CorporateFish
02/16/06, 05:23 PM
On Sunday I had the pleasure of seeing O.A.R. perform in the Assembly Hall, part of U of I. I’m aware that many members of this site dislike the band, but their live show is undeniably incredible whether you’re a fan or not.
The opening act was Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, who I had seen once before. They did not impress me last year, but they blew me away this time. The music sounded incredibly tight, somehow even better than on their records. They played with energy the whole show and made an extra effort on this tour to entertain the crowd. The band members tossed stuffed animals at each other and into the crowd, the bassist put down his bass and danced on stage, Stephen played harmonica and kazoo solos, and the band played a medleyof popular songs ranging from 50 Cent to old 70’s hits to Anchorman’s “Afternoon Delight.” The band closed with what Stephen Kellogg said was “a song they didn’t really know how to play and had no right to play.” The entire crowd was soon singing along to John Mellencamp’s Jack & Diane.
O.A.R. came on stage and the crowd went wild. They opened with “Hey Girl” with five minutes of extra jamming. I noticed two things right away; they had a keyboardist accompanying them on this tour and Marc (the lead singer) seemed worn out and somewhat lethargic. The first six songs were fan favorites. The band played a few songs off their new album mixed in with their remaining setlist, all of which sounded great. However, after “Love and Memories” Marc walked off stage. From my position in the very front I could see medics rushing backstage. The band looked around at each other somewhat confused and Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers returned on stage. Stephen talked to the members of O.A.R. and told the crowd they’d be playing a Bob Dylan cover. They performed a solid cover of “Like A Rolling Stone” with Stephen singing. After the song, Stephen informed the crowd that Marc was very sick and this would be the last song. Marc then walked on stage with a new microphone and told the crowd he was alright and they would play a couple more. Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers traded off vocals as they busted out an outstanding cover of Billy Joel’s “Piano Man.” Marc sat down and watched as the crowd sang louder than they had to any song that night. To see the two bands uniting on stage on the spot was truly moving. Nobody in either band had expected this but nobody minded. They were simply playing for the love of music and entertainment of their fans. Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers left and Marc managed to play through their classic song “That Was A Crazy Game Of Poker” as if he was never sick at all. They cut the jamming out of the song and played the studio version. O.A.R. walked off stage and the crowd’s chant for an encore was killed by the lights turning on and the road crew carrying the equipment off stage.
After the show I talked to the person working the sound board and received what was supposed to be the setlist. They were going to play two new songs, a Bob Marley cover, and I feel home. However in my opinion, seeing “Piano Man” was better than all of those songs combined. I urge everybody, whether you like O.A.R. or not, to at least make it out to one of their shows. They are one of the most talented, musical, and entertaining live shows I’ve seen.
O.A.R.'s Setlist:
1. Hey Girl
2. About An Hour Ago
3. Dareh Meyod
4. One Shot
5. Whose Chariot
6. Delicate Few
7. Lay Down
8. The 59th Street Bridge Song
9. City On Down
10. Nightshift
11. Love And Memories
12. Like A Rolling Stone (with SK/6ers)
13. Piano Man (with SK/6ers)
14. That Was A Crazy Game Of Poker
The opening act was Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, who I had seen once before. They did not impress me last year, but they blew me away this time. The music sounded incredibly tight, somehow even better than on their records. They played with energy the whole show and made an extra effort on this tour to entertain the crowd. The band members tossed stuffed animals at each other and into the crowd, the bassist put down his bass and danced on stage, Stephen played harmonica and kazoo solos, and the band played a medleyof popular songs ranging from 50 Cent to old 70’s hits to Anchorman’s “Afternoon Delight.” The band closed with what Stephen Kellogg said was “a song they didn’t really know how to play and had no right to play.” The entire crowd was soon singing along to John Mellencamp’s Jack & Diane.
O.A.R. came on stage and the crowd went wild. They opened with “Hey Girl” with five minutes of extra jamming. I noticed two things right away; they had a keyboardist accompanying them on this tour and Marc (the lead singer) seemed worn out and somewhat lethargic. The first six songs were fan favorites. The band played a few songs off their new album mixed in with their remaining setlist, all of which sounded great. However, after “Love and Memories” Marc walked off stage. From my position in the very front I could see medics rushing backstage. The band looked around at each other somewhat confused and Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers returned on stage. Stephen talked to the members of O.A.R. and told the crowd they’d be playing a Bob Dylan cover. They performed a solid cover of “Like A Rolling Stone” with Stephen singing. After the song, Stephen informed the crowd that Marc was very sick and this would be the last song. Marc then walked on stage with a new microphone and told the crowd he was alright and they would play a couple more. Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers traded off vocals as they busted out an outstanding cover of Billy Joel’s “Piano Man.” Marc sat down and watched as the crowd sang louder than they had to any song that night. To see the two bands uniting on stage on the spot was truly moving. Nobody in either band had expected this but nobody minded. They were simply playing for the love of music and entertainment of their fans. Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers left and Marc managed to play through their classic song “That Was A Crazy Game Of Poker” as if he was never sick at all. They cut the jamming out of the song and played the studio version. O.A.R. walked off stage and the crowd’s chant for an encore was killed by the lights turning on and the road crew carrying the equipment off stage.
After the show I talked to the person working the sound board and received what was supposed to be the setlist. They were going to play two new songs, a Bob Marley cover, and I feel home. However in my opinion, seeing “Piano Man” was better than all of those songs combined. I urge everybody, whether you like O.A.R. or not, to at least make it out to one of their shows. They are one of the most talented, musical, and entertaining live shows I’ve seen.
O.A.R.'s Setlist:
1. Hey Girl
2. About An Hour Ago
3. Dareh Meyod
4. One Shot
5. Whose Chariot
6. Delicate Few
7. Lay Down
8. The 59th Street Bridge Song
9. City On Down
10. Nightshift
11. Love And Memories
12. Like A Rolling Stone (with SK/6ers)
13. Piano Man (with SK/6ers)
14. That Was A Crazy Game Of Poker