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Ohio State Band O.A.R. to Play 'Sco Saturday

Island Vibe Rock Invades Oberlin

by Kari Wethington

Who can say no to Ohio-style rock? Ohio brought us the Cars, Guided by Voices and now brings us Columbus-style rock via O.A.R. (...of a revolution), who will get down at the 'Sco on Saturday.

The musicians of O.A.R., all current Ohio State University students, have a long history together. Pals since high school, they started a band with a sound that has slowly progressed into what they now describe as "island vibe roots rock." Along the way, they've become regular homegrown rockstars, too. Jumping on the internet music-trading bandwagon has proven to be their smartest entrepreneurial move, helping them win hearts of fans everywhere.

"When we made the first two albums, we made them for our friends," Marc Roberge, lead guitarist and vocalist, told the Columbus Dispatch. "We had no idea people would still be supporting us the way they are."

O.A.R. knew they had widespread support when they heard that 12 fans from Alabama drove all the way to a show in Cincinnati just to see them perform.

O.A.R. was already a favorite of the Columbus scene when word began to spread about their intoxicating live performances. Since the band fully supports bootleg trading of their live sets, their fanbase has increased almost as rapidly as the internet-music industry itself. The Digital Club Network has broadcast numerous O.A.R. shows, attracting even more attention to the band.

Touring throughout Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, O.A.R. somehow find time to balance their full-time school schedules with their hectic lives on the road.

As Roberge's brother, Dave, who serves as the band's manager explained to the Dispatch, "They're going at it full time. We don't want a transition from playing in the region to going to places throughout the rest of the country to be weird. This year, they're going to continue to do clubs and universities in the same markets -to just do what they' ve been doing while the guys finish their degrees."

O.A.R. has released three albums (in addition to the numerous live recordings floating amidst the hands of fans), the latest of which is this year's Risen, their first "proper" recording. The album was recorded in Hoboken, N.J., with John Alagia, who has produced for the likes of the Dave Matthews Band, Ben Folds Five and Vertical Horizon.

Roberge, drummer Chris Culos, bassist Benj Gershman, lead guitarist Richard On and saxophone player Jerry DePizzo form a band that is at once eclectic in its sound and comfortable in its presentation. The crucial element to their sound is the happiness and lightness of it all; even the dark moods of some O.A.R. songs are danceable.

Risen undoubtedly fuses elements of reggae, rock and a little indie pop to make every song party-ready. From what diehard fans say, every O.A.R. concert experience is an incredible one, so their Saturday performance at Oberlin is one to look forward to.

O.A.R. performs at the 'Sco Saturday at 10 p.m.

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Copyright © 2001, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 129, Number 13, February, 2001

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