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 Bates 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.