Sunny Jams by the River: O.A.R.’s Uplifting Groove at the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival

It’s a perfect summer Saturday on July 19, 2025, with the sun beaming down on Harriet Island like it’s got a personal invite to the party. The Minnesota Yacht Club Festival’s second day is alive with laughter and the sizzle of food trucks, the Mississippi rolling lazy blues beside us as families and friends claim their spots on the grass. Around 4:20 p.m., O.A.R. ambles onstage at the River’s Edge, all easy smiles and that signature jam-band warmth, ready to turn the afternoon into an instant feel-good memory. Frontman Marc Roberge strums a welcoming chord, and just like that, the crowd—old fans with faded tees, ready for the ride.

They ease into “Wonderful Day,” the upbeat opener setting a sunny tone with its positive lyrics bouncing off the lawn, harmonies layering sweet and full. Marc’s voice, rich and reassuring, carries that everyman charm, while the band’s chemistry hums—Richard On’s guitar weaving intricate leads, Benj Gershman’s bass locking steady. Then, early on, they slip into “Lay Down,” grooves deepening with Jerry DePizzo’s tenor sax adding soulful sighs and various percussion rattling like distant thunder. But it’s the next one, “I Go Through,” that hits heartfelt: a tribute to parents, born from the band’s own roots. Marc shares how they started playing together as kids in talent shows, backed by very supportive parents who believed in the dream from the start. The lyrics swell with gratitude, beautiful harmonies wrapping around the crowd like a group hug, upbeat and positive through every turn. You can’t help but sway, sax soaring on the bridge, percussion popping with joyful life.

The set rolls on seamless, “Love and Memories” drawing sing-alongs from the field, voices blending in that communal magic. “Dareh Meyod” brings a funky edge, On’s riffs trading with DePizzo’s horn, while “Fool in the Rain” nods to Led Zeppelin with a twist of their own jam flair. “Shattered (Turn the Car Around)” amps the energy, positive hooks pulling everyone to their feet, and they close with “Hey Girl,” a breezy farewell that leaves the air humming. Throughout, it’s the harmonies that shine—tight, layered, lifting the lyrics skyward—and that tenor sax, weaving through like a storyteller’s thread. Various percussion keeps the pulse alive, from congas to shakers, turning each song into a living, breathing thing.

O.A.R., short for Of A Revolution, kicked off in 1996 in Rockville, Maryland, when high school pals Marc Roberge and Chris Culos started jamming in Culos’ basement, soon pulling in Richard On, Benj Gershman, and Jerry DePizzo. What began as casual hangs evolved into basement tapes that caught fire on college circuits, blending rock, reggae, and jam elements into a sound all their own. Self-released early efforts like The Basement Tapes built a grassroots following, leading to major-label deals and albums like In Between Now and Then (2003) and Stories of a Stranger (2005). They’ve headlined amphitheaters, guested with Springsteen, and dropped 10 studio records, with The Architect (2024) marking their latest evolution. Over 25 years, O.A.R.’s stayed independent at heart, known for marathon live shows and songs that celebrate life’s ups with unflinching hope.

That Yacht Club slot was pure O.A.R.—upbeat, harmonious, a nod to the parents who got them here. If you caught the sax swells or felt those lyrics land, you know: it’s the kind of set that sticks with you.

Band Members

• Marc Roberge – Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
• Richard On – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
• Benj Gershman – Bass Guitar
• Chris Culos – Drums, Percussion
• Jerry DePizzo – Saxophone, Flute, Percussion

Verified Setlist from Minnesota Yacht Club Festival, July 19, 2025

• Wonderful Day
• Lay Down
• I Go Through
• Love and Memories
• Dareh Meyod
• Fool in the Rain
• Shattered (Turn the Car Around)
• Hey Girl

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