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When a band works entirely on its own, and on a shoestring budget, any accomplishment is a major one. But every once in a while a band comes along that surpasses expectations, one-ups industry norms and manages to excel on their own terms. That band is Guster.
Named 'Best Live Act' at the Boston Music Awards in 1997, Guster has been hailed by the Boston Globe for its "fury of intense blistering guitars, percolating bongos and impeccable vocal harmonies. With the instrumentation of two acoustic guitars and a set of bongos and congas, Guster has earned the luxury of defying the usual industry pigeonholing."
Taking that experimental attitude to the next level, Guster imported the talent of Steve Lindsey (Leonard Cohen, Peter Gabriel) to produce their latest effort, entitled Goldfly. With Ryan Miller and Adam Gardner sharing both vocal and guitar duties, and Brian Rosenworcel providing the back beat on percussion, Goldfly has honed "The Guster sound." Combining previously unreleased favorites with new numbers, the record runs the gamut from the complex vocal harmonies on "Demons" to the intricate string arrangements on 'Medicine' to the driving bass and bizarre lyrics of 'Airport Song'. Evocative melody and compact grooves abound on tracks like 'X-Ray Eyes' and 'Rocket Ship,' while the band showcases straight-up rock sounds in 'Great Escape.'
Originally released in March 1997 via independent distribution, Goldfly has already sold nearly 20,000 copies through traditional and non-traditional means. It was most recently named "Independent Record of the Year" at the Boston Music Awards in 1998.
The trio met in 1992 at their alma mater, Tufts University, and played around Boston throughout college. In 1994, they recruited award-winning Boston producer Mike Deneen (Letters to Cleo, Jennifer Trynin, Aimee Mann) for their debut album, Parachute, which was named "Best Local Debut Album" in 1995 by the Boston Globe. Guster also received nominations for "Outstanding New Local Rock Act" by the Boston Music Awards, and "Best Local Acoustic Act" by the Boston Phoenix WFNX Best Music Poll. The band was also featured on the 1995 AWARE 3 Compilation.
Guster continued touring relentlessly, taking their formula for success across the country to sold-out crowds from Boston to Atlanta to Chicago. These die-hard fans have snatched up over 25,000 copies of Parachute, set up an internet discussion group dedicated to the band, and actively traded live show tapes. The sheer number of listeners is due in part to their innovative "Rep Program," a roots level word-of-mouth marketing campaign. Guster Reps volunteer their services by distributing flyers, visiting retail stores, and generally spreading the word.
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