O.A.R.

While American rock band O.A.R. may have a few hit singles that their well known for, the Maryland band has built a reputation on innovation and gumption. O.A.R. (aka Of a Revolution) rose to fame through the distribution of their music and concert dates on college campuses. Each of O.A.R.'s tour dates is unique, as they slightly tweak each song to make each performance one of a kind. Not to mention that the band is bringing back the freestyle jam back to concert schedules, which is rarely seen in mainstream music these days. Regardless of inventive tour dates, O.A.R has created the hit singles "This Town" and "Shattered (Turn the Car Around)" which have received major airplay. Fans are eagerly anticipating the release O.A.R's latest album, King, on August 2, as well as ongoing tour dates in 2011, including a few summer festival dates on the concert schedule.

O.A.R was formed by friends Marc Roberge and Chris Culos in 1996. They asked schoolmates Richard On and Benj Gershman to join and O.A.R. released their debut album, The Wanderer, the next year. The quartet attended Ohio State University after high school, but still found time to write and release Souls Aflame in 2000. The songs from their second album slowly gained popularity while O.A.R. performed on campus and maintained a local concert schedule. O.A.R.'s third album, Risen, broke into the Billboard charts and paved the way for further success upon the release of Stories of a Stranger in 2005.

By this time, the reputation of O.A.R.'s concert schedule performances had increased to the point that they performed a sold-out tour date at Madison Square Garden in 2006. The members of O.A.R. later admitted that the success of their studio albums was due in part to the popularity of tour dates and live albums. The band's 2008 album, All Sides, featured the track "Shattered (Turn the Car Around)," which has become O.A.R.'s most popular and highest charting single.

Fans are eagerly anticipating the release of King on August 2, as well as the remaining 2011 tour dates on O.A.R.'s US concert schedule. The remaining tour dates for 2011 will be visiting states on the east coast, with two concerts in Colorado in late July. Fans on the west coast who missed the start of O.A.R.'s concert schedule will, unfortunately, have to wait for the announcement of more tour dates in 2011 following the release of King. Make sure to keep checking Eventful for any updates on another upcoming tour.