O.A.R.
Biography
O.A.R. (an acronym for the band's full moniker, Of a Revolution) transformed themselves from local Ohio State University bandmates to Billboard chartbusters and headliners at venues across America. First, the band's two demo recordings were hawked at universities. Then, news spread about the band's roots rock and reggae-inflected songs, which owed much to the jam band genre. Before long, O.A.R.'s website had turned into a highly-trafficked internet destination, and the group gradually left the college scene for the bright lights of national stardom.
Formed in 1996 in Rockville, MD, O.A.R. coalesced around lead singer/rhythm guitarist Marc Roberge, lead guitarist Richard On, saxophonist Jerry DePizzo, bassist Benj Gershman, and drummer Chris Culos. Roberge had known Culos since childhood; he also played in local bands with On and Gershman. DePizzo, who hails from Youngstown, OH, met the other Maryland natives at Ohio State, and the band made its recorded debut with the release of an independent demo, 1997's The Wanderer. Many of the songs on O.A.R.'s debut disc were written while Roberge and Culos were living in Israel.
Two years later, the switch from student band to headlining act started with the arrival of an intensely popular song titled "That Was a Crazy Game of Poker. " (Many lyrics for the band's songs came from Roberge's interest in literature, particularly Stephen King's novel The Stand.) The group went back into the recording studio for a second demo, which was released independently as Souls Aflame in 1999. With the success of 2001's Risen, Roberge began writing songs for a new CD late that year. To appease their dedicated fan base, they issued a live album, Any Time Now, in the spring of 2002 and subsequently signed with Lava/Atlantic for the release of 2003's In Between Now and Then. Additional tour dates led to the release of 34th & 8th, the band's second live offering. The band returned to the studio again with 2005's Stories of a Stranger, which contained a pair of Top 20 Hot AC hits in "Love and Memories" and "Heard the World." The Live from Madison Square Garden CD/DVD appeared in 2007. O.A.R.'s slickest album yet, the commercially-minded All Sides, was released in 2008. ~ Robert Hicks, All Music Guide
Selected Discography

All Sides
2008

Stories Of A Stranger
2005

34th & 8th
2004

In Between Now And Then
2003

Any Time Now (Live)
2002
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Dispatch
I agree with the consensus that they sold out a little. But again it is not their fault that they got so popular. The big music producers got a hold of them and made them into main stream. I hope they go back to their roots.
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O.A.R. sold out. I hate to say it but since In Between Now and Then they just haven't been the same.
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I see these guys like DMB. It's not their fault they became so popular. I like their older stuff better, but I'm not going to hate on them because more than dirty hippies like them. I enjoy them- I do think they, like DMB, have polished their music up a little and it has evolved, but I can't not listen because they got to be popular. If I can catch them at the Roo and on the radio, good for me.
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I saw them open for 311 in Grand Rapids like seven years ago. I had no clue who they were but I was enamored. Their jam sessions were ridiculous!
Last week I saw some video for them on the VH1 Top 20 and I couldn't help but wonder what the hell happened to them. It's sad, really... |
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Ya, got to agree with you all. I am a big fan of the older O.A.R. ... been to a few concerts, own most of their CD’s. I'm not going to buy their new one. Their older reggae/chill style is what I like... not too big on their new boy-band crap. If they keep it up, I probably won't buy another CD. It’s too bad, they have a hell of a lot of talent, and it’s (as far as I'm concerned) quickly getting wasted.
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O.A.R. has surpassed DMB in my mind. as far as live performances go that is. Live at MSG is there best and then Any Time Now. the studio fixed up pollished type stuff is just not them and its also not original like they are. keep to the raw stuff that got you guys where your at now
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they sold out and went down the drain, i mean any time now may be the best live CD i can think of, it's great, i wish they would come back
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not so crazy about their new stuff but I really like the Wanderer and their live album.
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they are from maryland not ohio state!!! they added the new sax player from ohio state thats all
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whoever says OAR stinks is nuts. their best (and the only cd I own) rocks
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I love this band we fell in love with them this summer went to A.City in october. kind of remind me of u2 starting out in the 80s
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I agree, sam.bishop89 , the new stuff is fine but the old stuff is way better. They have gone such mainstream. But, I'm still listening.
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Favorite band for 10 years, followed them since the beginning. Wish all the best for them.
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The more I listen to them, the more I like them. Give them a shot, you might too.
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I used to check these guys out when they were playing around OSU's campus during college. I have many great memories from that time, all set to an OAR soundtrack!
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Just saw them in St. Augustine on Saturday. I saw Modest Mouse at the same place a few months ago and the O.A.R. show was 1,000 times better. O.A.R. throws it down. I can't wait to see them again.
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just saw them in charleston. much remembrance from the last time i saw them back at OSU. good times!
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Saw them recently at a free outdoor show in St Louis. They put on such a great show!
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So far the only album I've heard songs from was Between Now and Then, and I'm loving it! It must be the kind of things most fans experience when a band changes their sound. I remember when AFI used to be much more punkish, and it took me a while to be okay with their new sound... But they are still a good band, so I hope their previous fans will still enjoy them. I know pandora has some suggestions for similar artists, but if anyone else has any good suggestions, please hit me up in my comments
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