Guster

The tuneful, droll and Tufts-bred trio Guster performs in an all-ages concert at 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, in the Clifton Daggett Gray Athletic Building (“Gray Cage”), 130 Central Ave.

The concert is sponsored by the Chase Hall Committee. Tickets for the general public are $20 and are available at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, Bowdoin and Colby colleges, Bull Moose Music outlets and the Web site. For more information, call 207-795-7496.

Founded at Tufts University in 1991, the trio of Adam Gardner, Ryan Miller and Brian Rosenworcel has expanded beyond its acoustic beginnings and is currently touring behind a new album, Keep It Together.

On that record, wrote a Rolling Stone reviewer, the threesome has “focused on moods and atmospheres without being clichéd — the sunny reflection of ‘Amsterdam’ highlights Guster’s approach. Keep It Together is sentimental without being sappy, and innocent without the naiveté.”

Gardner, Miller and Rosenworcel met during freshman orientation at Tufts. Originally named “Gus,” their band found a following in the college town environment and recorded the debut album Parachute in 1994. A name change to “Guster” preceded the release of the second album, Goldfly, in 1996, and Guster made their major-label debut, on Sire Records, with 1999’s Lost & Gone Forever. Guster now records for Reprise.

Originally defined by Miller’s bongos and congas combined with the acoustic guitars and singing of Gardner and Rosenworcel, Guster has grown to incorporate kit drums, bass, woodwinds, banjo and vintage keyboards into its music. The band has toured with the Dave Matthews Band, Bob Dylan and Barenaked Ladies.

Described by the Boston Globe as a “fury of intense, blistering guitars, percolating bongos and impeccable vocal harmonies,” Guster was named best live act at the 1996 Boston Music Awards and best local acoustic act by the Boston Phoenix/WFNX Best Music Poll.

The trio of guitarists-vocalists Ryan Miller and Adam Gardner and percussionist Brian Rosenworcel met in 1992 at their alma mater, Tufts University, and performed in the Boston area during their college years. Their first CD, Parachute, was named 1995’s best local debut album by the Boston Globe. The band also was featured on the national AWARE 3 Compilation in 1995, the same year the threesome graduated from Tufts with honors.

The show, which also features Boston-based Guster and the hip-hop band Fun Lovin’ Criminals, begins at 7:30 p.m. in Clifton Daggett Gray Athletic Building. Ticket information is available through the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ student activities office, 207-786-6305.

In “Red,” God Street Wine shows its ability to move among musical styles. Its songs display influences including reggae, Bob Dylan and classic pop, and reviews have been encouraging, according to guitarist and lead singer Lo Faber, who said emotion played a big role in the album’s creation.

“(‘Red’) was the first time in our whole career that the band had a collective sense of anger and frustration that we needed to vent,” Faber said of the group’s response to what members felt was mishandling by a previous label.

“We were forced to question everything — our talent, our career, our existence as a band,” Faber said. “It didn’t matter who heard it, if it became a hit, if we got another record deal or if we ever toured again. We just wanted to make a good album.”

God Street Wine has long had a loyal following. Its fans call themselves “Winos” and swap bootleg tapes of the hundreds of concerts the band has played over the years.

The group’s previous releases include “Bag,” “Who’s Driving?” and “$1.99 Romances.” Until its recent deals with Geffen and Mercury, it had been called “the best unsigned band in the country.” The band records at its own 32-track studio at its home in upstate New York.