MIX 107.3 Fosters A Backstage (BBQ) Revolution At Merriweather; O.A.R. Plays To Hometown Crowd!

COLUMBIA, Md. -- Disproving the notion that you can’t go home again, the rock band O.A.R. (short for Of A Revolution) took the stage at Merriweather Post Pavilion on Saturday evening, for a well-received concert in front of thousands of Washingtonians.

Founded out of Rockville, Maryland in 1996 (four of the five members graduated from Wootton High School), the band has since gone on to release seven studio albums, sold close to two million CDs, and even managed to sell-out Madison Square Garden to the delight of more than 18,000 fans that night.

Prior to their headlining performance on Saturday, band members Marc Roberge (vocals/guitar), Chris Culos (drums/percussion), Richard On (guitar/backing vocals), Benj Gershman (bass guitar), and Jerry DePizzo (saxophone/guitar/percussion/backing vocals) joined the well-liked on-air radio team from Friendship Heights-based MIX 107.3 (and sister station 105.9 The Edge), for a private backstage BBQ.

With Morning Show host Jack Diamond serving as the emcee, and with fellow D.C. radio personalities Carson, Chilli Amar, Mike O'Meara, and Cerphe backing him up, the MIX crew welcomed the band and a select group of lucky on-air contest winners to an intimate party inside the venue’s “9:32 Club” (an extension of the popular 9:30 Club).

In addition to the rare opportunity to talk and have their albums signed by all of the members of O.A.R., guests were treated to a full spread courtesy of Urban Bar-B-Que.

The real winners of the event, however, were The Levine School of Music and Neediest Kids non-profits, who each walked away with a check for $52,284.53 courtesy of a benefit concert the band played at Strathmore in December of last year.

One of the nicer revolutions, we would say!