 "Photo: Courtesy Photo")
Even though Jerry DePizzo, saxophonist for O.A.R. (Of A Revolution), is a famous musician, he says that he is really just a family man. For him, there is no "rock star glitz and glamour" to his life; he is just thankful that he can play saxophone and provide a living for his family.
DePizzo said he always knew the band was going to be something special and would be something big.
O.A.R. will be performing at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls July 22. Tickets are $30 and went on sale April 26. The all ages show starts at 7:30 p.m., doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The Volante was able to get a phone interview with O.A.R. saxophonist Jerry DePizzo and hear the details of the band's summer tours, their upcoming record and learn what inspires DePizzo and hear about his outlook on music and performing.
Sarah Reinecke: O.A.R. played at the Elmen Center in Sioux Falls in 2006. Why did O.A.R. decide to come back to Sioux Falls this summer?
Jerry DePizzo: We were really surprised the first time we played the Dakotas, Sioux Falls especially. We didn't really know what to expect, and we had an opportunity to go there, and we just had a great overwhelming response that we felt the need to go back. People just came out in droves, and the amount of people that came out to the show and their level of enthusiasm was something that interested us.
SR: Did you guys ever imagine you would get to the level you are at today?
JD: I always knew that the band had something special … I was so much a fan of the music and just enjoyed the music, the energy, the atmosphere and I knew it had the potential to be something bigger than a bar band in Columbus, Ohio, and it certainly has become much more than that.
SR: What sets O.A.R. apart from other bands?
JD: The fact that we are seasoned, and we are certainly talented in what we do in the regard that I think we are a very good band, and I think after 11 or 12 years of playing together, we can really perfect our craft. And we really built a niche for ourselves. To be honest with you, I really can't think of anything that is like O.A.R. out there that shares our unique sound and style and has such a loyal and devoted large following and also a commercial appeal.
SR: How would you describe O.A.R.'s style and sound?
JD: It's hard for me to describe it because I'm on the inside and that's always a funny question to ask a musician. I think O.A.R. sounds like O.A.R., and if we try to cover a jazz song, it just ends up sounding like O.A.R.
SR: What are O.A.R.'s plans for this summer?
JD: In June we start the All Sides Tour. It's part of our new studio record coming out July 15 called "All Sides," and we are going to be all over the U.S. and Canada supporting this record. We are really excited about it, and we're really thrilled with the end result of the record. We think that everybody is going to be able to find something on there that they can really enjoy.
There's also a promotion we are doing through Ticketmaster, where if you go to ticketmaster and get two tickets, you get a copy of the record. You immediately get a couple songs, then you get it the day before the record is released.
SR: Why did you guys decide to dotthat promotion?
JD: We just figured, people really enjoy coming to see us live and figured it was a way for people to get access to it and be aware of it. We also wanted to thank people who come out to a number of different shows and buy multiple tickets.
SR: What's your favorite part of performing live?
JD: It's just the interaction you get with the audience, the fact that it really isn't a one sided event. The audience is as much a part of it as the band, so I enjoy reacting off not only the other four guys on stage, but the audience as well. That's what's really exciting.
SR: What inspires you?
JD: I think what really motivates and directs me is I just really want to perfect my craft and become better and as good of a musician as I possibly can. That is something that is extremely important to me. I'm a family man. There's really no rock star glitz and glamour to my life. Before I called you I was cutting my grass. To be able to provide a living and a fine way of life for my family - to play saxophone and live the way I do, I think is pretty remarkable, and I think I'm very fortunate, so that certainly motivates me, and drives me and I really don't take anything for granted.
SR: Are there any other bands that inspire O.A.R.?
JD: I think there are a lot of different artists and things like that. I think U2 is a great example, where I think the sum is greater than the means. I don't think any one of those members are virtuosos at what they do, but you put them together in a room and you ask them to make music, and it's amazing. And that's something that really can't be duplicated, and it's something that we really pride ourselves on is that O.A.R. is a true band.
The reason why the sound is so unique and so different is because it can only be made by these five guys in a room. I think that is something really inspiring in bands like U2, Pearl Jam, even Bruce Springsteen with the E-Street Band, the Rolling Stones, Greenday ... they all have their own unique style that can't be replicated or duplicated in any other way.
Reach reporter Sarah Reinecke at Sarah.A.Reinecke@usd.edu.
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