Of a Revolution

Infobox musical artist
Name = O.A.R. (Of a Revolution)

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Img_capt = O.A.R. performing at Cornell's Slope Day in 2004
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Rockville, Maryland, United States
Genre = Alternative rock, jam
Years_active = 1996–present
Label = Lava, Everfine
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.ofarevolution.com/ www.ofarevolution.com]
Current_members = Marc Roberge
Chris Culos
Richard On
Benj Gershman
Jerry DePizzo
Mikel Paris
Past_members =

Of a Revolution, better known as O.A.R., is an American rock band consisting of Marc Roberge (vocals, guitar), Chris Culos (drums, percussion), Richard On (guitar, backing vocals), Benj Gershman (bass guitar), Jerry DePizzo (saxophone, guitar, 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 The Ohio State University (Columbus) and growing up in Rockville, Maryland.

Background

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. The four of them graduated from Thomas Sprigg Wootton High School in Rockville, Maryland, then moved to Columbus, Ohio to attend the Ohio State University. While at Ohio State, they met Jerry DePizzo, from Youngstown, Ohio.

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. 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 Top 200 list.

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.Press Release (2006). [http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=169874 "O.A.R. Makes History With Over 1 Million Sold"] marketwire.com (accessed October 6, 2006)] The band attributes much of its popularity to the taping and subsequent trading and downloading of their live shows.

The band performs the theme song for the ABC show "". 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.

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" [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/16/arts/music/16oar.html O.A.R. - Review - Music - New York Times ] ] . Their music videos "Love and Memories" and "Lay Down" have been featured on VH1 and MTV, and they played three nights at the Gorge with the Dave Matthews Band. After having "Love And Memories" as their first radio hit, "Heard The World" was named in September 2006 as their second single off "Stories of a Stranger". "Heard The World" has been Top 10 on many Maryland and D.C. radio stations, and "Love And Memories" still gets consistent air play on major radio stations.

O.A.R. performed at the 2006 Major League Baseball All Star Game in Pittsburgh during All Star Sunday, singing one of their top hits, "Love and Memories". They also performed at a rally to benefit Darfur in Central Park on September 17, 2006.

O.A.R. received a "Woodie" award from MTV in 2006; their video "Lay Down" won the Woodie for streaming video.

O.A.R. made a return trip to Madison Square Garden and performed on January 27, 2007, supported by Gomez and Matt Nathanson. This show closed out their 2007 Winter tour which started in Ohio only a few weeks earlier. On June 5, 2007 the concert was released as a DVD/Double Live CD.

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.

The band conducted a USO tour around the Persian Gulf in late August 2007. [ O.A.R. have played multiple shows for the troops. [https://www.uso.org/whatwedo/entertainment/2007tourschedule/ "USO Tour Schedule 2007"] (accessed August 25th, 2007).] [Video from Kirkuk Regional Air Base (8.28.07) [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7oMYsqFuHU "YouTube"] (accessed August 30th, 2007).]

O.A.R. has just announced their full summer tour. Their tour will be called "All Sides Tour" and will begin June 15 in Manchester, TN at Bonnaroo and will conclude August 31 at the Gorge as an opening act for Dave Matthews Band. On June 16, the band played a live interactive show at DeepRockDrive in advance of the launch of their new album "All Sides".

It has been officially announced by the band that their album "All Sides" will be out July 15. The first radio single is called "Shattered" and will be available to be downloaded June 13th. So far, it's been their biggest hit to date surpassing "Love And Memories".

In June 2008 the band's song "This Town" off their forthcoming album "All Sides" was used extensively by ESPN during its coverage of the 2008 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament and College World Series.

O.A.R.'s song "Wonderful Day" is currently being used on nationally airing Ford commercials.

Members

*Marc Roberge (1996–present)
*Chris Culos (1996–present)
*Richard On (1996–present)
*Benj Gershman (1996–present)
*Jerry DePizzo (September 21, 2000 – present)
*Touring member Mikel Paris (2006-present)

Discography

tudio albums

*"The Wanderer" (1997)
*"Souls Aflame" (2000)
*"Risen" (2001)
*"In Between Now and Then" (2003)
*"Stories of a Stranger" (2005)
*"All Sides" (2008)

Live albums

*"Any Time Now" (2002)
*"34th & 8th" (2004)
*"Live from Madison Square Garden" (2007)

Compilations

"Compilation name (year, song title)"
*"Bonnaroo 2003" (2003, "Risen")
*"Rock For Relief" (2006, "James")
*"" (2006, "Of A Revolution")
*"Mixclusives: Volume 6" (2006, "Love & Memories")
*"The Target Red Room Volume: 5" (2006, "One Shot (live)")
*"Kyle XY Soundtrack" (2007, "Wonderful Day")
*"" (2007, "Borrowed Time")
*"For the Kids Three" (2007, "Itsy Bitsy Spider")

ingles

Notes

External links

* [http://www.ofarevolution.com/ O.A.R.] official website
* [http://oarfans.com O.A.R.] official message board
*myspace|ofarevolution
* [http://www.haystack.com/ofarevolution O.A.R. @ Haystack]
* [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp?pid=407336 Billboard.com Band Profile]
* [http://www.oarsa.org/ oarsa.org] setlist archive, lyrics, and fan site
*Internet Archive music|id=OfARevolution
* [http://everfinerecords.com Everfine Records]
* [http://cornellsun.com/node/23145 Lead singer Marc Roberge] interview with the "Cornell Daily Sun"