Photo by Justin P. Goodhart

Guster delivered their tour opener last night at Boston’s House of Blues. The hometown show included a sit-in by the Red Sox organist Josh Kantor, who performed the band’s 2003 tune, “Amsterdam,” at Fenway Park during the Saturday afternoon ballgame against the Seattle Mariners. Kantor proceeded to joined the band later that night for a couple of tunes. Additionally, friend of the band, Ben Kweller, sat in during Guster’s “I Hope Tomorrow Is Like Today” encore. 

The band kicked things off with a taste of 2003’s “Careful” and followed with a throwback to 1999 on “Happier.” Next, Guster played a tune of 2019 Look Alive before slowing things down on “Stay With Me Jesus.” 

The single set performance continued with a fantastic take on “One Man Wrecking Machine” ahead of 1999’s “I Spy.” “Manifest Destiny” off 1999’s Ganging Up on the Sun came next. Then, Guster played “Mind Kontrol” and “The New Underground” before a song from 2003’s Keep It Together. 

Next, Guster played “Demons” before Kantor stepped in to assist on “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” followed by “Homecoming King,” which references The Bay State with the lyrics, “The sooner you leave the sooner you’re home/ Back in Massachusetts.” Next, “Gangway” and “Great Escape” were played before a funky take on “Doin’ It By Myself.”

“Ruby Falls” and “Ramona” were performed before the band took on “Satellite” and set-ender, “This Could All Be Yours.” Then, Guster performed “Hard Times” for their first encore before old pal Kweller dropped in to assist the band on “I Hope Tomorrow Is Like Today.” Notably, Kweller was playing with the group when they debuted the song for the first time at New York’s Wetlands in 2001. The tune was recorded and later released on the 2003 LP, Keep It Together. 

The final songs of the evening included “Terrified” and “Barrel of a Gun.” After last night’s epic sit-ins, Guster will continue the fun at the same venue on the second night of their Boston stand tonight. After that, they’ll remain off the road for a few weeks before returning on June 12 for a one-night stand at Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards in Lafayette, N.Y. The gig will include accompaniment by The Wood Brothers. Tickets are still available and can be purchased here. 

Guster 

House of Blues– Boston 

May 21, 2022

Set: Careful, Happier, Don’t Go, Stay With Me Jesus, One Man Wrecking Machine, I Spy, Manifest Destiny, Mind Kontrol, The New Underground, come downstairs and say hello, Demons, Take Me Out to the Ball Game^, Homecoming King^&, Gangway, Great Escape, Doin; It By Myself, Ruby Falls, Ramona, Satellite, This Could All Be Yours 

Enc.: Hard Times, I Hope Tomorrow Is Like Today*, Terrified, Barrel of a Gun 

Notes:

^ with Josh Kantor

& “Funkytown” outro

* with Ben Kweller