Screaming fans, constant touring don’t phase the guys in Guster

By BRIAN PALMER

Three guys take the stage to screaming fans. They shyly pick up their guitars and get… Three guys take the stage to screaming fans. They shyly pick up their guitars and get behind their bongos and return a nice thank you to the fans by blasting right into the first song.

With energy and emotion, Guster moves from song to song without losing speed and with no signs of slowing down. Even while being on the road constantly, they don’t show signs of getting sick of playing live.

With the release of their fourth album last year, Guster brings their folk-rock jam sound to the ‘burgh again, this time to Club Laga on Tuesday, Feb. 24. The last time they were in town was last summer for “The Big Shindig,” a show they co-headlined with Maroon 5 and a slew of other artists who took the stage throughout that day.

Guster has had a cult following since their debut in 1994. Take a poll of college students at different universities across the nation, and you will find a small grouping of Guster faithfuls at almost every school. But recently the word has gotten out about them.

Their first single, “Amsterdam,” off of their latest album Keep It Together, received some airplay on MTV and even more on MTV2. But don’t worry cult followers; they haven’t hit TRL, teenybopper craze status, thank goodness. But the airplay helps bring in serious fans who may have been in the dark prior to seeing them on television.

If you are a faithful Guster fan from way back, but haven’t seen them live since the release of Keep It Together, you should be warned. When they play their newest songs, drummer Brian Rosenworcel, leaves his drum set for a seat behind some bongos. Quite possibly a career move, considering that hammering away on bongos and cymbals with his hands all the time could leave him somewhat bruised at the end of the day.

Or maybe it’s a way for him to take a break from all the excitement that’s flying off the stage. Either way, make sure you take your dancing shoes and a friend. And if you’re Guster savvy, you already have your Ping-Pong ball packed away, ready to throw it on stage at the end of “Airport Song.”

Guster will perform an all-ages show at Club Laga Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $22 at the door. For more information, call (412) 682-2050.