THC: Who have been the band’s biggest influences?

G: Oh, I can’t stand that question. We just don’t have an answer to it, because we listen to so much different music.

THC: Well, then who do you guys listen to on the road?

G: We listen to everything from Mingus, to bands that open for us, to Radiohead’s newest album to Yo La Tengo. But aside from all the Indie-rock stuff, we’re also going back to Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, E-Rex . . . Subconsciously everything influences your writing.

THC: Why did you decide to make that first album?

G: Because we finally had enough money to do it, and it was something we wanted to do for ourselves. We didn’t really have a grand scheme as to what would happen. We had sold about two to 3000 copies of a crappy demo, so we knew we’d make our money back.

THC: How did the “Guster Reps” [an innovative idea where the band would send 10 cds to a fan who would sell them and then send the money back] program start?

G: It wasn’t a grand marketing plan, but people would come into Harvard Square, where we were playing, and pick up a CD and take it home to Michigan, or wherever they were from. Then they’d show their friends, and we’d get a call saying, “I really like this record, but I can’t buy it in stores. How can my friends get a copy?” And we’d say, “Why don’t we send you 10 to sell to your friends and you can just send us the money when you do.” That’s how it started, and now there are more than a 1000 all over the country.