Guster’s show at the Agora on January 26, 2025, was a journey through the band’s expansive career, offering fans not just a concert, but a celebration of the various “eras” that have defined their sound through a Broadwayesque show. The band’s unique “We Also Have Eras” tour has been billed as a lighthearted retrospective of their musical evolution, and they certainly delivered on that promise. From their indie roots to their more polished later albums, the night was a masterclass in the art of reinvention and served as a reminder of how much fun the band is.
The concert kicked off with an intriguing concept: Guster wasn’t just going to play their hits. They were going to embody the evolution of their music visually and sonically. This would be a stage show, with skits between songs and different outfits, complete with a costume counter at the side of the stage that may or may not have been accurate. As the band took the stage, a narrator explained that they were in their dorm room at Tufts University (where the band formed). They were dressed in their first “era” costumes — a nod to their early days of scrappy indie rock and catchy hooks. But in reality, they were just regular clothes.
Lead vocalist Ryan Miller sat on a wood bench in the center of the stage with the backdrop of a Tufts dorm room behind him. The bench would be utilized throughout the show, as everything from a couch to a tour van. Then, Guitarist Adam Gardner came out, and the two acted out meeting one another and playing a couple of songs that would go on their debut album, ‘Parachutes.’ Then, percussionist/drummer Brian Rosenworcel came out claiming he knew how to play the bongos, before narrator Dave Butler stopped the show to let everyone know that Brian didn’t actually know how to play them at the time, giving the crowd a good chuckle. And so the night started, with light-hearted humor and great music.
The show’s first segment was heavy on tracks from their early albums, ‘Parachutes‘ and ‘Goldfly.’ These early songs are marked by their breezy, acoustic-driven melodies, and they still hold up. It took a good ten years for Guster to really “break through,” so they spent most of the 90s as an underground act, but they always had loyal fans. “Demons,” one of their most enduring tracks, made an appearance early in the set, followed by “Airport Song,” which had the crowd singing along. The energy was pure, unadulterated early Guster, and the band’s enthusiasm for revisiting their earlier work was palpable.
As the night progressed, the show shifted gears with several costume changes. The band members switched into their second-era outfits, each change representing the different phases of their career. The “lost years,” so to speak, where Guster started to experiment with more polished, full-band arrangements and production values, were reflected in their new attire: paint smocks. The shift in style mirrored their evolution, and with it, their sound transformed as well. During this switch from underground to more mainstream, they lost some fans along the way. They depicted this with a hilarious sketch about finding drumsticks and a bass guitar in the van.
Tracks from albums like “Keep It Together ” and “Ganging Up on the Sun” brought a new level of sophistication to the performance. The use of piano, electric guitars, and more intricate arrangements fleshed out the songs in ways that older versions hadn’t been able to. Of course, this is where they played one of their more well-known songs, “Satellite,” which is still just as catchy as it was 20 years ago. They also played a version of “(Nothing but) Flowers” by the Talking Heads, the bongos really fitting in on that song.
The costume changes didn’t just add a visual element to the show; they signified the band’s evolution in terms of their musical complexity and approach to performance. During each transition, the crowd was treated to a mix of new, deeper tracks and old favorites. It felt like a true exploration of Guster’s journey through sound, offering a fresh perspective on songs that have become ingrained in their live show. But it also added a significant visual element to the show, keeping the audience engaged. What was fun about it was that you didn’t have to know any of the songs to be part of the show. It was for everyone.
For instance, right before the intermission, they sang the “Thunder Song,” which was part song, part monologue about how bands like Maroon Five, Noah Kahan, and John Mayer used to open(!!) for Guster, and now they have Grammys. It was a song about whether they should keep going or just give up, no doubt all part of their identity crisis. It’s not a song they ever recorded, but one for the show. It was so fun to watch, and it really gave one an insight into the band itself. It humanized them and made you want to root for them. It also helps when you realize that the only change to the band in the last 30-plus years was the departure of multi-instrumentalist Joe Pisapia, who was played in the live show by current guitarist Luke Reynolds. Reynolds hilariously just wore a name tag that said ‘Joe,’ until the part in the show where he joins the band and rips off his Joe costume for a costume that says ‘Luke’ on the shirt. Pisapia’s departure was comically depicted because of the luring by a devil puppet, who wanted the band to change their sounds in order to make hits.
By the time the band entered the later stages of their performance, they were decked out in their “modern-day” outfits, complete with high-end, sleek designs that conveyed the band’s current identity, including disco helmets and flashy jackets. With albums like ‘Evermotion‘ and ‘Look Alive,’ Guster’s sound has evolved to include more electronic elements and fuller production, which was apparent in how these songs came to life on stage.
The crowd went wild for “Doin’ It By Myself,” a crowd-pleaser from ‘Evermotion,’ with its danceable beats and contagious energy. Ever the charismatic frontman, Ryan Miller didn’t shy away from engaging with the crowd. He went into the crowd and even up a step out of the pit and to the seats next to the sound booth, the furthest I’ve seen a singer go into the crowd at The Agora. The band’s chemistry and ability as performers were undeniable.
They encored with the another two crowd-pleasers “Happier” and “Amsterdam,” both a bit of a deviation from the theme of linearity, but the crowd certainly did not seem to mind.
Guster’s performance was more than just a concert; it was a heartfelt retrospective of their musical odyssey. By blending storytelling with a setlist spanning decades, they offered fans both old and new a unique and immersive experience. What was special is that it didn’t matter which songs or era you knew, or if you were even familiar with the band at all; the show was so much fun it would win over anyone. As they continue their tour, audiences can look forward to a show that honors the past while embracing the present, all delivered with the authenticity and passion that Guster is known for.
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