2008 Woodie Awards
John Mayer and Guster 'play' at West Point
Both put on top performances, leaving the audience satisfied, but wanting more
Dorothea Larrabee
Issue date: 4/8/04 Section: Entertainment
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To many, West Point is only associated with the "all work and no play" ethic of cadet life. However, after the John Mayer and Guster concert on March 21, West Point should be associated with great live shows as well as hard working cadets.
On the last night of spring break, while most people were unpacking and visiting friends, John Mayer and Guster performed in concert at Eisenhower Hall, at West Point. The concert began at 7:30 p.m. with Guster, a relatively old band with four albums under their belt, playing "Happier," off 1999's Lost and Gone Forever.
Next was a definite crowd and band favorite, "Airport Song," from 1998's Goldfly. After an upbeat "Barrel of a Gun," lead singer and guitarist Ryan, clad in a t-shirt and jeans, exclaimed, "Do you feel as underdressed as I do?" amidst the sea of formally dressed West Pointers.
Next, Guster treated the audience to two songs off their latest album, Keep it Together, entitled "Backyard" and "Homecoming King." They finished the set with an older, but very popular "Fa Fa."
After asking the crowd if anyone had ever heard of them, it was apparent that they had underestimated their popularity.
Once they finished the set, the band signed autographs in a separate conference room behind the theatre. The line snaked around the entire room. It was obvious that many girls and guys were in love with Guster that night.
As Mayer took the stage, teenage girls shrieked wildly in anticipation of his first song. Along with Mayer's popularity, his band has also grown. When he performed in November 2003, his band had consisted of four members. By the night of March 21 the band grown to eight members, including backup singers and horn players.
Despite this obvious growth in backup, Mayer faced no competition as fans screamed out "I want your babies!" and "I love you, John!" to which a modest Mayer replied "I love you, too."
Mayer's 14 song set on the Heavier Things tour could have been called his "Room for Squares Tour Repeated," since he played seven favorites from Room for Squares and only six from the newest CD Heavier Things, including one unreleased song. He started his set with the first song on his new album, "Clarity," a jazzy number reminiscent of his earlier release "Neon."
On the last night of spring break, while most people were unpacking and visiting friends, John Mayer and Guster performed in concert at Eisenhower Hall, at West Point. The concert began at 7:30 p.m. with Guster, a relatively old band with four albums under their belt, playing "Happier," off 1999's Lost and Gone Forever.
Next was a definite crowd and band favorite, "Airport Song," from 1998's Goldfly. After an upbeat "Barrel of a Gun," lead singer and guitarist Ryan, clad in a t-shirt and jeans, exclaimed, "Do you feel as underdressed as I do?" amidst the sea of formally dressed West Pointers.
Next, Guster treated the audience to two songs off their latest album, Keep it Together, entitled "Backyard" and "Homecoming King." They finished the set with an older, but very popular "Fa Fa."
After asking the crowd if anyone had ever heard of them, it was apparent that they had underestimated their popularity.
Once they finished the set, the band signed autographs in a separate conference room behind the theatre. The line snaked around the entire room. It was obvious that many girls and guys were in love with Guster that night.
As Mayer took the stage, teenage girls shrieked wildly in anticipation of his first song. Along with Mayer's popularity, his band has also grown. When he performed in November 2003, his band had consisted of four members. By the night of March 21 the band grown to eight members, including backup singers and horn players.
Despite this obvious growth in backup, Mayer faced no competition as fans screamed out "I want your babies!" and "I love you, John!" to which a modest Mayer replied "I love you, too."
Mayer's 14 song set on the Heavier Things tour could have been called his "Room for Squares Tour Repeated," since he played seven favorites from Room for Squares and only six from the newest CD Heavier Things, including one unreleased song. He started his set with the first song on his new album, "Clarity," a jazzy number reminiscent of his earlier release "Neon."