Guster returns to Morgantown Oct. 8 as part of West Virginia Public Broadcastings Mountain Stage with Larry Groce. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. at the West Virginia University Creative Arts Center.
GusterOne of the unlikely success stories of the90s, Boston-based Guster broke the corporate mold by developing a strong fan base, innovatively using the Internet and selling more than 40,000 copies of its first two independent releases. With novel instrumentation (two acoustic guitars and bongos) and a sense of humor to match, the band signed to Sire and released a pair of records in the late90s. In 2006, Guster releasedGanging Up On the Sun,which features the addition of fourth member Joe Pisapia. Billboard magazine has called this newest album atotal commitment emotionally and musicallyand says thatthere is a gravity and depth to this record that may surprise even their devoted fans.
Larry CoryellIn the60s Larry Coryell all but pioneered the transformation of jazz electric guitar and laid the groundwork for a generation of disciples. A veteran of bands fronted by Chico Hamilton, Gary Burton and Herbie Mann, Coryell fused his jazz technique with a loud, string-bending style that was near psychedelic. Coryell has explored nearly every style imaginable on both acoustic and electric and recorded with virtually every guitar great going, including John Scofield, Joe Beck, Steve Khan, Larry Carlton and John McLaughlin as well as violinist Stephane Grappelli, bassist Charles Mingus and saxophonist Sonny Rollins. In 2005, he released Electric, a collection of jazz standards and rock anthems featuring drummer Lenny White and bassist Victor Bailey. This year he issuedLaid Back&Blues: Live at the Sky Church in Seattle.
The SlipThis melodic New England trio has been generating a national buzz, especially after My Morning Jackets Jim James raved thatseeing them live was amazingin a recent New York Times article. Their songs are soaring, artfully arranged anthems that combine the conciseness of Beatlesque pop with a stunning range of sonic textures.
Miho HatoriJapanese singer Miho Hatori became an unlikelystaras half of the international pop duo Cibo Matto. On her solo debut Ecdysis, she hasassembleda song cycle that puts her voice among a pastiche of sounds, samples and effects. Singing in a variety of languages, she mixes and matches loops and random beats with Brazilian rhythms and tight harmonies in a way that would make David Byrne proud.
Hazmat ModineDelivering a delirious blend of blues, reggae, Klezmer, country and gypsy-tinged music, Hazmat Modine has emerged as one of New Yorks most original bands. The group features the dueling harmonicas; tuba; guitarists Bob Jay, Jon Sholle and Dan Hovey; and drummer Scott Veenstra. The instrumentation variously includes the sheng (the ancient Chinese mouth organ), the unique and odd claviola, and sometimes the cimbalom (the Romanian hammered dulcimer).
General admission tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the show. Tickets are on sale now at the Mountainlair and Creative Arts Center box offices, online at ticketmaster.com, at any Ticketmaster outlet (including Giant Eagle in the Mountaineer Mall) or by phone at 293-SHOW (7469) or 292-0220.
This event is presented by WVU Arts&Entertainment.
For more event information, call 304-293-SHOW or go to events.wvu.edu.