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Biography
Cleanup|date=August 2008Infobox musical artist| name = O.A.R. (Of a Revolution)| image = OARlive.JPG| caption = O.A.R. during 2009 summer concert tour at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, New York | image_size = 250| background = group_or_band| origin = Rockville, Maryland , United States | genre = Alternative rock , indie rock , jam band , roots rock | years_active = 1996–present| label = Wind-up Records ,| associated_acts = Matt Nathanson , Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers , Brett Dennen , Foxtrot Zulu | website = http://www.ofarevolution.com/ www.ofarevolution.com| current_members = Marc Roberge Chris Culos Richard On Benj Gershman Jerry DePizzo| Touring_Members = Mikel Paris O.A.R. (short for Of a Revolution ) is an United States|American rock band composed of Marc Roberge ( singer|vocals , guitar ), Chris Culos ( drum kit|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 .
Music
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 Thomas Sprigg Wootton High School|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 . 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 (O.A.R. album)|Risen debuted at #11 on the Billboard (magazine)|Billboard top internet sales chart. The following year, their fourth album Any Time Now debuted at #156 on the Billboard 200| 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 .Cite news| url= http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/16/arts/music/16oar.html | work=The New York Times | title=A Scrappy Jam Band, but Hold the Jam | first=Kelefa | last=Sanneh | date=January 16, 2006 | accessdate=May 20, 2010 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 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 (O.A.R. album)|Rain or Shine ) on January 12, 2010. http://www.oarsa.org/features/albumdetails.php? albumID=11 Chicago live album announcement
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 (O.A.R. 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)
Mikel Paris ( Keyboard instrument|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. http://www.heardtheworld.org
In December 2009, Jerry DePizzo headlined a charity fundraiser for Music Loves Ohio in Columbus at The Basement. http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/weekender/stories/2009/12/17/9A_MUSIC17_ART_12-17-09_T10_9GG0EH7.html
The band teamed up with the large US defense contractor, SAIC (company)|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. http://www.saic.com/oar/news/062110.html?
In August 2010, members Benj Gershman and Marc Roberge appeared in two videos for http://www.stylecaster.com/stayextraordinary Diet Coke's Stay Extraordinary campaign.
Song Appearances
O.A.R. performed the theme song for the American Broadcasting Company|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 Free clinic|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 ''. http://www.soundtrackinfo.com/title/shestheman.asp She's the Man Soundtrack
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 2007 College World Series|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 (2008 film)| Twilight . The song was also released as an iTunes single.
Recently last Oct. 16 2011 , the song of this band that was entitled "Heaven" was Played during "iGenius" a Documentary about the life and Death of Steve Jobs ;that was hosted by Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman of mythbusters .
Certifications ( List of best selling music artists
Album
US cite web
US AC cite web
US Adult cite web
US Alt cite web
US Pop cite web
CAN cite web
2003
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26
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In Between Now and Then
2004
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2005
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17
30
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align="left"
Recording Industry Association of America|US : Goldcite web|url= http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php? content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database|title=RIAA - Recording Industry Association of America - Searchable Database|publisher= Recording Industry Association of America |accessdate=June 14, 2011
Stories of a Stranger
2006
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24
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"Lay Down"
2008
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17
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All Sides
" Shattered (Turn the Car Around) "
US: Platinum
2011
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21
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King
"Gotta Be Wrong Sometimes"
"—" 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 Corporation|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 (John Lennon song)|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 (O.A.R. album)|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
Reflist
External links
http://www.ofarevolution.com/ O.A.R. Official website
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
O.A.R. Category:Jam bands Category:Ohio State University Category:Musical groups from Maryland Category:Musical groups established in 1996 Category:Live Music Archive artists Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:Alternative rock groups from Maryland
de:OAR (Band) la:Of a Revolution pl:Of a Revolution pt:Of a Revolution simple:Of a Revolution
Copyright Citations
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