Guster is loved for their inventive songs, quirky videos, and unique percussion. I spoke to the man who sits upstage and makes that sound come to life. Brain Rosenworcel, known as Thundergod to Guster die-hards, told LAist about his nickname, his bongos, and what he looks forward to when the Guster tour hits LA.

How old were you when you got your first drum set? How did you talk your parents into it?

Actually I was 28 when I got my first drum kit so I didn't bother to check with my parents for permission. Up until then I'd been building a pretty elaborate percussion kit of all hand drums. It started with the set of bongos I brought with me to college and evolved into something unique and masochistic. It wasn't until I was in my late 20s that I discovered why everyone else was using sticks.

How did your get your nickname, the Thundergod?

I stole that from Def Leppard's drummer, Rick "Thundergod" Allen. He's missing an arm. I have a photo with him. The two of us actually have a lot in common, in that we're both playing with three limbs instead of four most of the time (I only use one foot on the percussion kit). So we enhance our drum sets with electronic triggers and generally have to be more creative to make everything work. I feel very bonded to Rick Thundergod Allen.

You are well known for playing bongos and everything else with your hands. What was your worst percussion related injury during a gig?

I like when kids come up to me say things like "I heard you break your fingers all the time" and "I heard that the tip of your finger once flew off during a show." I've had my share of inflamation, cuts, bruises, and tendonitis over the years, but nothing that approaches the legend these kids are building up. There's a scene on our live DVD where I'm filling a finger cut with Krazy Glue, so people might be using that scene to launch their imaginations.

Your fans want to know if Guster alter-ego bands Peace Soldiers or Trippin' Balls will be making an appearance during this tour? Have your ever thought of touring with Jack Shit and Trainwreck?

I haven't heard from the Peace Soldiers in a while. They live in the hills of remote Kentucky and haven't updated their website in seven years. Trippin' Balls (from Chico CA) are opening this weekend's show in Northampton MA. That band just gets better and better. And the one song they play just gets longer and longer. Regarding Jack Shit and Trainwreck... I will always love JB and KG for their HBO episodes but I won't forgive them for that feature length debacle anytime soon.

You did a series of podcasts with Jeff Garlin. How did that come about? Have you hit him up for a cameo on Curb Your Enthusiasm?

Our tour manager spotted Jeff in the crowd when we were playing Central Park with Ben Folds and Rufus Wainwright in 2004. He brought Jeff backstage and we were so psyched to meet him, we went in for the hug right away. We've been friends since. When we played in Chicago last summer Jeff was in town and walked onstage to pass guitars to us between songs a few times. We never acknowledged it to the crowd or anything. One guy in the front row figured it out. We think we're smart. Anyway, we had a blast recording that podcast, and I imagine it was a pretty cool listening experience for anyone who likes both Guster and Curb. For anyone else it was probably a self-indulgent hour of three guys with no attention spans talking over each other. Don't you have to be famous to make a "cameo"?

The band is very committed to raising awareness of environmental issues. You have travelled in a bus that runs on bio-diesel. Does it smell funny? What the next step for green music tours?

Adam and his wife formed a non-profit group called "Reverb" a few years ago to try and lessen the impact that touring bands make on the environment. This involves using biodiesel fuel, recycling, reducing plastic consumption, and offsetting the power that gets used at a concert with clean, renewable energy. They've taken it a step further by setting up "eco-villages" on our college tours that inform people about alternative energy and local green organizations. A lot of our fans have learned a lot from them. Now they're helping like, everyone from Dave Matthews to the Red Hot Chili Peppers green their tours. Bio-diesel doesn't smell funny. Soylent Green smells funny.

You covered my favorite Beatles song "Two of Us". When it's time to choose a Beatles song to play, how did you narrow it down? My eight year old daughter thinks you should cover "And Your Bird Can Sing" next.

I always felt like it was a bad idea to try to touch a Beatles song. Whatever you do you're not going to improve it. That being said, we were preparing an acoustic set and couldn't resist "Two of Us" because it's so simple. Acoustic guitars, kick drum, whistling -- it was really right up our alley. I pray to God your eight year old is still listening to "And Your Bird Can Sing" when the kids in junior high school are trying to get her to listen to Fall Out Boy. Or Guster.

What was the first concert you saw?

Air Supply. In the round, on a revolving stage in Waterbury Connecticut. I was 10 and it changed my life.

What are you listening to now?

This guy Bill Fox who played in an 80s band called "The Mice." His solo record from 1998 sounds like it was recorded in the early 70s or something. Great songs and a really nice vocal treatment. I think he quit music cold turkey right after this record.

You are playing at The Avalon in LA on September 15. What's your favorite LA hangout?

We are playing The Avalon. Wasn't that place called "The Palace" before? We opened up for Semisonic there a long time ago while "Closing Time" was ubiquitous. There are so many wonderful establishments in the greater LA area, it's amazing how often I end up eating bad "Wok 'n Roll" sushi and yelling over loud Bon Jovi when I'm in town. I always make a point of hitting up Versailles on La Cienega though. Garlic Chicken Hangover the next day and everything.

You can check out Guster's next Southern California stop on their tour when they play at The Avalon on September 15.

Photo by Lawrence Fung via Flickr