A couple of Friday’s back my two favorite bands of all time played together at the same venue on the same night when O.A.R. opened up for the Dave Matthews Band at Riverbend. This was not the first time it has happened (the 21st time actually), nor was it the first time I’ve seen it happen (the 8th time), but it was just as memorable as the first.

Stage Right

As he normally does, Dave Matthews came out to introduce O.A.R. before their opening set. After greeting the crowd in his typical way, he had some very kind words to say about O.A.R. “They do not need to be opening up for us. In fact, if I’m lucky, maybe someday I’ll be opening up for them. Anyway, it is my great pleasure to introduce my friends, O.A.R.”

Stage Left

During O.A.R.’s opening set, touring members of the Dave Matthews Band, Jeff Coffin and Rashawn Ross, came out to play saxophone and trumpet on “Road Outside Columbus.” With O.A.R.’s touring band having two additional horn players to compliment Jerry DePizzo on saxophone, there were five horns on stage at once. It was awesome!

O.A.R. also played a new song titled “Peace” from their upcoming release later this year or next. It was a nice opening set and the entire thing can be streamed online thanks to my good friend Mike Sarnovsky. Unfortunately I do not have plans to see them headline this summer, but I’m hoping I’ll catch them again in the fall.