Guster: Lost and Gone Forever... Again
Who: Guster
Where: Orpheum Theatre
When: Saturday night
The Lowdown: Lovable pop-rock quartet Guster returned to its old stomping grounds on Halloween to party like it was 1999. Specifically, the time in 1999 when the band, then a trio, released its splendid major label debut "Lost and Gone Forever."
The first set was devoted to non-"LAGF" material including hits like "Satellite" and fan favorites like "Demons" and "Come Downstairs and Say Hello."
The second set was "LAGF" in its entirety stem to stern. Highlights included a children's choir coming out to whistle and sing on "All the Way Up to Heaven"; a slamming horn section on "Fa Fa"; and a duo of string players who added a bittersweet edge to several songs including "Either Way"
The encores included "Airport Song" and an unamplified rendition of "Jesus on the Radio" with the guys in costume.
It was a great, high energy show with lots of humor and heart and a collegial vibe in the sold out crowd.
Best Part: Frontman Ryan Miller's heartfelt expression of gratitude to the Boston fans for their support and their recognition of "LAGF," saying if they loved this album 10 percent as much as he loves his favorite records that he and the band are incredibly humbled.
Worst Part: The always furnace-like Orpheum when it's more than 50 degrees out. It was hot, yo.
Best quote: "We would never write a setlist in this order," Miller said with a laugh of the sequencing of "LAGF."
Best costume: The guy who was being eaten by the shark right up near the front.
Setlist:
Set One
"G Major"
"Manifest Destiny"
"Ramona"
"Satellite"
"Red Oyster Cult"
"This Could All Be Yours" (new song)
"Demons"
"Diane"
"Jonah" (new song)
"Rocketship"
"Come Downstairs and Say Hello"
"The Captain"
Set Two
"What You Wish For"
"Barrel of a Gun"
"Either Way"
"Fa Fa"
"I Spy"
"Center of Attention"
"All the Way Up to Heaven"
"Happier"
"So Long"
"Two Points for Honesty"
"Rainy Day"
Encore:
"Hang On"
"Airport Song"
"Jesus on the Radio"
