O.A.R.

O.A.R.
O.A.R. (Of a Revolution)

O.A.R. during 2009 summer concert tour at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, New York
Background information
Origin Rockville, Maryland, United States
Genres Alternative rock, indie rock, jam band, roots rock
Years active 1996–present
Labels Wind-up Records,
Associated acts Matt Nathanson, Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, Brett Dennen, Foxtrot Zulu
Website www.ofarevolution.com
Members
Marc Roberge
Chris Culos
Richard On
Benj Gershman
Jerry DePizzo

O.A.R. (short for Of a Revolution) is an American rock band composed of Marc Roberge (vocals, guitar), Chris Culos (drums, percussion), Richard On (guitar, backing vocals), Benj Gershman (bass guitar), and Jerry DePizzo (saxophone, guitar, percussion, backing vocals). Due to massive online distribution over campus networks, the band has become a hit among college students, with many songs relating to the band members' personal lives at Thomas S. Wootton High School, growing up in Rockville, Maryland and attending The Ohio State University.

Contents

Band history

Early years: The Wanderer, In Between Now and Then

The band was founded in 1996 by Marc Roberge and Chris Culos, inspired in part by Roberge's older brother, who plays drums for the band Foxtrot Zulu. They then recruited Richard On and Benj Gershman. In 1997 they recorded The Wanderer at Gizmo Recording Company in Silver Spring, Maryland with engineer/producer Gantt Kushner. The four band-members graduated from Wootton High School in Rockville, Maryland, then moved to Columbus, Ohio to attend Ohio State University. While at Ohio State, they met Jerry DePizzo, from Youngstown, Ohio. In 2000 they returned to Gizmo Recording to record "Souls Aflame".

Without any formal marketing or advertising plans, news of their songs such as "That Was a Crazy Game of Poker," "City on Down," and "Night Shift" spread by word of mouth alone. Over the years, the band played as many shows as they could, expanding from the fraternities and sororities of Ohio State to any audiences that cared to listen. This exposure paid off; their third album Risen debuted at #11 on the Billboard top internet sales chart. The following year, their fourth album Any Time Now debuted at #156 on the Billboard 200 chart. They received offers from various major labels, but signed with Lava Records because they promised not to change the band.

Mainstream success: Stories of a Stranger, All Sides

In 2005, O.A.R. released their fifth album, Stories of a Stranger, which debuted at #40 on the Billboard 200. It produced the singles "Love and Memories," "Heard the World," and "Lay Down." "Love and Memories" was the band's first single to chart and receive significant radio airplay, peaking at 98 in the Pop 100, at 30 in Modern Rock Tracks, and at 18 in Adult Top 40. The music videos for "Love and Memories" and "Lay Down" received airplay on VH1 and MTV. The video for "Lay Down" received a "Woodie" award from MTV for streaming video. The new partnership with Lava also seemed to be the beginning of a shift in the bands fundamental style. Many of the tracks on "Stories of a Stranger" and subsequent albums have displayed a willingness by the band to move away from the reggae, ska, and jam band inspired sound which made them popular -- featuring shorter run-times, less acoustic instrumentation, and more pop-inspired arrangements.

On January 14, 2006, O.A.R. reached a new peak of popularity by drawing roughly 18,000 fans and selling out New York City's Madison Square Garden, which earned them a review in the New York Times.[1] On October 5, 2006, a press release declared that O.A.R. had officially sold in excess of 1.2 million albums over their career.[2] The band attributes much of its popularity to the recording and subsequent trading and downloading of their live shows.

On July 15, 2008, O.A.R. released their sixth studio album, All Sides. The first radio single for All Sides, "Shattered (Turn the Car Around)," was released for download on June 13. It surpassed "Love And Memories," peaking at 2 in Adult Top 40. In December 2008, VH1 named the music video for "Shattered" as number 18 on their Top 40 Videos of 2008.

During the 2008 All Sides tour, the All Sides album was released on USB Wristband along with instant live recordings of their concerts.

The band released a new live album (Rain or Shine) on January 12, 2010.[3]

2011-Present (King)

O.A.R. completed a seven-month nationwide tour in mid-December 2010. The band introduced several new songs in many of its live performances during the tour, including: "Over and Over," "Fire," "Dangerous Connection," and "Gotta Live." A new album, King was released on Wind-up Records on August 2, 2011. It debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200, a new peak for the band. The album's first single, "Heaven", was released on June 7, 2011. The next single will be "Gotta Be Wrong Sometimes".

Members

  • Marc Roberge (Lead vocals, rhythm guitar; 1996–present)
  • Chris Culos (Drums, percussion; 1996–present)
  • Richard On (Lead guitar, backing vocals; 1996–present)
  • Benj Gershman (Bass guitar; 1996–present)
  • Jerry DePizzo (Saxophone, guitar, backing vocals; 2000–present)


Touring members

  • Mikel Paris (keyboards, percussion, backing vocals; 2006–present)

Charitable Endeavors/Other Appearances

The band's Heard The World foundation was founded to support youth, education and sustainable programs both in the U.S. and abroad.[4]

In December 2009, Jerry DePizzo headlined a charity fundraiser for Music Loves Ohio in Columbus at The Basement.[5]

The band teamed up with the large US defense contractor, SAIC, to raise money for the Paralyzed Veterans of America, a service organization focused on assisting veterans with spinal cord injuries and diseases, through digital downloads of the band's song "Light Switch Sky." Proceeds from downloads of the song through July 22, 2010 will support paralyzed veterans. The song was co-written by O.A.R. and its fans through a competition on Twitter.[6]

In August 2010, members Benj Gershman and Marc Roberge appeared in two videos for Diet Coke's Stay Extraordinary campaign.

Song Appearances

  • O.A.R. performed the theme song for the ABC show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. During a two-hour special that aired on December 11, 2005, they provided a street-side concert, including a live performance of "So Much", the Extreme Makeover Home Edition theme, in front of the newly redesigned Los Angeles Free Clinic.
  • In 2006, O.A.R. Performed at the MLB's Home Run Derby at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Singing "Love and Memories" and other titles.
  • In 2006, the band's song "Love and Memories" was featured in the movie She's the Man.[7]
  • In June 2007 the band's songs "Wonderful Day" and "One Shot" were used extensively by ESPN during its coverage of the 2007 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament and College World Series; "This Town" was similarly used in 2008
  • In 2008, their song "Love is Worth The Fall" was featured on the deluxe edition soundtrack for the film Twilight. The song was also released as an iTunes single.

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[8]
US
Alt

[9]
US Indie
[10]
US Rock
[11]
The Wanderer
  • Release date: 1997
  • Label: self-released
  • Formats: CD, cassette
Soul's Aflame
  • Release date: August 15, 2000
  • Label: Oarfin Records
  • Formats: CD, cassette
Risen 44
In Between Now and Then
  • Release date: May 27, 2003
  • Label: Lava Records
  • Formats: CD, cassette
54
Stories of a Stranger
  • Release date: October 4, 2005
  • Label: Lava Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
40
All Sides
  • Release date: July 15, 2008
  • Label: Lava/Atlantic Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
13 3 4
King
  • Release date: August 2, 2011
  • Label: Wind-up Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
12 2
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Live albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[8]
US
Alt

[9]
US Indie
[10]
US Rock
[11]
Any Time Now
  • Release date: May 6, 2002
  • Label: Everfine Records
  • Formats: CD, cassette
156 11
34th & 8th
  • Release date: July 27, 2004
  • Label: Everfine Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
80 6
Live from Madison Square Garden
  • Release date: June 5, 2007
  • Label: Atlantic Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
69 23
Rain or Shine
  • Release date: January 12, 2010
  • Label: Everfine/Atlantic Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
49 7 5 10
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Extended plays

Title Details Peak positions
US
[8]
Hello, Tomorrow
  • Release date: 2009
  • Label: Atlantic Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
180

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)
Album
US
[12]
US
AC

[13]
US
Adult

[14]
US
Alt

[15]
US
Pop

[16]
CAN
[17]
2003 "Hey Girl" 26 In Between Now and Then
2004 "Right on Time"
2005 "Love and Memories" 17 30 Stories of a Stranger
2006 "Heard the World" 24
"Lay Down"
2008 "This Town" 17 All Sides
"Shattered (Turn the Car Around)" 36 14 2 25 43
2011 "Heaven" 21 King
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Album appearances

Compilation name (year, song title)

  • Bonnaroo 2003 (2003, "Risen")
  • National Heads-Up Poker Championship 2005 (1997, "That Was A Crazy Game Of Poker")
  • Rock For Relief (2006, "James")
  • Mixclusives: Volume 6 (2006, "Love & Memories")
  • The Target Red Room Volume: 5 (2006, "One Shot (live)")
  • Kyle XY Soundtrack (2007, "Wonderful Day")
  • Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur (2007, "Borrowed Time")
  • For the Kids Three (2007, "Itsy Bitsy Spider")
  • Serve2: Fighting Hunger & Poverty (2007, "Dareh Meyod" [*version from Live from Madison Square Garden])
  • Serve4: Artists Against Hunger & Poverty (2009, "Lay Down" [*version from Rain or Shine)
  • Twilight (soundtrack) (Special/Deluxe Edition) (2009, "Love Is Worth The Fall")
  • Music For Action: Best of Bonnaroo (2010, "Delicate Few" [*version from Bonnaroo 2005])

Notes

  1. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (January 16, 2006). "A Scrappy Jam Band, but Hold the Jam". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/16/arts/music/16oar.html. Retrieved May 20, 2010. 
  2. ^ Press Release (2006). "O.A.R. Makes History With Over 1 Million Sold" marketwire.com (accessed October 6, 2006)
  3. ^ Chicago live album announcement
  4. ^ http://www.heardtheworld.org
  5. ^ http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/weekender/stories/2009/12/17/9A_MUSIC17_ART_12-17-09_T10_9GG0EH7.html
  6. ^ http://www.saic.com/oar/news/062110.html?
  7. ^ She's the Man Soundtrack
  8. ^ a b c "O.A.R. Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/o-a-r/chart-history/407336?f=305&g=Albums. Retrieved June 14, 2011. 
  9. ^ a b "O.A.R. Album & Song Chart History - Alternative Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/o-a-r/chart-history/407336?f=794&g=Albums. Retrieved June 14, 2011. 
  10. ^ a b "O.A.R. Album & Song Chart History - Independent Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/o-a-r/chart-history/407336?f=326&g=Albums. Retrieved June 14, 2011. 
  11. ^ a b "O.A.R. Album & Song Chart History - Rock Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/o-a-r/chart-history/407336?f=408&g=Albums. Retrieved June 14, 2011. 
  12. ^ "O.A.R. Album & Song Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/o-a-r/chart-history/407336?f=379&g=Singles. Retrieved June 14, 2011. 
  13. ^ "O.A.R. Album & Song Chart History - Adult Contemporary". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/o-a-r/chart-history/407336?f=341&g=Singles. Retrieved June 14, 2011. 
  14. ^ "O.A.R. Album & Song Chart History - Adult Pop Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/o-a-r/chart-history/407336?f=343&g=Singles. Retrieved June 14, 2011. 
  15. ^ "O.A.R. Album & Song Chart History - Alternative Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/o-a-r/chart-history/407336?f=377&g=Singles. Retrieved June 14, 2011. 
  16. ^ "O.A.R. Album & Song Chart History - Pop Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/o-a-r/chart-history/407336?f=381&g=Singles. Retrieved June 14, 2011. 
  17. ^ "O.A.R. Album & Song Chart History - Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/o-a-r/chart-history/407336?f=793&g=Singles. Retrieved June 14, 2011. 
  18. ^ a b "RIAA - Recording Industry Association of America - Searchable Database". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database. Retrieved June 14, 2011. 

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