The Lowell Summer Music Series is an outdoor – weather permitting – venue, and local favorites Guster wanted this show to be outdoors. Their wish was granted due to wise weather-watching by the people who run the Series. What started off as a terrible afternoon ended up as a perfect evening under the stars.

Guster

This was my first time seeing Guster, despite the band’s numerous shows in the Boston area over the years they have been together.

Fresh off a four-month hiatus (two members expanded their families during that time), the came to the stage ready to show the audience a good time.

Ryan Miller

I did not realize I knew any songs that Guster did, but discovered that I knew six or seven songs fairly well and was able to at least mouth the words to them! “Satellite”, “Amsterdam”, “Barrel of a Gun”, and “One Man Wrecking Machine” are four of those songs.

Guster

The permanent members of the band are Ryan Miller on guitar and most lead vocals, Adam Gardner on guitar and vocals, Brian Rosenworcel on percussion and vocals, and Luke Reynolds on bass and vocals. They had a guest drummer at this show whose name I did not hear (apologies for that). Mentioning their instruments is somewhat misleading because they all switched instruments throughout the show; I am always impressed by the kind of versatility they displayed.

Ryan Miller

Adam Gardner

Brian Rosenworcel

Luke Reynolds

Guest drummer

Early in the show, Ryan came out into the audience, sat among the crowd and sang while the rest of the band remained on stage.

Ryan Miller in the audience

As a rock band, they were surprised and amused at the fact that people were sitting comfortably in chairs in front of the stage (there were many people standing and moving on both sides of the center section). To memorialize that occasion, for the first song of the encore they grabbed four chairs, sat on the stage and made up a fantastic, funny song which contained at least five verses. Unfortunately I did not find a video online for your listening pleasure.

Guster doing the Chair Song

Opening the show was Marco Benevento; I have wanted to see him for quite a while, and loved his set. Slightly outrageous in dress, he refers to his genre as piano rock which fits but he is more than that.

Marco Benevento

His trio this night consisted of Andy Borger on drums and Karina Rykman on bass. Karina is apparently not Marco’s usual bassist, but I could not tell from the terrific way she performed with him.

Marco Benevento

Karina Rykman

Marco Benevento, Andy Borger, Karina Rykman

At one point when Marco climbed onto the piano and was preparing to leap (a shot I did not capture), he turned toward my side of the crowd and appeared to flip us ‘the bird’. I believe he was about the snap his fingers, but you decide for yourself…

Marco Benevento

This was a fun show with a respectful and enthusiastic audience. I hope both bands had as much fun as I did!