O.A.R. honors Virginia Tech at Little 500 concert

O.A.R. lead singer Marc Roberge, donning a Virginia Tech Hokies T-shirt, tried to keep the mood positive Friday night at the IU Auditorium. \n“Let’s take a moment to make sure our hearts are in the right place,” he said as the crowd fell silent. “All we can do is treat people right, make new friends and try to have a good time tonight.”\nThe sold-out crowd took Roberge’s advice – roaring with approval from the moment the band took the stage with fan favorites, “Love and Memories” and “City on Down.”\n“They are one of those bands you can listen to and enjoy, but they are 10 times better when you see them in person,” sophomore Colin Thompson said of his sixth time seeing the band.\nSt. Louis-based Ludo warmed up the predominantly student crowd with a sound reminiscent of Hoobastank and New Found Glory. The animated lead singer swung his hips and made clown-like faces to energize the seated crowd, but the only song that really connected with the audience was a fast-paced version of the IU fight song, “Indiana, Our Indiana.”\nStill, the audience seemed pleased with their sometimes comical take on the punk-rock genre, even though it was quite a stretch from O.A.R.’s more mellow sound.\n“O.A.R. has such a different kind of sound – sort of like a Dave Matthews Band,” Notre Dame sophomore Nick Caprino said. “All I know is that they can really jam.”\nWhat sets O.A.R. apart from other modern jam bands is the saxophone solos from band member Jerry DePizzo.\n“Now I’d like Jerry to tell you a little bit about the music,” Roberge said to introduce the solid saxophone performance DePizzo delivered under the glow of the auditorium’s soft green lights. \nPiano, bongo and shaker solos also kept the audience up on their feet with a play list that spanned almost a decade of music. The band highlighted many of the songs from their new album, “Stories of a Stranger,” yet the hit “Crazy Game of Poker” was the only song where the audience’s chants came close to drowning out Roberge’s smooth crooning.\n“I think what makes O.A.R. such a good college band is their Big Ten roots,” 2006 alumnus Jim Hoff said of the band’s beginnings at Ohio State. “They really understand the whole college lifestyle and what Little 500 is all about.”\nRoberge seemed to echo the same warm sentiments about his college-age fan base.\n“The Midwest is like our home,” he shouted to the cheering fans. “You want to have a fun time, you come here to Bloomington.”