On its studio albums, O.A.R. is a solid, if somewhat unremarkable, band.
In concert, such as the long, spirited one on Thursday at UCF Arena, the 5-piece outfit transforms its hybrid of pop, rock, reggae and jam-band influences into a formidable brew. Over the course of two hours, the band rarely stopped to take a breath or give members of the rowdy, college-age crowd a reason to take their seats.
And what were the tickets for this marathon? $30 or so? Put O.A.R.’s set together with a 30-minute opening stint by Tampa singer-songwriter Matt Hires and an additional 45 minutes from Orlando’s Between the Trees and it was one of those rare nights when the ticket seemed like a bargain. It certainly was diverse. Hires, standing alone with his acoustic guitar in the spotlight, asserted himself like a Bob Dylan throwback, albeit with a sweeter, more fragile delivery. Gentle, folk-tinged love songs such as "Oh, Sunrise," "Listen to Me Now" and "Out of the Dark" were exceedingly earnest. With his understated delivery, Hires had a bit of trouble holding the attention of early arrivers, a small crowd that could have fit comfortably in one section of the floor seats. As the crowd began to arrive, Between the Trees sounded positively explosive with its high-energy songs such as "White Lines & Red Lights," "Words" and "Story of a Boy." Lead singer Ryan KirklandÖ dedicated the latter to his brother, who was among a contingent of family and friends on hand for the band’s latest homecoming. Although Kirkland does his share of shouting, he’s also capable of being more expressive on songs such as the touching "A Time for Yohe." O.A.R.., meanwhile, chugged through its set with energy and ease. Saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Jerry DePizzoÖ asserted himself better on stage than in the studio, adding subtle body with baritone sax on the opening "Living in the End" and taking a melodic tenor solo in "One Shot." The latter emphasized the lead vocals of Marc Roberge and the band’s taste for reggae rhythms, which kept the mood breezy all night. Even though the band can tackle rock, as it did on "With a Little Help From My Friends," it’s the less inventive side of its personality.
Fortunately, O.A.R. kept the infectious beat — and the party — going strong.
