It's O-A-R, not "oar"

These guys aren’t really “local” any more, but they did gain their fame and a national and even international following – thanks to the digital age – right here in Columbus at Ohio State University. The band is O.A.R. www.ofarevolution.com/

When someone says, “Yeah, I know oar,” it’s a safe bet they don’t know much about the group. The band did not choose to be named after a paddle. It’s pronounced O A R and stands for “Of A Revolution,” a phrase in a short story called “The Wanderer” (also the title of the group’s first CD put out when they were in high school in Rockville, Md.) written by front man Mark Roberge.

The band kicks out a unique mix of rock, folk and reggae spiced with a dash of ska – a form they call island-vibe roots rock. Their shows always include a lot of improvisational jamming and they are sometimes labeled as a “Jam Band.” Their lyrics lean towards the glass-half-full crowd, with songs of love, growth and unification. They’ve produced eight CDs and are constantly on tour, usually stopping in Columbus a couple of times a year.

O.A.R. came to life after the majority of the band – singer/guitarist Roberge, guitarist Richard On, drummer Chris Culos, bassist Benj Gershman – all landed at OSU. Jerry DePizzo, a Columbus saxophone player, hooked up with the guys at school. They added DePizzo to the group and soon their popularity snowballed, thanks to the Internet.

The band encouraged fans to tape their concerts, as long as the music wasn't being sold, and by 2000 a network of O.A.R. music was zipping through cyberspace. Groupies traded the tunes across the country. A band message board bloomed and more popped up later, attracting thousands of users from all over the world. See www.oar.yuku.com/ or www.oarfans.com/

The group has played with some heavy musical hitters, including Dave Matthews, Sheryl Crow and Bob Weir and Mickey Hart of The Dead. They’ve been on Letterman and Conan O’Brien’s show.

Their CDs and their live shows are energy-filled and infectious. It’s likely we’ll be hearing more great things about this band down the road. I’m interested in anyone else’s review of this group or perhaps a speical OAR moment.

Listen to the Music

A little while back, a musician friend from Cleveland, who plays in Shout, a very popular band up there (www.shoutband.com), told me he thinks Columbus offers more in terms of local music than Cleveland. I'm not that familiar with the music scene in Cleveland, but I know the Capital City is loaded with talent. We have artists here who have had national-chart hits or who have played with well-known musicians or bands.

You can find live music every night of the week. And if you play, there are loads of open sessions where you can drop in, meet some interesting folks and play some cool jams. For instance, the Thirsty Ear Tavern in Grandview has Sunday Blues jams on a regular basis. www.thethirstyear.com

I intend to post reviews of local bands here. I'm interested in hearing about the groups or musicians that float your musical boat. Who is your favorite band or musician? Where are the best venues to hear music? Are you a musician looking to play? Do you sit in on jam sessions and if so, when and where? Is there a real talent out there who, for now, is relatively unknown? All thoughts, suggestions, reviews or tips are welcome.