Ice Cream Man

O.A.R. at House of Blues Sunset

Words by John Campbell
Photos by Marc D'Amour

I had the opportunity to catch the boys play a small dive-bar in my native Wisconsin about 10 years ago. Back then, for the 50 or so of us in attendance, it was obvious that O.A.R. were onto something. They had a unique sound, catchy hooks, and an overall party feel to all of their efforts, but musically, it was like their overall ability hadn’t quite caught up to their ambition and potential.

What a difference a decade makes.

Musically, the band has never sounded tighter and as they plunge headfirst into a big summer tour, they’ve never been more poised for the spotlight. Marc’s vocals are stronger than ever, Richard, Benj, and Jerry are spot-on, and Chris’ sax playing has brought a musical highlight to every live performance. The new album, ALL SIDES, drops July 15th, and if the two new tracks they showcased, “This Town” and “Shattered” are any indication, the band has taken another huge step forward and we’re all in for a treat.

Ten years ago, it was “That Was a Crazy Game of Poker” that had everyone singing every word. Tuesday night, it seemed that everyone in the packed House of Blues knew every word to every song. We missed one of my favorites “City on Down” but the encore version of “Hey Girl” more than covered the difference. But whether it was an old track or a new one, the band sounded tighter than ever.

Just a few weeks ago, I found myself out and about in Wisconsin. One of the local bars featured live music, and I couldn’t believe it when the band kicked into an 8 minute cover of “Poker”. Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, O.A.R. was about to take the stage for a two-night stand of the House of Blues Hollywood.

I’ve said it before and I’ll probably say it again…what a difference a decade makes.