Gothic Theatre
O.A.R.
Oar of a Revolution converted from an Ohio State frat band to Billboard chartbuster and headliner at major venues across America.
First, college reps hawked the band’s two demo recordings to people and servers at universities. Then, word-of-mouth news spread about the band’s roots rock and reggae-inflected upbeat songs. Before long, the band got thousands of hits daily on their website at www.ofarevolution.com.
O.A.R.’s third CD, Risen, was produced by John Alagia (Dave Matthews Band, Ben Folds Five) and recorded in summer 2000 at Water Music in Hoboken, NJ, and at Dumbo Studios in New York City for the group’s independent label, Everfine Records. The CD debuted at number 11 on February 24, 2001, on the Top Internet Album Sales chart in Billboard.
O.A.R., likened to Dave Matthews Band, consists of lead singer/rhythm guitarist Marc Roberge, lead guitarist Richard On, saxist Jerry DePizzo, bassist Benj Gershman, and drummer Chris Culos.
O.A.R. formed in 1998 at Ohio State University. Roberge had known Culos since childhood in Rockville, MD, where he also became friends and played in local bands with On and Gershman. DePizzo, who hails from Youngstown, OH, met the others at Ohio State.
