O.A.R rocks the house...and the pavement

One line from Of A Revolution's opening number sums up the magnitude of their performance Tuesday night at the Kappa Sigma house:\n"What can you say about this weather? It ain't gonna rain on this parade."\nFrom the blue skies to the friendly atmosphere, everything was ideal.\nThe opening band, local favorite Three Minute Mile, got things rolling with a consistent performance to a somewhat sparse crowd, with hits such as "Open Up a Can" and "Big M." Their cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Foxy Lady" was a definite crowd pleaser.\nAt about 7 p.m. O.A.R. came out on stage, causing many of the lawn-dwellers to hurriedly make their way closer to the stage, packing themselves tightly on the pavement.\nAs I watched part of the show from the second floor balcany, I was impressed by the energy of the crowd that quickly grew to be over 2,000 strong. But what impressed me even more was when lead singer and rhythm guitar player Marc Roberge encouraged the crowd to have a good time -- but to do so safely. After Roberge asked the crowd members not to crowd surf there was one lone fellow who decided to go against the grain. The security personnel were correct to allow him to return to the action after receiving a stern talking to. It is reassuring to see that college students are actually able to have a good time without succumbing to the urge to trash everything in sight.\nThe members of Kappa Sigma took adequate measures to ensure the safety of the band and of those in attendance for the alcohol-free event. I am glad to see a fraternity following through with its philanthropic duties and donating all of the proceeds to the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington, Inc. Other greeks and non-greeks should take note and follow suit.\nO.A.R. may have the reputation as just another "jam band" to be found on any given college campus, but Tuesday night's Little 500 Kick-Off concert proved otherwise. Their mixture of genres included the best of what reggae, pop and rock have to offer.\nThe versatility of the band was showcased as each member of the five-piece band was given an opportunity to shine. Saxophone player Jerry DePizzo mixed things up now and then with his mellow, interpretive accompaniment.\nThe keyboard player was hard to pick out at times behind the rest of the band, but that did not detract from the overall experience.\nThe boys from Maryland rocked the Kappa Sigma house and surrounding area with vibes you could feel in your chest. The sound was as clear as the sky. There was a great balance between loud, action-packed beats and a cool, smile-rousing sound that matched the aura of the evening. \nThe audience involvement began early and the involvement never faltered. A sea of hands swayed back and forth throughout most of the show. O.A.R. worked hard to put on a good show, and anytime a band is able to have the whole crowd jumping and jiving for two hours, they've done a good job.\nThe set also included a couple tunes from their upcoming album, set to hit record store shelves May 7. Based on the sampling of fresh music, the new album has the potential to sell out around college campuses.\nThe boisterous crowd remained packed together on the pavement of the parking lot as if there was some mysterious boundary between it and the grass.\nBut there was nothing mysterious about what O.A.R. brought to IU. Carrying a plethora of promise, O.A.R. is a must-hear for all fans of good music who are looking to have a good time. It's hard to find a quality, good-natured band these days. O.A.R.'s laid back, feel-good style no doubt earned them an even greater following as they continue to march around the country in a parade that has nothing but promise in store for their future.