Emotions were high on Monday when the Student Activities Board announced the headlining act for its upcoming fall homecoming concert. Rumors abounded on campus, speculating about possible acts-from Fergie to Nickelback. Eventually, the band was officially announced, the act was solidified and rumors were quelled, when SAB’s website announced that alternative rock band Guster will be the 2007 homecoming act.
Originally from Boston, the threesome recently added a fourth member, Joe Pisapia (guitar, base, keyboard and vocals), to the mix. The band was first formed by Ryan Miller (guitar and vocals), Adam Gardner (guitar and vocals) and Brian Rosenworcel (percussion) in the early ’90s. Guster is best known for their energetic live performances, which helped its members to be noticed by Sire Records. That same energy will be livening the Georgetown lot behind Griesiedieck Hall on Friday, Sept. 28.
Though the journey toward finding the perfect homecoming band is not always easy, the members of SAB are more than happy with this year’s outcome.
“I think it’s gone really well,” said homecoming chair Deidre Turner. “We had a whole bunch of acts we were looking at, and there seemed to be a good response to Guster from the SLU students.”
Fellow homecoming chair Jason Potts said that Guster was the board’s first choice, and that he “hasn’t heard anything negative” about the decision to book the band.
According to Potts, the combination of Guster’s “large following and performance quality” is what drew the band to SLU.
Turner had similar sentiments: “I think even those that haven’t heard of Guster can really enjoy the show.” Sophomore Kathleen Gauker agreed with SAB’s decision, calling Guster “one of [her] favorite bands,” and said that she is really excited about the prospect of seeing the band live.
Gauker went on, saying that “compared to past performers, I think Guster will do a better job of appealing to a wider variety of students.”
In a matter of years, Guster has gone from promoting their debut independent album Parachute solely by word-of-mouth to selling out major concerts in New York’s Radio City Music Hall. The members have performed on shows such as Late Night with David Letterman and The Conan O’Brien Show, as well as toured with the likes of John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band, Barenaked Ladies and Semisonic.
Rolling Stone has referred to Guster as having “a robust creativity and a melodic stamina,” and they have been compared to acts such as Depeche Mode and Dave Matthews Band.
Guster’s unique sound, made up primarily of two acoustic guitars and a bongo set, sets them apart from other alternative acts. In addition, the members’ humorous banter with crowds has made them a favorite on the college campuses across the country, which has helped broaden their exposure tremendously in recent years.
There will be no price of admission to the concert. The show is a part of the Crocs footwear campus tour and will feature a movie (yet to be announced) directly following the concert.