Guster & Jukebox and the Ghost

I see, on average, two concerts a month. I love going to shows. I get pretty good indie cred for the shows I see, in general. Exceptions probably include the 80s cock rock bands I see over the summer, like Def Leppard. There is always one band for which I am surprised by the amount of flack I get for seeing them.

Guster is great live. There are the perfect summer band, and if it’s not summer yet they help you imagine it is. When I tell my hipster friends that I’m headed to a Guster show, they smile as if it’s a good thing but I see their jaws clench up. I don’t get it.

One of the things I most love about Guster shows is that their crowds are awesome. There are always tons of college kids there but the crows also include people in their mid-30s. What makes a band keep some segment of their fan-base from the beginning of them playing but then perpetually stay popular with the the same age group? Ben Folds has the same thing going on. Part of the appeal, I think, is the stoner music. But past that? I have no explanations.

Speaking of stoner music… Last weekend we saw Guster play and it was wonderful. The crowd was better than I ever give Bogart’s credit for and Wonder Boy and I were having a great time. Midway through the show we both headed down to the (disgusting) bathrooms. On our way back we were both hit by it at the same time. The giant wall of pot smoke. Throughout the show it must have been gradually building and we never noticed it. But wow. I haven’t experienced that since a Phish show at the coliseum several years back.

Opening for Guster was Jukebox and the Ghost. Wonder Boy and I saw them play at Midpoint a few years back and Wonder Boy fell in love. I wasn’t completely sold. I heard too much Queen and hints of high school musicals in their music. But this time I thought they were fabulous. Near the end of their set they did a cover of I Love You Always Forever by Donna Lewis*. In addition to being a scarily good rendition, it was hysterical. If you haven’t seen Jukebox and the Ghost, I recommend it.

I also recommend Guster. If you’re too caught up in your hipster status, put on some dark sunglasses so your friends don’t spot you going to the dark side, loosen up and enjoy yourself. As far as I’m concerned, last weekend was the marker for the beginning of summer. And I expect Guster to be around during several hot evening and nights when I’m sitting on my porch drinking a cold beer and listening to good music.

*Have you seen this video before? What the heck?!? Why does she have shoes on her hands?!?