Current bands looking to break through might want to study and emulate O.A.R. The indie rock band, whose name is short for Of A Revolution, consists of four high school friends and one pal from college, and they have had the same core lineup since 1996, specializing in roots rock, a genre that has both swelled and shrunk in the past two decades. Yet no matter what is going on in the rest of the music world, O.A.R. maintains their status as a must-see rock act.
The band built their relationship with enthusiastic audiences through raucous live performances, forgoing major label interest and instead becoming an independent monster of touring. Songs like “That Was a Crazy Game of Poker” and “Black Rock” became such enthralling live set pieces that O.A.R. eventually sold out Madison Square Garden. That’s right, four dudes from Rockville, Md., and one pal from Youngstown, Ohio, sold out the most famous arena in the world, all without the support of a major label. If that does not speak to their power as a live act, what does?
Currently touring in support of ninth studio album, The Mighty, the mighty O.A.R. continues to tear things up their own way.
House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, 6 p.m. Aug. 20, starting at $40 plus tax and fee. 702.632.7600
