While outsiders may think Ohio only breeds farmers and football players, Ohioans take pride in cultivating rock stars.
Three musically-minded friends from Maryland began their educational careers at Ohio State in fall of 1997. After acclimating to Columbus and hooking up with two other musicians, the friends created the band they are known as today – …Of A Revolution.
The band’s sound has been compared with The Dave Matthews Band, Sublime and 311.
“People relate to O.A.R.’s style, as many college students love that genre of music,” said Amy Troendly, marketing assistant at Promowest Pavilion.
O.A.R. was first put on the map with “Crazy Game of Poker,” a song that has become popular among fans and is a concert staple.
The song was written by lead vocalist Marc Roberge during a hectic time in his life while the band members were still in high school.
“It reflects the hastiness and confusion of being 17,” he said.
Today the band has a grassroots following all over the country.
“We came to the reality that although (O.A.R.) was born in Maryland, we were raised in Ohio,” said Roberge.
Choosing OSU was no coincidence for Roberge and band mates: Richard On (guitar), Chris Culos (drums), Benj Gersham (bass) and Jerry DePizzo (saxophone). DePizzo is from Youngstown but the college choice was strategic for the others.
“Ohio State was absolutely targeted, we wanted to go there,” Roberge said. “Ohio State is the biggest school. We wanted to be their band.”
In the end, Ohio State panned out well for O.A.R.
“Ohio State put us on the map,” Roberge said.
Aside from the possibilities of a large audience, OSU offered many advantages to the up-and-coming musicians. Being centrally located, Columbus provided the band with easy access to the many colleges in Ohio and to other Midwest schools.
“By the time I was in my fourth year we were traveling within the state and the region to many different schools,” Roberge said.
For many, the ability to be a musician and actually be successful at it is just a pipe dream, but for O.A.R. it is a reality.
“It’s something you wish and hope for. It’s a long shot,” DePizzo said. “But I figured if there’s anywhere in Ohio you could do it, it would be Columbus.”
When O.A.R. was not rocking a venue, the musicians were typical students enjoying college life.
“Sophomore year was the best year of our lives,” Roberge said of the year he moved in with fellow O.A.R. member, On. “I really became a man away from home.”
Many of the band’s most notorious songs were written about experiences at OSU.
“We were living in Morrill Tower and were going though a lot of issues because of being away (from home),” Roberge said.
Songs like “Night Shift” and “I Feel Home” reflected the reconciliation feelings of excitement and being homesick, which are typical of leaving home for the first time.
“Now we write a lot of new stuff about leaving Ohio,” Roberge said.
Most notably, “The Road Outside Columbus,” on their latest CD “In Between Now and Then,” is a favorite among OSU students, with lyrics like: “This Midwest way of ease it surrounds us; I can’t deny the rhythm here; And as I pull away from Riverside beside me, That High Street never looked so good.”
“I was always giving love to Maryland, and my girlfriend said you’ve been in Ohio for so long,” Roberge said of his motivation to write about Ohio.
“Road Outside Columbus” was initially supposed to be about Roberge’s daily drive from his off-campus house to campus, but decided to weave his drive from Rockville, Md., to Ohio into the song, as well.
Even with their ever growing popularity, the band still considers Columbus home and maintains a loyalty to the city that jumpstarted their musical career.
“I live in Columbus right now,” DePizzo said. “That’s where I call home. I could’ve moved anywhere.”
The band’s popularity has soared over the past two years with five albums and two major tours under its belt. In the summer of 2003 the band toured with the 2003 Sprite Liquid Mix Tour and in 2002 with the Jeep World Outside Festival alongside headliners like Sheryl Crow, Train and Ziggy Marley.
“For huge corporate things they were fun,” Roberge said.
Roberge said the band much prefers smaller, intimate venues like the Newport Music Hall, where the musicians feel they are one with their fans.
“The Newport is a landmark,” Roberge said. “It is so much more personal. People came to see you rather than just winning tickets off the radio.”
The fans at the local venues appear to appreciate this notion, with all recent performances in Columbus selling out.
“The audience is always extremely excited for O.A.R. shows,” Troendly said. “They have a lot of fun and put on great performances. We constantly hear feedback on people absolutely loving their shows, and asking us to bring them back.”
Today O.A.R. is working to promote awareness for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a genetic disorder that affects motor neurons. The band has teamed up with the organization Miracle for Madison and Friends to help raise funds for research.
“They have been so excited and sincere about raising money and awareness for Miracle For Madison and Friends,” said Annette Reed, founder of the organization.
Reed’s 7-year-old daughter Madison, who has been diagnosed with SMA, is the namesake of the organization.
The band raised $5,000 last summer for the charity and chose to work with the charity again this year.
Reed said this is the first time O.A.R. have ever chosen to work with the same charity.
In February, the band had the opportunity to meet Madison for the first time, on her birthday.
“They came in with birthday balloons and a teddy bear for Madison. She really had fun with them,” Reed said.
Reed said she was impressed with the band’s down-to-earth attitudes and eagerness to help with the charity.
“They kept asking. ‘What more can we do,'” Reed said.
The dedicated band members have donated autographed memorabilia to be auctioned off for charity and wear SMA shirts during concerts to promote awareness.
“They are doing it because they want to do it, and that makes me feel really good,” Reed said.
