O.A.R.
Any Time Now (Everfine Records)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

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Mark your calendars. Save the date. May 7th is the scheduled release date for O.A.R.'s double-live CD from two shows at Washington, DC's 9:30 Club, Any Time Now. O.A.R. is a Maryland-based quintet that's garnered a substantial following at its live shows built on what the band bills as "Island Vibe Roots Rock." Last year, their CD Risen debuted at #11 on the Billboard.com Top Internet Album Sales list, and both Risen and The Wanderer were top-selling new releases of the American Distribution Alliance (ADA), one of the leading distributors of independent label recordings in America. "Black Rock" and "Conquering Fools" are two of the highlights from Risen, and "City On Down" and "About Mr. Brown" originally appeared on their 2000 disc, Soul's Aflame. They've been called the Dave Matthews Band of the Midwest, having relocated to Ohio from their home in Maryland. While I like Dave just fine, I really like these guys' own ragged sound better, for O.A.R.'s literate songwriting and soaring guitars. Their shows and college word of mouth have helped them them sell over 150,000 records from the back of the van or across the merch table, all without a record label or radio play. The infectious ska of "That Was a Crazy Game of Poker" is a treat as is "Night Shift" which morphs into "Stir It Up" with the help of guest guitarist Junior Marvin, formerly of Bob Marley and the Wailers. If you're fortunate to live on the Eastern Seaboard or the Midwest, their 2002 tour schedule this month brings them to Myrtle Beach, Memphis, Green Bay, and Cincinnati, among other stops, with opening acts like the Virginia Coalition and The Clarks. Essential listening for jam band fans, and I hope musically they'll live up to their earlier name, " ...Of A Revolution."

Disc One:

City on Down * Get Away * Destination * Conquering Fools * About An Hour Ago * Black Rock * On Top of The Cage * She Gone * Delicate Few

Disc Two:

The Wanderer * Hey Girl * Anyway * Hold On True * Night Shift/Stir It Up * About Mr. Brown * That Was A Crazy Game of Poker * I Feel Home

© 2002 - Eric Steiner