Guster & Kishi Bashi, Riviera Theatre, Chicago, Illinois

It was my third time seeing Japanese-American indie pop violinist over the course of the previous year. Though each performance was a different format of his music. Following a full band show at Metro a bit less than a year ago and another performance with a string quartet a few months back, tonight’s opening set was a completely solo set. On stage were just him, his violin, and some looping equipment. This meant that he often played the violin, worked looping pedals, and sang all at the same time. It was an early show, especially for a Friday night, so we arrived a bit before 7:30 when Kishi was about to take the stage, finding a spot on the lowest section pretty close to center of the floor and near the stage.

While I don’t have an exact setlist, I remember that he played his pretty typical set, if a bit abbreviated as he only had about 40 minutes on stage. This included songs such as “Bittersweet Genesis for Him AND Her,” “Bright Whites,” “The Ballad of Mr. Steak,” and “Philosophize in It! Chemicalize with It!” He spent some time experimenting with new loops, including a laugh track. Overall, I really enjoyed the set, but I found it really annoying being in close proximity to a few people who weren't interested in the performance and decided to fill their time with chatting through the entire set. Kishi Bashi’s delicate sound is easily ruined by someone near you talking loudly to their friend. Though I did finally ask the worst offenders to quiet down, I couldn't be too mad. I've probably done it myself during a set that I didn't care about.

After a brief intermission, Guster took the stage about 8:30. The current line-up still includes the three founding members: Ryan Miller (lead vocals and backing guitar), Adam Gardner (lead guitar and back vocals, and Brian “The Thunder God” Rosenworcel (percussion). In addition, multi-instrumentalist Luke Reynolds joined the band as an official member in 2010, plus a few other musicians also joined them onstage from some songs. This included Kishi Bashi for a handful of couple songs. I had forgotten how often all the band members switch up their instruments. Ryan alternated between guitar, bass, ukulele, and piano. Adam and Brian broke out a trumpet and trombone respectively. Brian switched between a standard drum kit and his trademark bongos. Luke also played the banjo.

As per usual, Ryan did all the talking. Towards the beginning of the set, he promised that the band would play at least something from all seven of their albums, which they did, though there were only four songs from Parachute (1995), Goldfly (1997), and Lost & Gone Forever (1999) in total. I would have been happy if those tracks would have comprised the entire setlist. Fortunately, two of those songs included “Happier” and “Demons.” If I could have heard any two Guster songs that evening, it would have been those. I was also pleased that they included “Happy Frappy” from Parachute. Though I can’t confirm, I doubt I've ever heard it performed live before. I was hoping that Kishi Bashi would join them for “Window,” which prominently features a violin, but no such luck. Many fans were prepared with ping pong balls, but I pointed out to a few that they hadn't played “Airport Song” yet on this tour. Their later four albums, made up the rest of the setlist, including four or five songs each from Keep It Together (2003), Ganging Up On the Sun (2006), and Easy Wonderful (2010) and seven from their latest Evermotion (2015).

As bands often do, Ryan also traced the band’s trajectory through the clubs of Chicago, admitting that even though they “keep making worse and worse records, more and more people come to [their] shows.” Unfortunately, I tend to agree, but I appreciated the honesty. At the end of their main set, Ryan explained that they would just stand over on the side. In fact, they didn't even leave the stage; they just huddled together on the side of the stage and with purposefully aloof expressions to their faces, still in plain view of the entire audience. They then returned to their positions expressing faux surprise. I have to admit that it quite amusing for them to poke a bit of fun at the silliness of the whole encore ritual. After a few more songs, they left the stage, returning for an actual encore, an unplugged version of “Jesus on the Radio.” They claimed their return wasn't planned, but I had seen them end a show this way before. The audience sang along, which was a bit annoying, but it certainly is a catchy tune.

Setlist:
Long Night
Careful
Red Oyster Cult
Happier
Architects & Engineers
Endlessly
Happy Frappy
Doin' It By Myself
Lightning Rod
Lazy Love
Come Downstairs and Say Hello
Do You Love Me
Hercules
Satellite
Ruby Falls
Barrel of a Gun
Never Coming Down
Simple Machine
Manifest Destiny
This Could All Be Yours
Encore 1:
Kid Dreams
Ramona
What You Call Love
Demons
Encore 2:
Jesus on the Radio (Unplugged)