| Are you happy in Buffalo or would you welcome a move? I understand that you are not hockey Ryan Miller but would like you to answer these regardless. | Buffalo is a fantastic town and has been great to me as a new goalie in the sport of hockey in which i excel. my nuts smell. |
| What was the experience like starting in net for the USA in the Olympics? | I was in the olympics? FUCK YEAH!!! I AM AWESOME. |
| Why is the trippy live version of 'Airport Song' so awesome? | Because brian stops being a pussy and bleeds out of his hands like jesus the kids want. |
| Will you collaborate with Folds live on this tour? I remember seeing you play All The Way Up To Heaven with him at Wolf Trap before and it was awesome despite Brian complaining about the necessary drum loop machine. | Man, if we don't play music with folds this summer something is super fucked up. it's gotta happen. |
| I love getting even, would you consider playing it on the tour? | No way. i mean, mostly likely no way. heh. |
| What is your favorite Guster song of all time? | The back half of "come downstairs" still gets me. really proud of "that's no way to get to heaven" and "stay with me jesus' too. "satellite" holds up for me. |
| I have tickets for you show in Philly in July. Will you please yell "EVAN, SHUT THE DOOR!" at some point? I have nothing to give you in return, but I can promise I will look at those attending with me with a very shocked expression on my face. | I such a shit memory but i love this idea. you gotta remind me or something. |
| As a long time fan, I was extremely disappointed that I was not able to get a show during the 10 Year Lost and Gone Forever tour. Any chance of releasing a live DVD? | We taped two shows- boston and dc for an eventual release. the show that was captured the best on video (boston i think?) we sort of tanked on performing. we did get great audio for one of the shows so we are working on putting those 2 performances together. i have no idea why it's taking so long. we suck. |
| PS - Thank you for coming to Fargo! | That said- it will get done! that was a super fun tour! |
| What influenced your descision to use bongos, congas, djembe, hand snares and cymbals instead of a more traditional drumset? | Honestly, brian brought a pair of congas to college and we had acoustic guitars. we were freshman and didn't have room for a drumset. plus he didn't even know how to use sticks. |
| TL;DR: we were dumb. |
| I was a Guster campus rep back in 1995. I don't think I ever sent you the money for the 10 discs I sold. I guess that means I stole from you. Please accept my apologies. I was young and an idiot. I have since purchased all of your albums and have seen you in concert a number of times. Will you forgive me? | I want my $2 $100. or buy me a beer the next time you see me. i look like gene wilder. you'll see. |
| So, do you have any other movie scores in the works? Also, any collaborations with Mark Duplass/Duplass brothers specifically? | I love being a film composer. i'm working on my 6th film as we speak. i have 2 films coming out this summer... one is called "kings of summer" and i'm super proud of my work in that. great film too. another one was written/directed by lake bell called "in a world". also awesome. |
| Just want to say you guys are awesome! I've seen you at least 15 times (including driving to Portland from Boston for Guster on Ice) - I'm sad to be missing you this summer in Boston but I'm due to give birth the day before! Any baby name suggestions?? (boy or girl - we don't know!) | I'm partial to Skillet. |
| For such a "redditor" you have an extremely low karma score...care to explain? | If you click on my name you can see my posts, right? FUCKING NOTHING. i gave up early trying to get any karma stuff because it never worked. as far as comment karma the top/best almost always says it bettefunniesmarter that i could. that's why it works. |
| How do you think you have managed to gain such a loyal and quite large fanbase despite not being a 'mainstream radio' type of band? Word of mouth? Extensive touring? Etc? | I don't really know how to answer the question (and it's all relative, remember) but we put a lot of care into our songs and albums and really haven't phoned in a live performance in a long time. we have put our heads down and tried to do work we are proud of and that has mostly been the case, especially in the past 10-12 years... |
| Longtime fan. Have met you guys 3 times, your music has gotten me through many a rough time. What's your best/worst fangirl experience? | We had a stalker once who legitimately scared the shit out of us. he even wound up backstage at our first conan performance. of course, now he's one of my friends. so that happened. guster rules. |
| Which album of yours would you consider to be your favorite, and why? | I'm super partial to our last 3 records (keep it together, ganging up on the sun and easy wonderful). i also understand why people like l&gf a lot too. |
| which album by anyone would you consider to have the largest influence on your music? | Satellite has had a lot to do with people discovering the band. i'm still proud of that one... |
| what are your (not Gardner's) feelings on "Happy Frappy?" | Ugh. |
| Was the decision to put the meow songs on Kazaa about 10 years ago made by the band or the record label? Do you now think it was a shortsighted way to deal with file sharing or that it may have hurt your band's reputation with people who were just discovering your music? | I thought (and think) that shit is hilarious. c'mon! i am 1000% believer in our music being free and may have been involved with the first leaks of most of our records. that said, i am evangelical about subscription services (rdio esp) and that is the way forward. absolutely. |
| I saw you in Denver with the symphony. It brought me to tears several times... except for backyard ;) | Backyard hater! |
| My question is this, is Denver featured on the live CD? If so which songs. | I loved that denver show. i don't think we recorded it because of union stuff? i could be wrong though. i will play with symphonies every single day. what joy. |
| question, what can I bring you in Berkeley when you play with Dispatch? Special treats? Custom t-shirt? You name it. | Berkeley eh? i always need socks. just saying. |
| What's your favorite song of the past year or so? Favorite album? Also, can you put the Window video on YouTube? Thanks! | I'm still flipping out on the new foxygen record. instant classic for me. the rest of the guys too, i think. that window video is hilarious. i became really good friends with the director, renny maslow, in the past few years. i should ask him where that thing is. |
| Link to i.imgur.com. Ryan, what's the deal with the plants? This picture is from an acoustic show you did in PA a year or two ago. I just want to say thanks for keeping music fun and not being a dick. When people requested songs that you hadn't played in forever (I think 2 Points for Honesty was one) you warned us that it'd be bad but played it anyway. That's what makes you guys awesome! Thanks for making great music, keep it up. Also, does Luke know that he looks like he's jerking off his guitar when he uses the whammy bar? It must be intentional. What a slut. | I love plants luke loves jerking off. |
| How often do you get mistaken for Ryan Miller the goalie of the Buffalo Sabres and US National Team? | That dude CRUSHES me on google. so bummed. fucking athletes have been kicking my ass since 6th grade. |
| Guster seems to tour frequently, but not extensively (many cities and dates). What goes into your decisions to book dates and what frequently keeps you from certain markets? | For the most part, we go to where the people are. routing (ie getting from a to b to c) and room availability play a large part as well. |
| We are also all parents now and spending 8 months a year in a bus is not conducive to happy wives or children. the new rule is to "tour smart" meaning that we like to have really compact, cost-effective tours... |
| I saw you guys at a show a few years ago and you came out during the second act's set to feed everyone in the front row pudding. My question is twofold and obvious: Why is "Barrel of a Gun" your best song ever, and why was I unable to get pudding? | Gun = penis that's why. the pudding was expired and we care about you more than everyone else. |
| I saw you in Connecticut 8/3/11, when you sang from the moat in front of the stage, and added the word "milkshake" to Manifest Destiny about 30 times. You're awesome. And coming around the back of the audience to sing Jesus on the Radio was amazing. Just wanted to ask, how does it feel seeing your audience full of people from 5-60, not just people's parents and kids, but fans who've been listening to you since you started and they were 30 or 3, or who have just started listening now at 3, 30 or 50? You guys are timeless. | FLOORED by this. we've taken our share of knocks (and continue to do so) but so honored to still be able to play music for people to give a shit, regardless of age. true story. |
| Why has Adam been singing a lot less lead and doing a lot less writing for Guster over the years? | I think i just started writing more of the melodies and then it often it sounded weird if he sung them as they weren't really part of his dna, you know? adam is a great singer and it's part of our sound to have his voice on the records even if it's in the harmony parts... |
| How did the song "Jesus on the Radio" come about? Any story behind it? | Joe pisapia and i wrote that one of the first times we hung out. we wrote it on his organ in nashville. that was a fun one. |
| When can we expect another fantastic album? | Fantastic, not sure. an album this year though probably? we have 8-10 songs that are really really fucken good. hope to play a few out this summer and record a bunch in the fall. feeling good. |
| Ever get your money back when your land lord bounced with your cash? | YES!!! i fucking found that dude after 2 years! he was on a drug/alcohol binge and stole my shit but then i fucking called the dude and he sent me my $1,000. crazy!!! |
| How did you and Jeff Garlin first get together, and then the idea of doing a comedy and accoustic show come about? | Met jeff on the rufus wainwright/ben folds tour. we were (are) MASSIVE curb your enthusiasm fans and our tour manager brought him backstage. we all jumped on him like puppies and were great friends every since. we had talked for years about touring together and the acoustic format seemed to be a good way to try it out. it was a blast with the exception of the first 2 shows (chicago and minneapolis). (our fault, not theirs btw...) |
| I heard somewhere you once wanted to be a Reform Rabbi. How did that whole thing influence your songwriting/general gusterness? | I wanted to be a rabbi but then decided i didn't believe in god. that sort of stymied the whole deal. |
| Another question: Will there ever be another Pasty Tape? | For sure. we love those things. |
| Hey! Nice to get the opportunity to ask you questions! What is your favorite song that you've written and why? Also, what is the coolest moment you've experienced as a musician? Thanks!! | I think i answered the song question already. |
| Meeting my heroes has been cool. i shook bob dylan's hand. paul rudd told me he loved our harmonies. ke$ha and i shared a hot dog. (not a euphemism. a hot dog.) |
| You've exposed me to some great music, not only Guster, but also by your opening acts. Who's been your favorite group to tour with? | That ben folds/rufus wainwright tour was super fun mostly because we all played together every night. that shit is a blast. i really like nate from the format/fun a bunch. that dude's the real thing. so many other. shit! |
| Could we expect a Gustefun. Tour in the next few years? That would make my year! | Love those dudes. they only play stadiums now. |
| Thanks for doing an AMA, guys! I've been fans of you guys ever since FaFa first came out. I went to a concert of yours a few years ago and was astounded when I saw Brian play a whole set with his hands. Your songs can get pretty intense. My question is, how are Brian's hands feeling after a gig? | Better now that he mixes it up with drum kit. all bongos all the time was not sustainable. blood in his piss and stuff. NSFL. |
| I loved when you did the Guster Scavenger Hunts for tickets and meet and greets before shows. Any chance they return?? | I love doing this. for sure some version will go down this summer. |
| Hey huge fan. A few questions answer what you will. What is your favorite part of touring? Your least favorite? Do you get bored playing some of the same songs over and over again? Are there some that you hate? Do you feel fulfilled being in a band? Do you miss having a conventional desk job? Anything else you want to do career wise? Why does texas suck so much? | Lightning round! 1). seeing shit. missing my kids. 2) yes. yes. 3) yes mostly. no. score more films. 4) only houston sucks. just kidding! |
| Can we expect any collaboration with Ben Folds Five on the tour this summer? Because teenage (and current) me would lose his shit. | Answered above but this better fucken happen. ask folds. |
| I obviously love y'all, and am going to my 50th Guster concert this in June (Mansfield). Anyhow, wondering if you could say a few words about why you think you guys have such incredible staying power? Over the years I've watched your popularity rise and remain consistent, even grow. What do you attribute that to? | I said this above but i'm honored and floored that people give a shit. we take a lot of time to make sure our songs are good. maybe that works/worked. i dunno! |
| I've been to over a dozen of your shows (Boston, R.I., St. Louis, Mizzou, Detroit, LA, etc etc). At some of your shows it seems like everybody knows the "insider" stuff, but at others, especially the LA shows, it seems like I'm the only one there with a pocket full of ping-pong balls. Does audience participation, or lack thereof, affect how you feel about a show or the audience? Are you disappointed or relieved when a hail of ping pong balls doesn't erupt out of the crowd? | The ping pong ball thing doesn't bother me. i like it when people are into the songs though. music, man! |
| What three songs do you guys like performing the most? Are there any songs that you hate to play but the other guys love playing and vice versa? | I think luke hates "diane" but i'm not sure. i love that one. |
| Any chance of seeing you guys on a cruise again soon? | Apparently, cruises are the worst things for the earth ever and that makes us hypocrites because of adam's/guster's enviro bonafides. i wish the cruising industry would get their shit together because those things are a BLAST. |
| Guster rocks my face off. What was your inspiration/POV when writing "the Captain"? (see you on my Bday with Benny F in DC!) | Not really sure. i do like that line "face forward / move slow / forge ahead" though. i just quoted myself DEAL WITH IT. |
| What are your thoughts on Michael Landon and his fishing abilities? Has Adam gotten over the fact that such a magnificent piece of art was torn from his life? If not, tell him I'm sorry. | WE DO NOT FORGIVE. WE DO NOT FORGET. |
| (truth be told, if we had kept that thing there would've been a fistfight to see who kept it...) |
| The first song I ever truly loved from Guster was "Love For Me" but yet I've never heard you play it live. Why? It's a great song. | That song sucks sorry |
| Are you aware that at the beginning of "Satellite (Astronauts Mix)" the rhythm sounds like "Top, in my muffin top, in my muffin top?" If so, was this intentional? EDIT: Spelling. | I can only say this: putting "muffin top" in a song is a work of genius. |
| What was the inspiration for "Ruby Falls"? To this day it is still my favorite Guster song. | Brian rosenworcel wrote those lyrics! i think he went there and then saw it as a metaphor for hell or something. |
| HUGE Guster fan here. What's your favorite venue in Boston to play in? And which live performance has stood out the most as the most entertaining/important/emotional that you guys have played? | The paradise (it's not even there anymore, is it?) were huge shows for us. maybe it wouldn't be fun to play there again but those were big ones for us. new house of blues is pretty fun. that tent on the water too. |
| EDIT: 1 more question: How different is it having Luke Reynolds instead of Joe Pisapia in the band right now? | Luke vs joe is amazingly similar in some ways and completely different in other. they are two of the best dudes i know in the world. |
| Does playing certain songs get old? Are there any from way back that you will never get tired of? | If i never play "demons" again i'd be a happy man. but i get that people like that song so i think about laundry or something. |
| P.S. L&GF is a top-3 reason that my wife and I are married. True story. | Certain songs have held up for me: hang on, satellite, come downstairs, lightening rod... |
| I was at your show in Bloomington, IN when you landed in Bloomington, IL. I have to ask - who booked that flight? | Sadly, i did. i am not so smart. |
| Want to listen to my demo? j/k. Did you really date Miss Oklahoma? | I wish. i did date the homecoming queen though. she broke my heart but we're friends now so thanks for asking. |
| show was Cleveland about 6 years ago. The encore was "Ruby Falls" and it BLEW me away. ANy chance of that one making it back onto the set list? | That one is a keeper. it'll come back. |
| Out of both curiosity and being on the lookout for new subreddits, what are some interesting subs with good content that are you subscribed to and would recommend? | Oddly, i'm more of a front page guy but i'm over cats. i never really dug in and just did subs. i know i'm dumb. |
| You guys were my first live show, my all time favorite band, and thank you for doing this AMA! i still watch the clip from your show with State Radio, Ben Kweller, and yourselves and would love to see that again. Will Trippin Balls be making a come back with Guster any time soon? | The 'Balls could come out of retirement at any time. only they know. |
| I'm sure every artist has a least favorite pieces they've done, do you have a least favorite song you've released? If there aren't any least favorites, are there any songs you would change and rerecord? | Parachute? although i was 19 so what the fuck did i know. |
| "bury me" could be improved i'm pretty sure. |
| Love Guster and I can't tell you how stoked I am for the show with Ben Folds Five in Seattle (Auburn)!! My question: Why haven't you taught Brian how to sing yet? | That would ruin the joy. |
| I have a personal theory that the song “What You Call Love” is at least vaguely related to the 2010 Nashville Flood. A lot of the lines (including, obviously “after the flood raged”) seem to reflect the disaster and the response to it. | Can't really look back on parachute. too far. |
| Brian makes the set list. we have lots of songs. |
| I know you joke about the Open for Guster; Win a Grammy phenomenon, but why do you think Guster was never able to completely break out of "Indie" status? Was it partly a (unintentional?) resistance on the band's part to "selling out" in your earlier years? | I think because our first records weren't the best. people got first exposure to those and never opened their mind to our better later records (kit, ganging, ew). or maybe because we are poop. not sure. we never resisted it though. i mean, we didn't add dancers or autotune but have always wanted people to hear our music as long as it was on our terms... |
| A 23 year old who has never listened to one of you're song. What song do you suggest? | "satellite" is a gateway drug i can stand behind. |
| You guys are my favorite band and I have been listening to your albums pretty much every day for the past 8 years. What made you guys start having Brian sing at the end of the concerts? and how do you decide on what songs to have him sing? | Brian is the worst singer of all time and having him sing our least favorite songs of all time just seems like too good of an idea to pass up. |
| Confession: I was a huge fan in the early/mid 2000s, but haven't been following much lately (shame on me). Regardless, thank you for your music! Did you intend for "Jesus On The Radio" to make a grown man cry every time it is heard, even 10 years after releasing it? Or am I just a wuss? | Yes and yes. |
| Did you know that in your astronaut remix of Satellite the voice at the beginning sounds like it's saying, "With my muffin top, with my muffin top" repeatedly? I sing every time I here the song, so now all of my friends hate me. | You're the second person to mention this. fucken awesome. |
| I saw you guys at Cornell in 2004 and Boston in 2007 (both awesome). Now I live in Somerville. I imagine you guys probably hung out at some of the same places as I do now, but 20 years ago. What are some great live shows you saw when you were living at Tufts? | Brian saw uncle tupelo at johnny d's. i think that place is gone though. |
| Fuckin' love Center of Attention. Seriously. What the one song you hate that the rest of the band dudes love? I'm talkin major eyeroll when you see it on the set list. | Demons sorry fafa sometimes. |
| Which of your videos was the most fun to make, and why? | We made a video for new underground that no one has seen. we got buried in dirt and there were dancing skeletons. brian hated it so much he vetoed it. there is a movement afoot to post it. it's fucked up. |
| Do you guys miss Scooter at all? What's he up to these days? | I'm hanging out with scooter tomorrow! he plays drums in a bunch of bands out of san francisco. |
| This is one. shit. know there's more... Link to www.kellymcfarling.com |
| I was at the Denver show where you performed with the Colorado Symphony. By far one of my favorite Guster experiences! Any plans to release the recording as a live album? | I think i answered this already. but i care about you, nuts. |
| Where do you think the band is going to be a year from now? 5/10 years? (love you guys, I've been listening to your songs for years and I'm so excited for this AMA!) | Shit. no idea. one record at a time is our motto. i'm 40. |
| If Guster, Ben Folds Five, and Barenaked Ladies got into a "Battle of the Bands" type of struggle, which band would win and why? Also which band would win in an actual fight? | Tyler stewart has a gigantic head. like, physically massive. |
| You've done the novel thing with the cruise with BNL...so will you do something else novel and come to Alaska? PLEASE? | MAKE IT SO. |
| Are there going to be any new albums in the future? Are there any in the making? I love you guys! Have seen you 4-5 times. I fell in love with ya'll after hearing "Fa Fa" for the first time when I was in college! | You bet your hot dog berger ass |
| I am really excited that you guys are coming back to Summerfest this year. I went to your concert there in 2006, 2007, 2009, & 2010. What is the most memorable thing that has been thrown on stage during Airport Song? | There's been some pretty subversive poetry on the ping pong balls. i wish we kept the good ones. idiots. |
| of all, thanks for doing this AMA! You guys were the first concert I've ever been to. You played at the Cleveland House of Blues back a few years and played the 10 Year "Lost and Gone Forever". It rocked, and you guys were great live! | Love red rocks. the greek theaters in sf and la. gorge. stubb's in austin. |
| What have been some of your favorite venues to perform at? Will you be coming back to Cleveland anytime soon? | Cleveland? i dunno. i feel like we are in ohio all the time. |
| Hey! What made you guys decide to the live "Guster On Ice" in Portland, Maine? Don't get me wrong, it was amazing and a huge boost for our small city, but it doesn't happen often and I'd love to know why. | State theater. portland fans. |
| Long time fan - love what your music does to my soul. Can I buy you guys a round when you come to Summerfest? | A round from the root beer lady. i love her. |
| Do you have more fun touring now or back when you were less known, smaller venues, etc? | Good question. i think i appreciate it more now. bigger often does equal better for rock shows too. at least for me... |
| I just caught the episode of Guster on Live at Darrell Hall's House a few weeks ago. That shit made me smile from some of my concert memories and feel really freaking old at the same time. My gf at the time (now wife) took my little sister and her friend to their first concert, a Guster show at the Riv in Chicago. They were 14 at the time, they're drinking age now (I guess 8 or 9 years isn't that long ago, but the gf and I had been listening and going to shows since the late 90's early 00's) Thanks for the great music throughout the years. What was it like playing with Darrell Hall? | That dude is solid gold. so giving and cool and the band too. i can't bring myself to watch it though. glad you didn't hate it! |
| Can you play a show with the following... Wilco, Delta Spirit, Dr. Dog, Brandi Carlile, The Shins, City & Colour, Avett Brothers, and Fleet Foxes? Call it something like, "The Best Event in History - Live at the Thunderdome"? | I love all but one of those bands! |
| What inspired the meowstro's sings and are you planning any fantastic surprises for red rocks? | We had a dude in the bus who was a great cat-singer. true story. |
| We will cover a u2 record of your choice at red rocks this summer. |
| Did you guys doing anything wacky while you were filming the Amsterdam music video? Also, one of your songs got my buddy laid on spring break. Thank god for readily available acoustic guitars. | I think brian was in the blow up cowboy suit getting laid is awesome way to go |
| Hi Ryan, huge fan. I've seen you guys 6 times in the past 10 years; thanks for the college memories! My question is: What song is closest to you emotionally? Why? | There's a lot of relationship shit on kit that was pretty raw. |
| Did MTV lock down all those Violent Femmes covers you guys did forever ago? Those were quality covers that i don't have nearly enough of in audio form. | I know, right? what fucken happened to those things? i remember it being good but maybe they weren't that good? shit! |
| Any plans to do more composing for films, I really dig the Safety Not Guaranteed stuff? Also thanks for being pretty much an annual show at Summerfest and Milwaukee in general, I've seen you guys 3 times now and the shows were all awesome. | Thanks dude. i do it all the time. check it: Link to www.imdb.com |
| Saw you guys in St. Louis last year at the Sheldon Theater and it was glorious. 100% worth the 8 hour drive and one of the best shows I've ever seen so thanks a ton for it. I just wanted to ask...what ever happened to the gigantic Michael Landon holding a squid illustration? | THE FUCKING GUY TOOK IT BACK never forgive never forget. |
