In front of a packed Rochester Auditorium Center crowd, the price was right for Guster?s show Monday night.
Members of the Boston-based band tore across the stage to the theme song from ?The Price is Right? blaring over the speakers.
Ryan Miller, on guitar and vocals, kept the crowd engaged with witty commentary. He explained to the enthusiastic audience, ?We?ve been talking about doing [a Price is Right opening] for two years.?
Originally, Guster wanted to open its set by sitting in the crowd to simulate the game show. Unfortunately, as Miller related, this was not to be. While scoping out an area to run from before the show, he had an encounter with a fan determined to keep her place. Miller, unaware that the concert had assigned seating, took a seat in the crowd prior to the show.
?This lady kept elbowing me and saying ?Dick!? he said between songs. ?[I felt like saying,] ?Listen lady, I?m one-third of the reason you?re here tonight.??
Band members didn?t let the setback deter them. They took positions along the sides of the theatre, ?coming on down? to the stage when their names were called. The members kept the gag going by wearing Price is Right style name tags throughout the show.
Guster was able to maintain a highly spirited atmosphere not only through humor, but with its immense talent. The group shone throughout the concert, especially during crowd-pleasers like ?Fa Fa,? ?X-Ray Eyes,? and ?Center of Attention.?
Brian Rosenworcel, Guster?s percussionist, showed off his incredible bongo playing skills during ?Bury Me.? There was a noticeable rise in audience excitement whenever he let loose his talent.
The band has come a long way since its first show in Rochester. Guster believes that its loyal fans are the reason for its transition to larger venues. But, even in front of the large crowd of fans, Guster was successful keeping a small concert-type feel.
During the concert, the group made a point of humbly thanking the audience.
They kept the stage simple, relying mainly on lights, run by an amazing technical team, to create the mood. ?Barrel of a Gun? for example, used lighting during the verse ?4, 3, 2, 1? which reinforced crowd participation during the song.
The concert opened with an impressive performance from the up-and-coming band Joe, Marc?s Brother, which had an interesting variety of musical influences.
The night, however, belonged to Guster.
The last set was big a surprise for the audience when the band announced that children would help them play. ?Most of the bands, when they come to this theatre, think they?re too big to play with little kids,? Miller said. ?But, not Guster.?
Zach, a young boy invited to play on stage with the band, was amazingly talented on the saxophone and his little brother tried his best playing the trumpet.
Undoubtedly, the exhibition displayed Guster?s ability to stick with its roots and not forget the fans who had stuck with them through the years.
The night?s peak was when Guster played an acoustic version of ?Mona Lisa? as a final encore. This rare treat managed to make the large auditorium seem like an intimate setting, and fans felt like the band was playing for them individually.
It wouldn?t be surprising to hear that next year they?ll be playing in Rochester again for many more loyal fans.
