Win Tickets ($64): Guster @ Revolution Hall | Alternative Rock, w/ Ratboys

We are giving away a pair of tickets to Guster @ Revolution Hall on November 8. To win, comment below on this post why you’d like to attend. Winner will be drawn and emailed October 31.



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From our sponsors:
Guster
November 8, 2022
Doors 6PM, Show 7PM | $32 | 21+
More info: event.etix.com

Revolution Hall
1300 SE Stark St., Portland, OR

Look Alive is our 8th album. The bulk of it was recorded in a vintage keyboard museum in Calgary AB, during a January stretch when the temperature reached 30 degrees below zero. We ended up in Canada because our British producer, Leo Abrahams, couldn’t turn around an American work visa fast enough, and we feel lucky to have discovered Studio Bell at the last minute. Despite having access to room after room of well-maintained analog keys, Leo gravitated to a cheap Ensoniq Mirage synth from the 1980’s that made Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation-era sounds from floppy disks. Leo spent countless hours poring over these floppy disks while the band gawked at the mellotrons, harpsichords, and other vintage equipment housed at Studio Bell. It was the beginnings of a stylistic clash that would ultimately play out beautifully. Our band had always gravitated to “warm” sounds. Leo would introduce us to “cold” sounds and the way they challenge us as listeners. He was the perfect complementary piece for Guster.

After working with the late Richard Swift four years ago and discovering a more raw and vintage sound on Evermotion, we fully embraced studio production with Leo this time around. The sheer amount of production on Look Alive grew into its own statement. There is a lot to unpack.

One day in Calgary we arrived at the studio to discover that Leo had put in a few extra hours on our song “Summertime.” He’d built an entire new intro using the Ensoniq Mirage overnight and played it for us. The band reaction wasn’t too kind. Our beautiful song now had a jarring, harsh, disruptive introduction, instead of the soft mellotron flutes we’d known. After some days of light bickering about it, Leo finally shed his proper British diplomatic side and belted out that “the world doesn’t need another fucking Beatles pastiche!” This would eventually become a rallying cry for the album as we strove to make something new and powerful together.

Title track “Look Alive” is an ominous, processed sonic collage with haunting words about waking up and becoming active in the midst of hollow words and fake heroes. “Hard Times,” written in the studio, came out more like the dark pop of Peter Gabriel / Depeche Mode / Tears for Fears than what people might think of Guster. “Overexcited” felt like classic Brit-pop and so Ryan sang it with a British accent over an Ensoniq marimba. Some of Guster’s critics will say “but you can’t do that” — and that’s something we’ve heard our entire career. We don’t subscribe to the same musical ideology they do and never have.

Writing songs for the second straight record with multi-instrumentalist Luke Reynolds (who joined the band in 2010) has been a key to our evolution. Working with artists like Leo Abrahams, John Congleton, and Collin DuPuis proved to be inspiring and adds to a “brain trust” that bolsters the songs. With Look Alive the plan is simple. Grow our musical community. Write better and better songs. Keep our minds open. Never repeat ourselves and create a legacy of music that is undeniable.

– Brian Rosenworcel, drummer of Guster

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18 Comments

  1. Gus Kent on October 17, 2022 at 4:01 pm

    Since my name is Gus, and Guster is oe of my nicknames, how can I not love this band! Would love to see them!!

  2. Olivia Acaster on October 17, 2022 at 11:09 pm

    Blast from the past! Would love tickets!

    • Shannon Echavarria on November 3, 2022 at 10:55 pm

      They’re amazing and one of the few bands I haven’t seen live.

  3. Jason on October 18, 2022 at 12:35 pm

    Have loved them ever since finding a $1 copy of their debut way back when. Would love to see them live!

  4. Cory on October 18, 2022 at 12:40 pm

    Make me a hero

  5. Katie H on October 18, 2022 at 12:53 pm

    Guster is literally my favorite band of all time, I would LOVE to see them live!

  6. Mia on October 18, 2022 at 12:55 pm

    Pick me!

  7. Al on October 18, 2022 at 1:26 pm

    I’m downfor some Guster.

  8. Danny Sachs on October 18, 2022 at 1:44 pm

    Mom’s going to be in town and that’s her favorite band! would love to take her 🙂

  9. David on October 18, 2022 at 7:04 pm

    Forget all the bluster…and send me to Guster! (Please!)

  10. Erica G. on October 20, 2022 at 8:23 pm

    Please pick me! Guster was my first-ever concert, and I would love to take my son with me to experience his first ever concert!

  11. Katelyn on October 21, 2022 at 9:49 pm

    Loved Guster when I was in college! I would love to see them again.

  12. Celeste on October 22, 2022 at 4:06 pm

    Loved this band so much I made a remake of their music video satalite back in high school. Would love to see them live ❤️

  13. Glenn on October 23, 2022 at 7:14 pm

    Guster is touring! Yes please!!!

  14. Hunter M on October 24, 2022 at 2:25 am

    Two of the best bands at one of the best venues!

  15. RK on October 25, 2022 at 6:39 pm

    My body craves buttery goodness – Burton Guster, Pharmaceutical Rep/Detective

  16. Carter on October 26, 2022 at 5:48 am

    Guster is for Lovers

  17. Bob on October 27, 2022 at 1:11 pm

    Last time I saw these guys was 2005 in college. I want to relive the glory days!

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