met during freshman orientation

The band members met during freshman orientation at Tufts University in 1991. A year later, after writing a few songs in their dorm rooms, the band named itself Gus and booked its first gig. The band recorded its first album independently in 1994, titled Parachute . This album established the band as a favorite of the same 1990s scene that became popular through bands such as the Dave Matthews Band , The Disco Biscuits , moe. , Phish , and Widespread Panic . The band was still in college when it recorded the album. Shortly after the release of Parachute , another artist calling himself Gus signed a deal with a major record company, so the band renamed itself Guster.