The last time Guster played State College it was at the Crowbar. This could beg the question: Can the same band that played at one of the town's most intimate venues pull off a show at one of the biggest venues in the state?
Surprisingly, the members managed to make their sound grow to fill the Bryce Jordan Center last night, dismissing any doubts.
The show opener, Brett Dennen, warmed the audience up and kept them entertained. His unique voice and musical blend of folk and jazz put a refreshing twist on what has become a predictable singer/songwriter genre.
Although Dennen's appearance was reminiscent of The Grateful Dead -- complete with denim shirt, long hair and bandana -- his voice was more so of Janis Joplin.
It can't be denied, that white boy had soul.
Although the BJC was not close to full capacity, the audience erupted when Guster came on stage. The band was energized, trucking through a lot of songs and rarely breaking to banter with the audience. When they finally did, the lead singer commented on how scaled down the BJC was for the concert, but brushed it off saying that they have no problem filling the rest of the venue with their egos.
For a band with a repertoire filled with both slow and upbeat pop songs, they seemed to favor the more upbeat ones, keeping everyone in the audience entertained and tapping their feet. They have a reputation for being a good live act, and between the energy the band exhibited on stage and their musicianship, there was no doubt as to why. They even took a break between songs to freestyle rap about some of the local food establishments in town. (Big props to the singer for not only being able to remember the names of some of the downtown eateries, but for rhyming "smoking pot" with getting breakfast at the "Waffle Shop.")
Regardless of the band's playful interaction with the audience, it was raw talent that made it a good show. Guster's intimate pop melodies and warm vocal harmonies filled the BJC, the sound resonating off the walls. It was a show with big guitar solos, long instrumental breaks and impressive light shows, but the crowd surfing confirmed it -- Guster played a rockin' good show.
