and BNL (two of my, and my  whole family's, favorite bands) that I was most interested in. I was only vaguely aware of Guster at that time, having only heard a couple songs by them. But, in anticipation of the concert I began to look more seriuosly at them and their music, and was very impressed. There is a lot to like about Guster. First, some background. Guster is a Boston-area band, first formed back in the early nineties by Adam Gardner, Ryan Miller, and Brian Rosenworcel while they were students at Tufts University, and were primarily a local area band for several years (and their first 2 independently made albums, Parachute (1994) and Goldfly (1997)). They finally broke wider on the alternative rock scene in 1999 following their third album, Lost and Gone Forever, and the release of 'Fa Fa' as a single. Subsequent albums Keep It Together (2003), Ganging Up on the Sun (2006) and Easy Wonderful (2010) have continued to enhance their reputation as an excellent band. In 2013 they also released a live acoustic album. Their sound features bright vocal harmonies and melodies in a shimmering acoustic-rock style, with humor and warmth. Another aspect of their sound, particularly in the earlier days, was that percussionist Brian played most all of the percussion effects with his bare hands (bongos, congas, cymbals, other drums, etc.). In addition, they are one of the most fan-friendly bands around, offering much free music and access to fans, and they all really seem like just nice, regular guys. They have an open taping policy for their live shows, with the result being that literally hundreds of audience recordings from their live shows are available freely through the Live Music Archives (archive.org) website. In fact, right now, they are also offering a new official live album (recorded with a symphony orchestra) available for freee download through their website, see below. So, it is very easy to go abd check out their music and through all stages of their career. Anyway, since getting to know these guys and their music now, I can't believe that I wasn't a fan before this, as I like everything about them. So, if you haven't checked out or gotten to know Guster, please do so now. You'll be glad you did. Here I offer the last show from last year's Last Summer on Earth Tour, and since they performed only shortned 45 minute sets at these shows, I have also added on some bonus tracks that consist of some additional songs from their free LL Bean show a couple weeks later.

Tracklist:
1.  What You Wish For (cuts in)
2.  banter - Brooklyn bonafides
3.  Architects & Engineers
4.  Airport Song
5.  Manifest Destiny
6.  banter - last night of tour
7.  What You Call Love
8.  banter - pod of energy
9.  Come Downstairs And Say Hello
10. Do You Love Me
11. banter - tax deduction suit
12. Ramona
13. Satellite
14. Barrel Of A Gun *
15. banter - amazing summer
16. This Could All Be Yours

Bonus Tracks:
from 2013-08-10
L.L. Bean Discovery Park, Freeport, ME
(Free Outdoor Concert sponsored by LL Bean)
17. The Captain
18. Happier
19. Demons
20. Bad Bad World
21. Amsterdam
22. Hang On

* = w/Ed Robertson from Barenaked Ladies on vocals

mp3 - Guster_2013-07-30_Brooklyn NY.rar
New link (Updated 11/9/21)

Lossless versions of this show, as well as several dozen other Guster shows, are available through the
live music archives here

Also, new official Live Guster album 'Live with the [Redacted] Symphony' is now available for FREE download through the band's website (www.guster.com and noisetrade.com)

Guster 07-21-2013 - Bangor, ME photo by BBkron