When one thinks of an independent rock band, the band Of a Revolution isn’t the first one that pops into their head. Despite this, O.A.R. has gone on to become one of the best selling fully-independent rock bands around. Its latest release, a double live album called Any Time Now, debuted at number one on the Billboard heatseekers chart, as well number 12 on the internet sales chart in early April. Any Time Now was recorded over a series of nights at Washington, D.C.’s 9:30 club.
On Wednesday, Nov. 20, O.A.R. will bring album to life when it plays the Pageant in the Loop. The band has been on tour on and off since last June, when its members graduated from The Ohio State University.
Lead singer Marc Roberge said the highlight of their never-ending tour came just a few weeks ago when they played the Fillmore in San Francisco.
“It was the second time we played there, and it was just amazing. Everything was just perfect.”
Because of their success, O.A.R. has been courted for over a year by major labels. Roberge said the band is looking to find a label for distribution, but will continue on with their label, Everfine Records, if they can.
“There are a lot of nice people at the major labels, it’s just a matter of finding them,” he said. He also said the band isn’t looking to become the next phenomenon if they do join with a major label.
“We want to take a very slow approach because we feel we’re different. We don’t want to alienate our fans as well. We do want to poke our heads in and out of radio and different marketing plans, though,” Roberge said. He said the band should be heading into the studio sometime this winter for the follow-up to Risen, which was released in 2001.
“(This album) will be more of an expansion,” he said. “It will show more of the rock ‘n’ rock part of the band. We want to try new things as a band.” He also said he has been influenced lately by listening to the new Coldplay and David Gray albums.
The starting point for the band, though, Roberge said, was the album Babylon by Bus, a live album by Bob Marley and the Wailers.
“It just summed up everything we wanted in a band,” Roberge said. “All the musicians came together to form one sound where no one person stood out. It was like it was all coming out of one speaker.”
