If you didn’t make it to the O.A.R. concert on Friday night in McDonough Gymnasium, it’s likely that one of your friends did. In fact, that friend probably called you from his cell phone in the middle of the show and was probably standing right next to me, talking about how he was “sooooo wasted.” Of all the cell phone conversations that were being screamed one inch from my head, not a single one even mentioned the band. Is this an indicator of the quality of the band?or does it indicate the quality of the crowd?
As the opening act 2 Skinnee J’s took the stage, the venue wasn’t even half full, and the microphone wiring wasn’t even half done. This, combined with the band’s matching child-sized T-shirts, tight white pants and rhinestones, didn’t exactly get the audience interested. After the first song, the sound problems were fixed. Unfortunately, this made the lyrics audible, and the rest of the set was spent listening to tales of Star Wars or the avenging of the mistreatment of nerds everywhere. About halfway through the set, during “The Good, the Bad and the Skinnee” (a song about the lyrical vigilantism of the band), the crowd surfing started, as did the moshing. Is there anything sadder than drunk boys in polo shirts moshing to music that is less hardcore than your mom?
The crowd started chanting “O-A-R, O-A-R” even before the J’s left the stage, demonstrating why O.A.R will likely be the most innovative band GPB will be able to bring to this campus: The audience couldn’t even maintain a modicum of patience at a concert where the band’s only goal is to provide them with a party atmosphere. The impatience continued even after O.A.R. took the stage: Three songs into the set, the audience had enough of O.A.R’s standard fare and began chanting “Poker, Poker,” a not-so-subtle plea for the band to play their most popular song “That Was A Crazy Game of Poker.” The band persevered, perhaps reluctant to bend to the whims of a crowd full of people who were willing to pay $12 to hear one song. The audience, on the other hand, was clearly less interested in the music than being able to tell their friends they heard “Poker” played live.
The band finally relented and played “Crazy Game of Poker,” and the crowd, thrilled to have achieved their concert goal, shrieked its approval. The band segued into “No Woman No Cry,” one of the most popular (and overplayed) college party songs of all time, and then back into “Poker.” The audience was in a frenzy for the first time all night, leaving one to conclude they would have responded better to the band, in fact, if they had only played “No Woman, No Poker” for the entire set.
O.A.R. is not a bad band?the music is consistent in its pseudo-reggae beats and party-themed lyrics, and can be quite fun in certain settings. The band plays well to the tastes of the crowd, rather than assumeing pretensions. It is a college party band, no more, no less?they even played “Louie Louie.” At Georgetown, one would think the crowd would appreciate a band so finely tuned to its demographic: O.A.R is, in fact, the perfect band for the polo shirt and halter-top set. O.A.R. is a fine pseudo-jam band for those kids who once downloaded a Phish song. The group also blatantly bites lines from Bob Marley, conveniently increasing their fan base to those who own Legend.
The key to appreciating O.A.R.’s music is accepting the band for what it is?a band that has finally broken out of the frat-house basement scene and has a chance at Dave Matthews-esque fame. And while selling out McDonough gymnasium isn’t exactly playing Madison Square Garden, it is a step in the right direction. Although GPB might be more adventurous with the acts it brings to campus, it is obvious that students cannot handle mainstream bands, let alone any act that would deviate from the musical norm. Kudos to GPB, however, for diverting students’ attention from the warm Busch Light on the Village A rooftops and getting them to attend an event. But hey, don’t take my word for it, dude. I was sooooo wasted.
