College-crowd superstars slated to rock Hump
Matt Clark
Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: Entertainment
|
The Hump will be the concert site for the well-known band. O.A.R.'s visit to MSU is the handiwork of student-run organization Music Makers Productions.
"People recognize the name, and we thought it would be a good band to bring," said Tyler Stacy, Music Makers director. "We see what bands are available, and we take a vote. We put in a bid for them, and they accepted. Everyone was really excited."
O.A.R., which is an acronym for the band's full name ...Of A Revolution, was formed in 1996 in Rockville, Md., while the members were still in high school.
The group produced its debut album The Wanderer in 1997 and since sold 1.2 million albums, appeared on television including "The Tonight Show," and sold out Madison Square Garden twice.
O.A.R.'s massive audience is largely made up of college students, possibly due to its unique style, which New York Times journalist Kelefa Sanneh described as "a genial blend of straightforward rock and light reggae."
"They're a jam band, but not really like a jam band," Stacy said. "[O.A.R. is] really catchy music you can dance to. Just a good-feeling type of music."
O.A.R.'s approaching visit is causing a buzz around campus, especially among the band's followers.
"I'm really excited," said Glenn Wegener, junior international business major and O.A.R. fan. "I went out and bought The Wanderer, and I've been listening to it over the break."
Wegener said he hopes that the concert will signal the university's return as a major venue for big acts in the music industry.
"I've heard so much about the '70s and '80s when State was getting huge names, and I'm excited we're headed back towards that," he said. "Students didn't have to travel to Birmingham or Memphis to see a big show [back then]. I hope we're going back in the direction of State being a destination for popular artists."
Be the first to comment on this story