O.A.R.'s DePizzo reveals summer plans, inspiration and more
Sarah Reinecke
Issue date: 4/30/08 Section: Verve
Originally Created: 4/29/08 at 10:31 PM CST
Last Updated: 4/29/08 at 11:29 PM CST
Originally Created: 4/29/08 at 10:31 PM CST
Last Updated: 4/29/08 at 11:29 PM CST
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.
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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