Everfine Records Ohio rock band, Of A Revolution, will be
performing its ska-reggae tunes at the House of Blues on Sunset
Boulevard this Sunday and Monday.
By Michelle V. Gonzales
Daily Bruin Contributor
Viva la revolucion!
This is not your typical revolutionary uprising. The five band
members of the band Of A Revolution are not decked out in red Che
Guevarra shirts carrying banners that challenge government
policies.
Instead, O.A.R. deems itself revolutionary in other senses of
the word. The revolution that O.A.R. pursues is one that lies in
truthful, island-influenced rock music and short-story-inspired
lyrics.
So you say you want a revolution?
“We’re musically revolutionary. I don’t want
to say it is a revolutionary style of music, but it is a different
sound,” said Jerry DePizzo, the band’s saxophone
player, from his cell phone while walking around the streets of
Portland.
The band members, Marc Roberge, Richard On, Jerry DePizzo, Chris
Culos and Benj Gershman are currently on tour promoting
“Risen,” their most recent release on Everfine Records.
This includes shows this Sunday and Monday at the House of Blues on
Sunset Boulevard. Currently, the band has three albums under its
belt, and has built a solid following of college students all over
the country.
“The name came from a phrase taken out of a story,
“˜The Wanderer,’ that Marc wrote,” said Gershman
from their tour bus. “It’s not necessarily a revolt or
something political. It has something to do with life and
representation with music. It’s something very natural,
simple and sincere.”
A right to life!
The five members of O.A.R. formed at Ohio State University. Lead
vocalist and acoustic guitarist Marc Roberge develops all of the
lyrics for the songs, but the music is collectively created by the
revolutionary unit.
“It’s a very democratic environment,” said
DePizzo.
But “island-vibe roots rock” from Ohio? The closest
island to Ohio may just be Long Island. Yet being college students
stuck on the mainland does not hinder their ability to conjure an
exotic musical luau. The band members draw their individual
influences from different college experiences, like studying abroad
and traveling.
“We don’t try to do anything really special. Marc is
always coming up with new lyrics. He constantly is evolving
characters. It’s interesting seeing how the lyrics and music
change,” said Gershman.
The lead vocalist’s Hootie and the Blowfish-like voice
overpowers the reggae-ska elements. The lyrics mostly describe
simple happenings of love, people around you, optimism, hope and
coming to terms with loss.
“Lyrically a lot of the songs are short stories that
interplay with each other,” DePizzo said, after paying the
clerk at the 7-Eleven he walked into.
Long live true music!
“As a band we try to enhance our roles, we’re always
simplifying things more and more,” said Gershman.
This band does indeed have a sound that is not often seen within
the college circuit of music. College students from California
however may be perplexed to see a band from Ohio donning
island-vibe reggae-ska music with a name that evokes images of
change and anti-establishment.
“What we try to do is provide an enjoyable environment and
a positive message,” DePizzo said.
As for the “normal” structure often used by most
bands at live shows, O.A.R.’s live shows steer clear from
conformity.
“We never really write a set list. Every show is
different. If the crowd is asking for a certain song we’ll
play it. It’s not all us, it’s the whole composite
feeling of the night,” said Gershman.
Power to the people!
The “revolution” of O.A.R. is in the way they
approach their music, avoiding the usual music staples of set
lists, structures, dictatorships and overtly powerful chord
rock.
Viva la musica!