Do you read press about Guster?
Yes, I’m an “Internet nerd.” I’m always searching for new music or funny things on the web. I read a lot of critiques and not just about our band. It’s weird that I can take critics’ word on other bands, but it’s harder to do when it’s our band. With the release of this album, Ganging Up On the Sun, we do feel a little vindicated by the positive reviews we have received.
How was the recent Jay Leno experience?
It was very cool. We’ll also be going on Conan with the pops orchestra. We’re ecstatic about that.
Where you nervous before appearing on Leno?
A little nervous. You can’t B.S. your way through a live television appearance. If you make a mistake during a concert, you can play it off and work off of that. With television, you’ve got one shot to get it right.
What is the sound quality like on the television shows?
It happens so fast, maybe in three, three-and-a-half minutes, and it’s over before you even realize it. We are on the set the entire day, rehearsing and getting prepared, then it’s over so quickly. But, overall, the sound quality is okay.
What’s your favorite show to perform on?
Leno has been great to us. He’s been very supportive. Conan is very cool. He is very approachable. He’ll even come down and play guitar with us. He’s great, fantastic. He’s the real deal.
How did you guys feel when Ray LaMontagne announced he was leaving the tour?
It was a bummer, but I understand why he made the decision. For Ray to get gratification from performing, he needs to feel comfortable in the environment, with the stage arranged in a certain way. That’s hard to achieve when you’re opening up for a band. Also, our fan bases are a little different. Ray’s music is incredible, but stylistically, it is not as fun as ours. His music is darker and filled with more melancholy. Some of our fans were not as receptive to Ray’s music. We are disappointed that it didn’t work out, but we are very appreciative that we had two months to tour with him.
Was that the reason three shows were cancelled?
That was part of the reason. The other part is that we typically book venues very conservatively. This tour, we decided to go for it. Booking four shows in Ohio may have been a little overzealous. That’s what I was talking about earlier with the inconsistency.
Article comments
1 - DJRadiohead
MD, it's great to see another member of the BC Cult of Guster (me and Saleski being two of the others- we should get t-shirts).
Great interview. I am thrilled to hear there will be another run of dates in the fall. I need to see them again. They were fabulous in Birmingham.
2 - M.D. Sandwasher
DJ Radiohead,
Thanks for the great compliments. I’m very appreciative.
I thank I owe you a great deal of gratitude for securing the interview. When Ryan and I first started the interview, he asked me if I was the person from BC writing all those nice things about the band. I said, “No, that would be DJ Radiohead.” That led to a long discussion about BC and bloggers in general. Ryan even went on to say, and I’m paraphrasing, that he often trusts and respects bloggers work more than the traditional press, citing that our work is often more insightful and well thought out.
So, if you didn’t write those great Guster articles, I don’t think I would have been granted the interview. Thanks so much!!!
And, I’m all for the T-Shirts. Let’s send a design to the printing press.
3 - DJRadiohead
MD, that's one of the coolest things I have read/heard in a long, long time. My feet might not touch the ground for the rest of the day.
T-shirts are a must now. Well done! And thanks for passing that along. That's just all kinds of cool.
4 - Mark Saleski
md, this comes close to braggin', but you might want to check out the current issue of the magazine "american songwriter". i wrote a feature on Guster.
spoke to both Ryan and Adam...yow, two of the nicest "rock stars" you'd ever want to yak with.
nice interview.
5 - M.D. Sandwasher
D.J. Radiohead-
I was trying to figure out a way to put that into my article, but I couldn’t get it in sync with the flow. Work like yours, Mark Saleski’s, Sussman’s, and others, gives me instant credibility. I just ride on your coattails into the interview room.
Mark-
Thanks for the compliments. I found your article. Due to the log in/subscription difficulties, I had trouble reading the entire article. But, if the last half of the article is anything like the first, my article doesn’t hold a candle to yours. I’m definitely interested in reading your interview with Adam and Ryan.
I agree with your comments about Adam and Ryan. Both are incredibly nice and humble individuals.
6 - Mark Saleski
the web version contains just about all of the intro...the rest was interview.
c'mon, you've gotta give yourself more credit. this really was a fine interview.
7 - M.D. Sandwasher
Mark-
Thanks so much for your compliments. That means a great deal coming from a professional, experienced writer like you. I have a very difficult time rereading my own work though. It gives me the creeps, like hearing your own recorded voice.
8 - M.D. Sandwasher
I wanted to pass on that Guster will be appearing on Conan O'Brien with the Boston Pops. Here's the release from Guster's website (guster.com):
"Put your cassette tapes in your VCRs and program them to record next Thursday night, August 10th, as we'll be making an appearance on the Conan O'Brien Late Into The Night Television Show on NBC along with our old friends, the Boston Pops Symphony Orchestra (or, as many of them as we can fit on stage with us -- probably about 10 of them)."
That's what I call "Must See TV!"