Who can deny a song so catchy you can mouth the words by the chorus?

It was what Dave Mathews did 10 years ago. It was before the millions of fans, beer-filled teenagers and sound systems that could never top the sing-a-longs.

If you are missing the good old days, Guster is your savior. The cleanest jam band to date graced The Orpheum Theatre in Madison on Nov. 1.

The good vibes bounced off the towering stage as college freshmen sang every word of every song. The smiling band members made the audience forget worries as even the introverts tapped their toes.

“Great Escape” included a surprising reference to the Violent Femmes, which is only surprising because the Violent Femmes are apparently breaching generations.

“One Man Wreaking Machine” was new to most fans, but an instant winner. Who can deny a song so catchy you can mouth the words by the chorus?

The sampled strings and trumpet Guster used throughout the set was distracting. For a band so rooted in organic sound, the synthesized instruments put a kink in the atmosphere.

It is difficult for any band to feel comfortable playing at The Orpheum. With a stage that stands at least 10 feet above the audience’s heads, both Guster and openers Matt Pond PA commented on the strange dynamic created by musicians made giants.

As an audience member standing up front, it becomes painful to keep your eyes on the band without a chiropractor appointment required. Even with this strange set up both bands were still able to connect with the enthusiastic audience.

While Matt Pond PA was mostly unknown to the crowd anxious for Guster, they received warm reception. Although better suited in a dirty bar, their music lent well to the fall evening, with the set consisting primarily of songs from the recent release “Several Arrows Later.”

The crowd may have been pushing toward the stage to get a better spot once Guster came out, but were clearly won over by the infectious melodies.

Audience members never even caught the theme of sadness throughout the set as dancing heads bopped below the stage, enjoying the interplay of cello and guitar.

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