O.A.R.'s Marc Roberge
Photo: MTV News

KILLEEN, Texas — December 6 was a busy day on the grounds of the Fort Hood Army base. Of the troops stationed there, one-third were returning from the field of war, and another third were gearing up to ship out that day. It was a moving time for the families and friends of many servicemen and servicewomen.

The base invited O.A.R. to mark the special occasion with a show, inviting both soldiers and their families to join in the festivities. "Being able to perform for the troops means a lot to us," frontman Marc Roberge said. "It means in some way we can say thank you face to face, without a bumper sticker, and give them a break from what they're doing."

"They say they're just doing their jobs, but they really are heroes," drummer Chris Culos added. "They sacrifice so much, and their families sacrifice so much. And what they do to protect our country — we can't thank them enough. Just to be here to perform for them is quite an honor."

O.A.R. played a full set for the troops but also spent the day on Fort Hood's grounds, visiting with those about to head off to Iraq. The bandmembers are no strangers to these difficult circumstances: Prior to recording their new album, All Sides, they traveled to Iraq and Kuwait as part of a USO tour.

General Rick Lynch, commander of Fort Hood, was stationed in Iraq during that particular visit, and he told the band how inspiring it was for the troops on the ground. "I'm all about deeds, not words," he told them. "A lot of folks say, 'We support our troops,' and I say, 'Well, OK, do this,' and they say, 'Well, we don't really do anything — we just say the words and carry the bumper stickers.' But with you guys, it's deeds, not words."

For Roberge, it's the least they can do for those who are protecting America. "There's so many people who are affected by it, and I just feel like they're doing the best they can, but they need help," he said.

• A Day At Fort Hood With O.A.R.

• O.A.R.

Nas' album, <i>Untitled</i>
Photo: Def Jam

After weeks of trading places at the top of the weekly Billboard albums chart, Lil Wayne and Coldplay have been vanquised by a new champion. Following months of hype about its original title and subsequent change, Nas' Untitled will cruise to the top spot on the chart on sales of 186,600. The Nas takeover will push Weezy's Tha Carter III down a notch to #2 on sales of 105,500, according to Nielsen SoundScan, just one week after Wayne had regained the pole position from Coldplay.

Nas' debut was strong, giving him his fourth #1 bow, but it paled in comparison to the first week for his previous album, Hip Hop Is Dead, which scanned 354,000 units back in 2006. The soundtrack to the ABBA-centric "Mamma Mia!" busts into the #3 slot on sales of 91,400, dropping Coldplay's Viva la Vida down to #4, with 90,300 more converts, and the "Camp Rock" soundtrack follows with another 78,000 units moved. The second wind for iTunes holdout Kid Rock's Rock N Roll Jesus continues unabated, as the album sees sales tick up almost 20 percent from last week with 73,500 more satisfied customers, landing it in the #6 spot.

The top 10 also features three other fresh faces: Rock Hall of Famer John Mellencamp's Life Death Love and Freedom at #7 with 56,200 in sales, David Banner's The Greatest Story Ever Told at #8 on 51,800 units and Taylor Swift's Wal-Mart-only album Beautiful Eyes at #9 with 44,700. The top 10 is rounded out by the expanded edition of Rihanna's Good Girl Gone Bad, which slipped two spots from last week with sales of 41,300.

There were plenty of other debuts in the mix, with jam band O.A.R.'s All Sides landing at #13 with 33,200 in sales; county veteran Randy Travis clocking 31,000 in sales for Around the Bend at #14; the soundtrack to "The Dark Knight," swooping into the #20 position on 24,700 in sales; and bar-rock heroes the Hold Steady grabbing the #30 slot with their latest chronicle of lovable losers, Stay Positive, which won over 17,400 big spenders.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's Magic Tour Highlights EP appears at #48 with 11,800 units moved. Aussie rising star Delta Goodrem breaks through at #116 on 6,000 copies of Delta, and Atlanta rockers Rehab punch in at #132 with sales of 5,100 for Graffiti the World.

While both Coldplay and Weezy have seen their sales drop off slowly but steadily, a couple of acts that debuted in the top 10 recently took major falls, including Beck, whose Modern Guilt saw a 66 percent drop in sales, landing him at #16, and G-Unit's T.O.S. (Terminate on Sight), which skidded 40 percent in its third week on the chart, dropping from #9 to #24.

Nas shouldn't get too comfortable, since next week will bring the chart debut of Miley Cyrus' first full album under her own name, Breakout.

• Nas
• Lil Wayne
• Miley Cyrus
• Coldplay
• O.A.R.

Michael Stipe
Photo: MTV News

R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe, Bright Eyes and Public Enemy's Chuck D are among the artists slated to appear at "Bring 'Em Home Now," a March 20 concert to benefit the anti-war organizations Veterans for Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War. The concert — to be held on the third anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq — will take place at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom and also feature a speech by activist Cindy Sheehan. Other artists scheduled to perform include Rufus Wainwright, Fischerspooner and Peaches. Tickets for the "Bring 'Em Home" benefit range from $28-$150, but if you can't afford it, you'll still be able to at least hear the show: Janeane Garofalo will broadcast her Air America Radio program, "The Majority Report," live from the Hammerstein. ...

Before kicking off their latest tour Friday in their hometown of Bakersfield, California, Korn will have a street in the city named after them. Mayor Harvey Hall will unveil Korn Row at a 3 p.m. ceremony. ... Gorillaz are upping their animated ante by launching a game for cell phones in April. The four bandmembers will be represented in a game whose graphics aim to blend old-school, arcade-style visuals with the band's already-established look and artwork. For more information about the mobile game, go to MrGoodLiving.com/Gorillaz. ... Nominees for the sixth annual Jammy Awards — which honor "artists who thrive in the live music environment" (read: jam bands) — were announced Thursday. Tennessee rockers My Morning Jacket are among the leaders with three nods, although Widespread Panic, the Allman Brothers Band and Ryan Adams will be vying for awards as well. The hardware will be handed out during a concert/awards show to be held April 20 (4/20, dude!) in New York at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden. For more information visit Jammys.com. ...

O.A.R. will tour college campuses across the country beginning March 29 at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, and ending April 26 at the Northern University of Illinois in DeKalb. The video game "MLB '06: The Show," for which O.A.R. contributed an original track called "Of a Revolution," is sponsoring the trek. ... She Wants Revenge, who recently entered the Billboard albums chart at #38, have signed on to open for Depeche Mode on their North American spring tour. Dates have yet to be confirmed, but the outing is slated for April and May. ... "Rock of Ages," the Los Angeles musical that pays homage to hair metal and stars Tenacious D's Kyle Gass, has been extended through March 18. Beginning March 2, the show will move from the Vanguard to the larger RenMar Studios in Hollywood. ... Mudvayne will headline Tampa, Florida, radio station 98Rock's Livestock 15 on April 29. Set for Festival Park in Zephyrhills, the bill will also feature Staind, Rob Zombie and Saliva. ...

Jewel will headline the pre-race show for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Auto Club 500 at California Speedway on Sunday. Fox will televise the event. ... The Vines have settled on Vision Valley as the title for their forthcoming disc, due in stores April 4. The album will feature 13 tracks, including "Anysound," "Nothins Comin" and "Futuretarded." ... A new line of Jerry Garcia-inspired teas will hit premium tea shops and gourmet food stores starting next week. Called J. Garcia Artisan Teas, there are five blends in all named after the late Grateful Dead guitarist. A portion of the proceeds from the teas will benefit DrawBridge, a nonprofit that provides art supplies for children in homeless shelters. The teas in the Garcia line are Morning Brew, Shady Grown, Magic Herb, Spirit of Sage and Jerry Cherry. ... SideOneDummy Records will celebrate their 10-year anniversary March 22, 24 and 25 with a series of show at the Key Club in Los Angeles. Flogging Molly, Gogol Bordello and MxPx are among the acts scheduled to perform. ... The Accident Experiment, former P.O.D. guitarist Marcos Curiel's new band, will finally release their debut, United We Fear, in May. The band will promote the record with a performance at South by Southwest. ...

The Go! Team will trek across the States beginning March 15 at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. Dates in Washington, D.C., New York, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Las Vegas will follow before the band hits Coachella April 30. ... Secret Machines will release their new record exclusively to online retailers for several weeks beginning February 28. Ten Silver Drops, featuring first single "Alone, Jealous and Stoned," is due in stores April 18. Former Afghan Wigs singer Greg Dulli will release the fourth album under his Twilight Singers moniker May 16. Powder Burns will feature appearances from Joseph Arthur and Ani DiFranco. ... Nothing like five 10- to 13-year-old kids singing "Whip It!" Devo have created a kids' group called Devo 2.0 that will debut with a CD and DVD on March 14. ... Police guitarist Andy Summer has signed a deal with U.K. publisher Portrait/ Piatkus to write his memoir, "One Train Later." Summer's autobiography is due later this fall and will include his early days in the London music scene to his superstar heyday with the Police. ... The Charlatans UK will release their new album, Sympatico, May 2. Steering away from their typical Brit-rock dance/techno vibe, the new disc will instead consist of light, upbeat reggae tunes. The Charlatans will perform at South by Southwest on March 18 and kick off a headlining trek after the album's release.

02.22.2006

Beyoncé — who worked on Destiny's Child's last album while shooting "The Pink Panther" — says she won't be pulling double duty with "Dreamgirls." "I've put mostly everything aside," she said. "Usually I'm writing an album and performing and touring and doing all these crazy things at the same time, and for the first time I've committed six whole months [to do nothing but the movie]. It's very scary, because performing, singing and writing, that's my comfort zone, so I had to have confidence in myself with the acting and tell myself, 'I know I can do this.' " Beyoncé plans to start her second solo album after the movie and release it this summer, "which means I have six weeks to record, but I've done that just about every album," so it shouldn't be a problem meeting the deadline, she said ...

Game's sophomore LP, The Dr.'s Advocate, will drop June 6, according to the rapper's camp. Dre, Kanye West, Just Blaze, Scott Storch and Timbaland are said to have beats on the LP. ... The party appears to be over: Kristin Cavallari's new show "Get This Party Started" has gone on hiatus after only two episodes. A UPN spokesperson said the show, which debuted February 7, will return, but no date has been set. Cavallari's acting debut has also been bumped — her guest-star stint on "Veronica Mars," scheduled to air February 15, has been delayed until March 15. ... Lil Jon, currently touring in Australia with 50 Cent, is nearly finished with his fourth album, Crunk Rock, which will feature E-40 on the first single, "Snap Yo Fingers." Jon will release the record later this year on TVT Records after settling a royalties dispute with the label. "TVT cut the check and now it's time for me to get back to work," the rapper said in a statement. Jon is also producing for two new TVT acts, rapper Chyna Whyte and R&B singer Oobie. ... Green Day will be among the recipients of the San Francisco chapter of the Recording Academy Honors Award, celebrating those who have "improved the environment for the creative community." Jazz artists George Duke and Dave Brubeck are also being honored at the gala, to be held March 19 at Westin St. Francis.

Snoop Dogg tackled pee-wee football, and now he's got another league of his own. The hip-hop superstar will serve as the commissioner for the recently announced Hip-Hop Gaming League, which will have top athletes and musicians including NBA forward Carmelo Anthony, NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson, Method Man and Paul Wall battling it out on the Xbox 360. ... The Killers are being sued by their former manager Braden Merrick for $16 million for breach of contract. The lawsuit — which also includes the band's current manager Robert Reynolds, who Merrick claims "intentionally interfered with the contractual relations" between him and the band — was filed late Tuesday in the band's hometown of Las Vegas. According to court papers, Merrick — who discovered the rock quartet in 2002 and "guided them to stardom," he claims — says he was kicked to "the nose-bleed seats" by the Killers as soon as they put out their debut LP, Hot Fuss. Merrick says the Killers' 2003 contract labeled him as the band's sole personal manager, but that agreement was terminated by the band (through Reynolds) in May 2005. ... Shakira and Daddy Yankee will heat up the stage for the 18th annual Premio Lo Nuestro awards, airing Thursday on Univision. The gyrating songstress and reggaetón king will join fellow performers Juanes, Laura Pausini and others at the ceremony honoring Latin-American music. ...

"Blood of a Champion," a gritty urban drama produced by Wu-Tang Clan's RZA and starring Bokeem Woodbine ("Dead Presidents") and R&B singer/actress Deborah Cox, will hit stores March 7. The film, which also includes original music composed by RZA, follows an ex-con just released from prison who enters the world of underground street fighting. ... Death Cab for Cutie, Ben Harper and Gomez will headline A Sounds Eclectic Evening, the annual benefit concert for influential Los Angeles public-radio station KCRW. This year's show, scheduled for March 25 at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California, will also include Lewis Taylor, Feist, Goldspot and more artists to be announced. ... Three months after Sony BMG Music came under fire for rootkit software that left millions of PCs vulnerable to hackers and viruses, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security wants to introduce legislation that would make it illegal for companies to sell products that install susceptible software on a computer without the owner's knowledge. "The recent Sony experience shows us that we need to be thinking about how we ensure that consumers are not surprised by what their software programs can do," said Jonathan Frenkel, director of law enforcement policy for Homeland Security. Sony recalled the discs in November but still faces lawsuits and criticism — which should be a warning to other companies putting out similar software, Frenkel added. ... Voivod have settled on Katorz as the title of their forthcoming 13th album, which will hit stores this spring. The band recently finished mixing the effort with producer Glen Robinson (Annihilator, Gwar) and are now mastering the album in New York. Katorz will be Voivod's first record that the band did not record alongside Denis "Piggy" D'Amour, who died in late August from complications of advanced colon cancer. ... (Hed) p.e. will issue their sixth album, Back to Base X, May 16. The album will include 13 tracks, including "Lock and Load," "White Collars" and "Bewaredowego."

Blondie are getting mashed up with the Doors for the upcoming career retrospective Blondie: Greatest Hits — Sound & Vision. The collection includes 20 tracks and 16 video clips, including classics "Heart of Glass," "Atomic" and "Call Me," and previously unreleased remixes of "In the Flesh" and "Good Boys." The set also features "Rapture Riders," a mash up of "Rapture" with the Doors' "Riders on the Storm" — with a video to match. "This is a tremendous honor for us," frontwoman Debbie Harry said. "Ain't technology great?" Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek asked. "I've always had salacious dreams about Debbie Harry, and now it's a reality: the Doors and Blondie in a deep passionate embrace." Blondie will be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 13. ... "New York Doll," the 2005 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize nominee chronicling the recent reunion of influential glam-rock pioneers the New York Dolls — and bassist Arthur "Killer" Kane's Mormon lifestyle — will be released on DVD April 4. Bonus features include a 20-minute interview with Morrissey and video of David Johansen singing a Mormon hymn. ... Belle and Sebastian's Isobel Campbell will release Ballad of the Broken Seas with Mark Lanegan (Queens of the Stone Age, Screaming Trees) on March 7, with a second album to follow later this year. Campbell is also hitting the road for her first-ever tour as a solo artist; the North American leg kicks off March 4 in Toronto and wraps March 15 in Brooklyn, New York. ...

• R.E.M.
• Korn
• Gorillaz
• O.A.R.
• She Wants Revenge

50 Cent
Photo: Zach Gold/Interscope

50 Cent isn't content to be a music and movie star — he also wants to be a movie producer. The rapper told MTV Europe that he's just completed a development deal to produce films. "When I come across a screenplay that's as exciting as my life story, then I will commit to it," he said. 50's already planning to turn his forthcoming G-Unit series of street fiction books into DVD films, if not theatrical releases, shortly after they are published in 2007. ... Meanwhile, 50 and Dr. Dre are facing a copyright-infringement suit, which was filed last week in Manhattan federal court in New York. Janine Gordon, who also goes by JahJah, claims that 50 and Dre borrowed from three of her songs ("Poppin' at Da Club," "Crazy Dreams" and "Hardcore") for The Massacre. ...

It's been more than four years since Moby ripped into Eminem over lyrics the clean-domed DJ deemed "homophobic and misogynistic," and though it appeared the feud was all but over, someone forgot to tell Moby. In a December 6 journal entry on his Web site, Moby again takes Em to task, writing about a recent murder trial in England in which an avid Eminem fan, Christopher Duncan, pleaded guilty to murdering his girlfriend and then stuffing her into a suitcase just hours after performing the rapper's songs in a London karaoke bar. "Now we find out that a British man who is obsessed with Eminem killed a woman with a metal baseball bat and stuffed her body into a suitcase," Moby wrote. "Maybe there's no connection, maybe there is. It's disgusting that we even have to ask that question. ... It's disgusting that people in the media have celebrated musicians who write lyrics that glorify misogyny and homophobia." ... Mike Shinoda will take his Fort Minor side project on the road next year, beginning January 28 in Minneapolis and wrapping up February 9 in Atlanta. Shinoda will be backed by a 10-piece band and will perform some Linkin Park tracks "Fort Minor style," according to his spokesperson. ...

Lindsay Lohan's parents reached a divorce settlement on Monday, ending a battle that started in January when Dina Lohan served Michael Lohan with divorce papers. Dina's lawyer said that "the matter has been resolved and an agreement signed," though he couldn't discuss the terms of the agreement per a gag order from the judge overseeing the case. During their very public battle, the Lohans shot a series of accusations at each other, with Dina claiming that her husband was abusive, and Michael calling her a liar and demanding a cut of his daughter's earnings. ... Travis Barker and No Doubt's Adrian Young are facing off to see who is the better drummer at Guitar Center's annual Drum Off in Los Angeles. The event, which will also feature Bad Religion, takes place January 14 at the Wiltern LG. ...

Members of Korn, Linkin Park, the Offspring, Pennywise, Bad Religion and Taking Back Sunday will all be hosting a week's worth of programming on "Hostile Takeover," a new program that will debut Friday on Sirius Satellite Radio's Faction channel. The hosts will play whatever tunes they like and take phone calls over the air. A definitive schedule is being worked out, but Pennywise are set to host the week of December 23 and Korn will take the week of January 6. ... Bob Dylan has signed on to DJ on XM Satellite Radio. He'll host a weekly hour-long radio show during which he'll spin records, interview guests, take e-mails and offer commentary on music. "A lot of my own songs have been played on the radio, but this is the first time I've ever been on the other side of the mic," Dylan said in a statement. The as-yet-untitled show will debut in March on XM's Deep Tracks (channel 40). ...

Jack Johnson, O.A.R. and Guster have donated rare or live tracks to Rock for Relief, a benefit compilation for Mercy Corps, which is providing relief to victims of the Indian Ocean tsunamis, hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita and the earthquake in Pakistan. Tracks from Howie Day, Citizen Cope and Marc Broussard will also be included. ... Josh Kelley has a holiday gift up for grabs for all you big spenders out there. He is auctioning off a fan package on eBay (dubbed "the ultimate Josh Kelley experience") which will include a meet-and-greet with the singer/songwriter, backstage access before and after the show, a pass to his soundcheck, and the opportunity for you and three of your friends to sit onstage with him during his concert. The winner will also receive a signed Gibson Les Paul Electric Guitar valued at $1,200. Ninety percent of the proceeds go toward the Coalition on Donation, a nonprofit group of national organizations that urges people to donate life-saving organs and tissues to those in need. The auction ends Friday. ...

What do you get the iPod enthusiast who has everything? Well, underwear manufacturer Play's released its iBoxer, a button-fly boxer short that comes complete with a "front pocket which is perfect for holding your iPod" or cell phone. The undies are available in five colors and will set you back $22. Those who pick up two pairs will get three free song downloads from iTunes. ... Buckcherry will release Fifteen, their first album in four years, in the spring. They shot the video for the first track, called "Crazy Bitch," at the Key Club in Los Angeles with director Ulf Buddensieck. The song can be heard on their MySpace page at myspace.com/buckcherryworldwide. ...

12.12.2005

Kanye West, Shakira, Maroon 5's Adam Levine, Fall Out Boy, the All-American Rejects, Young Jeezy and Common have been tapped to perform at MTV's New Year's Eve bash in New York's Times Square, the channel announced Monday (December 12). The event will start airing live at 10:30 p.m. ET on December 31 and will also feature appearances from a host of celebs, including the Reverend Run and his family. ...

It's a match made in pop-punk heaven: New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert and Eisley lead singer Sherri Dupree are engaged. Gilbert popped the question on Friday at the premiere of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, because the book is Dupree's favorite. "I did it in the lobby of the theater in front of the wardrobe," Gilbert told MTV News via e-mail. "All the employees and people around were clapping. It was super funny. I was really nervous and could barely get the words out, which made the situation even funnier." The couple met earlier this year on NFG's Back to Basics Tour, and though there is no date set for their wedding, Gilbert did say that the couple plan on tying the knot after both bands complete the touring cycles for their respective new albums, which are both due next year. ... On Saturday, Audioslave drummer Brad Wilk married his girlfriend of 10 years, singer Selene Vigil of Seven Year Bitch. According to a spokesperson for Audioslave, the wedding was an "intimate" affair, attended by the couple's immediate family and held at Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe, California. ...

Mariah Carey's making sure you don't forget about "Don't Forget About Us" by offering five different remixes of the song on five different download sites. iTunes users can download a remix featuring Juelz Santana and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Yahoo! Music Engine users get the Quentin Harris (Shelter) anthem mix, Napster users can access the Tony Moran/ Warren Rigg dance version, Real/Rhapsody users get the Ralphi Rosario and Craig Martini version, and MSN Music users are being offered the Ralphi and Jody DB Anthomic dub remix ...

Christina Aguilera helped celebrate the release of British jewelry designer Stephen Webster's Femme Fatale diamond collection by hosting an exclusive party at Los Angeles' Chateau Marmont on Friday night. Christina and husband Jordan Bratman, Stacey Dash and Kate Walsh were all in attendance. ... Now that Nicole Richie's shed fiance DJ AM, her fans can celebrate by wearing a "Simple Life" spoof T-shirt announcing the news of the breakup, which reads, "Nicole - Adam = The Single Life." The shirts are available at Spreadshirt.com. Meanwhile, Richie is celebrating the release of her first novel, "The Truth About Diamonds," at jeweler Judith Ripka's Beverly Hills, California, boutique on Tuesday. ...

Simple Plan have announced the formation of a charity aimed at helping at-risk teens. Called the Simple Plan Foundation, the organization will make donations to youth-oriented charities that deal with the hardships of drug addiction, depression, suicide and poverty. "These are issues that truly matter to us, because a lot of our fans go though difficult times," the band said in a statement. "We are launching the Simple Plan Foundation to hopefully make a difference in their lives. We feel it's the least we can do." ... U2 are being honored with the 2005 Ambassador of Conscience award, Amnesty International's most prestigious human-rights honor, the organization announced Saturday. The band, whose song "One" has helped promote the worldwide One Campaign that strives to curb the global AIDS epidemic and extreme poverty, particularly in Africa, was praised for its more than two decades of work to promote and protect human rights for all. "From Live Aid in 1985 ... through to Live 8 this past July, U2 has arguably done more than any other band to highlight the cause of global human rights in general and Amnesty International's work in particular," Irene Kahn, Amnesty's secretary general, said in a statement. ...

According to Godsmack bassist Robbie Merrill's blog, available at the National Hockey League's Web site, the band is in a Los Angeles studio recording what will be its fifth studio LP and first since 2003's Faceless. "We are at the end of our session, maybe two or three more weeks," he wrote. "Then we will take a break for the holidays and then start up again in January to mix and master. I am personally loving the music. The band will have a meeting about the songs each bandmember loves and hates. All in all, it is going to be a bleeping good record." ... Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell underwent surgery on his left shoulder last week to repair his glenoid labrum — a ring of fibrocartilage that's part of the shoulder joint. Some bone spurs were also removed. In a statement, Cantrell said, "It's tough not being able to play for a while but I'm really looking forward to getting back out and performing without being in constant pain." ...

The management at the Alrosa Villa nightclub — the Columbus, Ohio, music venue where Pantera/ Damageplan guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott was killed — is having trouble luring metal bands to its stage. According to The Columbus Dispatch, booking agents and a few bands have all but blacklisted the club; in the year following the shootings, just eight national acts have performed there, compared with the 20-25 a year the venue hosted before Dime's murder. "We've lost a tremendous amount of money, not because of Columbus customers, but because bands won't play here," club owner Rick Cautela told the paper. "And no band from Texas wants to play here." ...

• 50 Cent
• Moby
• Eminem
• Lindsay Lohan
• O.A.R.

O.A.R.
Photo: Gregg Delman

For the better part of the last decade, O.A.R. have probably played regularly at that bar you used to hit for nickel-beer night back in college. You know, the one with sawdust on the floor and extra-foul bathrooms.

So when they recently found themselves sitting in the air-conditioned (and sawdust-free) splendor of the "TRL" green room, they understandably felt a bit out of place.

"It's a complete shock to be here," frontman Marc Roberge laughed. "To get on 'TRL,' you feel honored and you feel like it's something you deserve. Because too often, I think that bands that work hard on the road are overlooked. But it's something we feel has been coming for a while. We've been touring and putting out records for 10 years now, so we're kind of like, 'OK, well, what took you guys so long?' "

O.A.R. were making a whirlwind trip through New York to promote their new album, Stories of a Stranger, their second major-label effort and the first to spawn a single and video that just might be "TRL"-worthy: "Love and Memories." It's been a hectic 24 hours, to say the least, but for a band that's used to sleeping in vans and playing in dive bars, a few hours of media work can't be that bad (see "You Hear It First: O.A.R.").

"We've been doing a ton of press, so it's been a day of wearing a lot of makeup. We sat down to do 'TRL,' and the lady was like 'You're already wearing makeup,' " saxophonist Jerry DePizzo laughed. "But we're totally fine with it. Because time in New York is very valuable, so you've got to keep doing all this stuff. It's been fun, tiring and exciting. But you blink and it's gone."

And with an attitude like that, it's no wonder O.A.R. are enjoying their time in the teen-pop spotlight. The video for "Love and Memories" has been gaining major spins on mtvU and the song is fast becoming a rock-radio staple (see "O.A.R.'s 'Memories' Likely To Trigger Déjà Vu"). Which makes the band's decision to work with super-songsmith Glen Ballard on the song (he of Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill fame) look that much smarter, despite a rocky start.

"[Guitarist] Richard [On] and I show up at Glen's house, and we knock on the door," Roberge recalled. "We've got our guitars and this woman opens the door, and she's like, 'OK, you guys are a little early. Can you go wait in the car?' We thought she was going to welcome us in and have us sit in some green room or something, but she made us wait in the car.

"So we're eating McDonald's and the neighbors think we're criminals or something. But eventually we go in and we're bummed, but he welcomes us — and it was our time then. He showed us how a real pro does it. I mean, we wrote."

And of course, when news of O.A.R.'s collaboration with Ballard — plus their scheduled appearance on "TRL," not to mention their just-announced gig at Madison Square Garden in January — reached the band's rabid (and rather anti-mainstream) fanbase, they were less than thrilled and more than outspoken, leaving a stream of profanity-laced tirades on O.A.R.'S official site. But the bandmembers know that you can't make an omelette — or a hit record — without breaking a few eggs, and they're not about to let a few ticked-off fans ruin their chance to bask in the spotlight.

"When we made the record, we were like, 'This is great! Everyone is going to love this!' And then we see the backlash on our messageboard and it kind of gets to you. People started calling us the biggest f---ing sellouts ever, and we're like 'What?' " Roberge sighed. "And that's the greatest thing about the Internet and also the worst. Everyone can speak their mind, but you have no idea who anyone is. So when people hear we're going to be on 'TRL,' they go nuts, but it's not like there's a messageboard for them. You can't log onto the John Johnson messageboard and be like 'John you're such a f---ing sell out!'

"So you've just got to let it roll off your back."

• O.A.R.

O.A.R.
Photo: ofarevolution.com

Like a lot of people, Marc Roberge was moved by last year's "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind."

The singer for roots rockers O.A.R. channeled that inspiration into a song about the movie, and now "Love and Memories" is being released as the band's new single.

"I tried to put myself in the character and within three minutes described how frustrating it is to watch a woman, like, systematically erase you from her mind," Roberge said. "Like, if that were to happen, how would you capture it? So that's where the song came from."

For the video, O.A.R. and director Vem (the Click Five's "Just the Girl") also drew inspiration from "Eternal Sunshine." The clip features the band performing in a living room where the scene of a couple breaking up is happening over and over again in front of them, like a record skipping (which also happens to be going on in the room).

"I've watched 'Eternal Sunshine' maybe a dozen times, dissecting it down to the bare bones, figuring out why it worked so well, and this is what I've come up with," Vem writes in the beginning of his treatment.

"We're basically capturing that same emotion," Roberge said. "I think a lot of folks miss out on the art of things these days, so we're gonna try to find it."

"Love and Memories" is the first single from O.A.R.'s second major-label studio album, Stories of a Stranger, released Tuesday.

O.A.R. are road warriors known for their live shows (see "Dissing The Neptunes Hasn't Sunk Jam-Rockers O.A.R."), and for the first time Roberge believes the band has put those elements to tape.

"On this record we took that island vibe we enjoy so much, the rock and roll thing that we do live, with even some country, and everything is just slammed into this record in 12 songs," he explained. "I guess it's for like an [attention deficit disorder] mind. It's like the record just keeps changing over and over and over."

Stories of a Stranger was produced by Jerry Harrison, who besides being a former member of Talking Heads has handled production duties for bands like Live, No Doubt and the Von Bondies.

"My first memory of the Talking Heads is a 'Saturday Night Live' skit that made fun of them, so when I first met Jerry, I said, 'You know, you gotta be something for "Saturday Night Live" to actually make fun of you,' " Roberge said. "He said, 'Yeah, we felt that way, but at the time it wasn't so funny.' But he's a great guy, the Talking Heads are a great band. Even before that, he made another couple great records with [the Modern Lovers]. When you got that kind of creative mind working with you, it inspires you."

O.A.R. also collaborated on the album with keyboardist Bernie Worrell from Parliament, horn player Lenny Pickett from Tower of Power and singer/songwriters Matt Nathanson and Toby Lightman. The latter sings on "The Stranger," which is lined up to be the second single.

The group will launch a fall tour Friday in Memphis. The trek ends in November but is sure to be followed by more.

O.A.R. tour dates, according to Atlantic Records:

• 10/14 - Memphis, TN @ The Orpheum Theatre
• 10/15 - New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
• 10/17 - Houston, TX @ Club V
• 10/18 - Dallas, TX @ Gypsy Ballroom
• 10/19 - Austin, TX @ Stubb's BBQ
• 10/21 - Denver, CO @ The Fillmore Auditorium
• 10/22 - Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre
• 10/23 - Phoenix, AZ @ Celebrity Theatre
• 10/25 - San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
• 10/26 - Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern LG
• 10/27 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
• 10/29 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theatre
• 10/31 - Seattle, WA @ HUB Ballroom
• 11/1 - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
• 11/4 - Omaha, NE @ Kiewit Fitness Center
• 11/5 - Ames, IA @ CY Stephens Auditorium
• 11/6 - Minneapolis, MN @ US Bank Theater at Target Center
• 11/9 - Kansas City, KS @ Memorial Hall
• 11/10 - St. Louis, MO @ Fox Theatre
• 11/11 - Cincinnati, OH @ U.S. Bank Arena
• 11/12 - Niagra University, NY @ Gallagher Center
• 11/13 - Toronto, ON @ Opera House
• 11/16 - Portland, ME @ Cumberland County Civic Center
• 11/17 - Amherst, MA @ Mullins Center
• 11/18 - Syracuse, NY @ War Memorial @ Oncenter Arena
• 11/19 - Troy, NY @ RPI Fieldhouse
• 11/21 - Wilkes-Barre, PA @ F.M. Kirby Center
• 11/22 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Park Convention Hall
• 11/25 - Fairfax, VA @ Patriot Center
• 11/26 - Camden, NJ @ Tweeter Center

• O.A.R.

The 2004 MTV Movie Awards got a lot meaner on Thursday (May 13). The cable outlet announced that "Mean Girls" star Lindsay Lohan will host this year's ceremony, which airs on June 10. D12, the Beastie Boys and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have already been announced as performers for the show. ...

Jessica Simpson will find out next week if the sitcom pilot she filmed for ABC will get picked up for the network's fall schedule. In the meantime, the project's finally been given a name — simply "Jessica." ... Having recently completed a successful tour opening for country mates the Vines, Jet will launch their first North American headlining trek starting July 1 in Niagara Falls, New York. Dates run through July 27 in San Francisco. ...

Roc-A-Fella Records is now saying that the remix of the Young Gunz track "Grown Man" may not be appearing on the soundtrack to "Catwoman" after all. The label is, however, mulling over plans to include the single on a retooling of the Gunz's Tough Luv LP. ... In response to the controversy surrounding their hip-hop surveillance unit, the Miami and Miami Beach police departments and Miami's Black Host Committee are holding a symposium Friday to educate police officers on hip-hop culture. A private morning session for officers will be followed by a public forum with hopes of, according to organizers, creating a dialogue with the hip-hop community. ...

Moby's proposed cookbook/autobiography, "Teany Book," has been sold to a publishing house. Viking bought the book for a six-figure sum and plans to publish the work early next year. ... O.A.R. will open for the Dave Matthews Band starting June 17 in Maryland Heights, Missouri, and running through June 26 in Milwaukee. The band will head out again with Howie Day and Matt Nathanson between July 16 in Houston and August 21 in Nashville. ...

Velvet Revolver have been added to the Rolling Rock Town Fair Five, which takes place July 31 at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds near Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The band has been added to a lineup that includes Staind, Disturbed, N.E.R.D., the Crystal Method, Hoobastank, Sevendust, Finch, Finger Eleven and Three Days Grace. Additional dates have also been added to Velvet Revolver's first North American tour, which now runs through June 22 in Denver. ... Guns N' Roses bassist Tommy Stinson (ex-Replacements) will release his solo debut, Village Gorilla Head, on August 3. Guests include Pixies frontman Frank Black, A Perfect Circle drummer Josh Freese, GN'R guitarist Richard Fortus and Guns keyboardist Dizzy Reed. Tracks include "Without a View," "Bite Your Tongue," "Something's Wrong" and "Motivation." ...

After Godsmack finish touring with Metallica on May 15 in North Little Rock, Arkansas, the band will play seven radio festivals and solo shows, starting May 17 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and running through May 29 in Noblesville, Indiana. Then Godsmack will hook back up with Metallica for the next leg of their North American tour, which starts May 9 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and runs through November 20 in San Antonio, Texas. ... Van Halen have announced that Silvertide and Shinedown will open their summer reunion tour with Sammy Hagar. Silvertide will perform from June 11 in Greensboro, North Carolina, through July 11 in Auburn Hills, Michigan; Shinedown will play from July 19 in Chicago through August 20 in Los Angeles. ...

5.12.2004

Beyoncé is writing a song for the new Earth, Wind & Fire album, which is due by the end of the year. Beyoncé's father, Mathew Knowles, signed the influential soul band to a new label he recently started. EW&F are also scheduled to record with Sleepy Brown, Pharrell Williams, Angie Stone and Floetry. ... The rumors about Mase's return to rap are no longer rumors. Radio personality Wendy Williams played a Mase track on New York radio station WBLS on Wednesday (May 12) called "Welcome Back," where the rapper rhymes about being welcomed back to the game with open arms. "I'm making money man, without the coca/ Living la vida, without the loca," he raps before singing a chorus reminiscent of the theme song from the 1970s show "Welcome Back, Kotter." ...

BET announced the nominees for the BET Awards '04 on Wednesday (May 12). Outkast raked in six nominations, including nods for both "The Way You Move" and "Hey Ya!" in the Viewer's Choice and Video of the Year categories. Usher got four nominations, including Video of the Year and Best Male R&B Artist, while Beyoncé received five, spanning both music and acting categories, including a nomination for Best Actress. The awards show will be telecast live from Hollywood's Kodak Theatre on June 29 at 8 p.m. ET. ... John Whitehead, one half of the R&B duo McFadden & Whitehead, was shot dead Tuesday in Philadelphia while working on a car on the side of a road. Another man with Whitehead was also shot but is in good condition. McFadden & Whitehead were discovered by Otis Redding and scored a hit in 1979 with the disco-influenced R&B song "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now." Police do not have a motive or suspects in the shooting. ...

No Doubt are auctioning tickets for their upcoming tour to raise funds for Amnesty International's Music for Human Rights initiative. Auction winners will receive two tickets to dates on their tour with Blink-182, two meet-and-greet passes, and signed CDs from both bands. No Doubt released a statement saying that they support Amnesty International's "efforts to secure freedom and equality for every human being on the planet," saying their work "lends a voice to those in need and is an inspiring source of hope for all." You can find the auction at ebay.com. ... Founding guitarist Jacques Brautbar has parted ways with Phantom Planet. In an online post, Brautbar claimed his decade with the band had been extraordinary. ...

A videotape of Vancouver constable Reginald Forster smashing Guns N' Roses fan Robert Parent in the face with his baton was shown Tuesday at the opening of a public inquiry into the police's conduct during the riot that followed a canceled GN'R concert in November 2002. Forster's lawyer argued that his client was really aiming for Parent's shoulder. Although an internal police investigation determined Forster and fellow constable Ryan D'Ononfrio acted appropriately, police complaint commissioner Dirk Dyneveld called for the public hearing. ... Limp Bizkit, Hoobastank and Lenny Kravitz will play on the opening episode of the WB series "Pepsi Smash," now in its second season. The series will premiere May 27. ...

Somebody's rock and roll fantasy is coming true in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on June 26 and 27, when Velvet Revolver and the Darkness headline the inaugural Fantasy Island Festival at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. Fountains of Wayne and Robert Randolph and the Family Band are also on the bill. ... Punk stalwart Henry Rollins announced Wednesday that he will head out on a USO/ Armed Forces Entertainment tour during May's National Military Appreciation Month. This is Rollins' second stint with the USO; his first was in December when he traveled to Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Qatar to meet the troops. ...

The flamboyant Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs has directed the new Liars video, "We Fenced Other Gardens With the Bones of Our Own." O's beau is Liars singer Angus Andrew. ... Ras Kass filed a lawsuit Monday against Priority Records, Capitol Records, EMI Music and two Priority executives, claiming breach of contract, unfair competition, restraint of trade and other abuses. Among the rapper's various claims is that he has only received $100,000 during the nine years since he signed with the label conglomerate. He is also accusing the labels of failing to market and promote his first two albums and sabotaging the release of subsequent projects. ...

Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson has been given a trial date of June 14 for his battery case in Naples, Florida. Lifeson is accused of fighting with police officers and pushing a cop down a flight of stairs on New Year's Eve. The guitarist will try to postpone the scheduled trial because Rush will be on the road at that time and more discovery needs to be done for the case. ... Zak Starkey, son of former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, will play drums for Beatles fanatics Oasis when the band headlines the Glastonbury Festival next month. Noel Gallagher told the British Broadcasting Corp. that Starkey has been one of several drummers recording with the band since Alan White was asked to leave in January. As for Starkey's chances of becoming a permanent member, Gallagher said, "If he can get us his dad's autograph, he's in." ...

What could be a second Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is opening early next year in downtown Phoenix. The museum, which will host traveling displays, will be housed in a building near America West Arena for at least five years, with the option to become permanent if the hall is well attended. The original museum is in Cleveland. ... Ministry have hired Bryan Kehoe as the band's newest guitar player. He will join Al Jourgensen and Mike Scaccia in a three-pronged attack onstage with Ministry and in the studio with the Revolting Cocks. Earlier this year, bassist John Monte was hired after longtime member Paul Barker left the group. ...

Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler has had a scholarship named after him by the Berklee College of Music. The Steven Tyler Online Scholarship Program will provide talented musicians across the world with the opportunity to attend the prestigious music school. ... Billy Corgan is giving away a Grammy — to a high school in Chicago. The Neuqua Valley High School, designated a Grammy Signature School for their band, choir and orchestra students by the Grammy Foundation, will be presented with the award — and $5,000 — on May 25 by Corgan, who will also give them a private concert. He plans to perform his latest solo material. ...

• Jessica Simpson
• Jet
• Young Gunz
• Moby
• Velvet Revolver

O.A.R.'s Marc Roberge
Photo: MTV News

IRVINE, California — Four years ago, O.A.R. frontman Marc Roberge's girlfriend suggested his band record "a funky, weird-ass song" with an up-and-coming production duo called the Neptunes.

"I was like, 'Who the hell are the Neptunes?' " the singer/guitarist recalled recently, sitting in his tour bus while a certain production duo's band, N.E.R.D., performed onstage outside.

"Now I'm like, 'Maybe we should do something — they do all right for a living,' " Roberge said, laughing. "Actually, to be honest, I have not had a chance to talk to the guys."

For now O.A.R. will have to do without the flashy funk of the producers they are opening for on the Sprite Liquid Mix Tour (see "Bras, Breakdancers And More Bras ... Pharrell Knows How To Party"), which is probably for the best, since their In Between Now and Then, released in May, is still picking up steam.

While "Hey Girl" is a staple on MTV2 (see "Frat House Revolution: O.A.R. Build Loyal Fanbase, One Greek At A Time"), alt-rock radio has picked up on the chilling reggae jam "Dareh Meyod."

"I think that will be the second single and we will do a video. And we are going to try to market the album," Roberge said, not shying away from the kind of promotional plan uncommon for jam bands. "We've been touring for a while, and I feel like it's our time to really try out the mass audience that we want to reach, and we're not afraid to do it, and you have to do it with radio and video. It's a new chapter for us."

For "Hey Girl," O.A.R. went with a standard performance video, but "Dareh Meyod" will likely be different.

"In the beginning we were not really into the concept video, but you start thinking, 'I can get creative with this.' It's like another art form," Roberge said with excitement in his hoarse voice. "We want to explore the darker side of the song, capturing that vibe of leaving at 4 in the morning for a three-month tour where you won't see your girl anymore, you won't see your family anymore. All you'll see is this bus."

While "Dareh Meyod" is about leaving loved ones behind for the road, it hasn't influenced the band's philosophy on touring. After the Sprite Liquid Mix Tour, O.A.R. will play "Austin City Limits" and the HFSestival radio show at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., before headlining an ambitious fall outing with Spearhead and the Virginia Coalition.

"Then a winter tour, then a spring tour," Roberge said. "That's what we do."

While diehard fans will likely be taping all of the shows, O.A.R. — Of a Revolution — will record one or two themselves.

"In our contract we made room so that we will do one live record for every studio record, whether it's a live DVD or CD. It will be one or the other," Roberge said. "And we'll definitely follow through on that because that's really what we want people to hear is our live stuff. And we try to practice and change things and get better, and when we do get better we'll do another studio record."

Other plans for O.A.R. include expanding their own Everfine Records. The label's next act "is definitely going to be someone you've never heard of," Roberge vowed. "We never had anybody that took us under their wing and totally helped us out, so what we do is try to take the bands we love and open them up to these crowds, because they're so good."

Once O.A.R. choose a prospect for Everfine, they'll look to their fans for final approval, just like they do with other major decisions.

"When we signed our record deal, we wrote a huge letter to our fans on our message board and said, 'This is why we are doing it. Do you have any questions or comments? Please write back and we'll answer every question,' " Roberge said. "And we did, and they felt a part of it. Then we said, 'We're making a video. Do you have any ideas?' And they responded.

"Someone once told me, just as quickly as these kids came on to you, they'll turn their backs on you if there's something else they like," he continued. "But if you make them a part of it, they're not going to turn their backs on themselves."

• O.A.R.

N.E.R.D.'s Pharrell Williams at the Sprite Liquid Mix Tour
Photo: MTV News

IRVINE, California — White, black, big, small ... there was a lot of variety onstage at the Sprite Liquid Mix Tour on Friday. Variety of bras, that is.

The music was not as diverse. Hip-hop, led by the bra-beseeching Pharrell Williams and N.E.R.D., was the dominant force as the second annual traveling festival hit the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.

(Click to see photos.)

Main stage openers Robert Randolph & the Family Band and O.A.R., sandwiched between Talib Kweli and the Roots, brought roots-rock flavor to the show, but the most fans in the sea of trucker hats and throwback jerseys couldn't have cared less.

The eight girls in identical homemade "Pharrell" wifebeaters were not there to expand their musical palettes. The guy with the ?uestlove-like afro was not there to try out the skateboard park. For most, the agenda was to, as Kweli put it, "Move Somethin'."

N.E.R.D., then, were the ideal headliners. While Williams and rapper Shay were not always in sync with the band, and while their catalog (as a group, not producers) isn't as hit-packed as most bands who headline the venue, they do know how to throw a party. The place was even hopping while roadies set up N.E.R.D.'s gear, thanks to a fleet of breakdancers that included a toddler.

Once Pharrell and posse did enter and rip into "Brain," the crowd went so crazy that even the usually reserved Chad Hugo flashed an enormous smile and stepped away from his keyboard for a little dancing.

"Do you really even love me?" Williams sang on the chorus, prompting increased screams.

The band — Williams, Hugo, Shay and side stage performers Spymob — then launched into the sing-along "Provider," which slowed down the tempo but not the party.

By the third song, N.E.R.D. felt comfortable enough to play the first of several new songs, a mid-tempo number called "Thrasher" for "the skaters," according to Williams. Other new tracks, due next year on Fly or Die, included a somber tune about suicide and a pure R&B number called "Let's Go Together."

Just when the audience began to lose interest, Williams asked for a little favor. "I want some bras onstage!" And he got what he wished for — so many that he struggled to collect the undergarments and sing "Rock Star" at the same time.

"Lapdance" might have been the more fitting hit for the R-rated scene, but N.E.R.D. saved that for the finale. In between, Williams took a few minutes to advertise the just released The Neptunes Present ... Clones and even perform the first single, "Frontin'," which was a crowd favorite.

As much love as N.E.R.D. got from the nearly sold-out amphitheater, the Roots almost stole the show from under them. As if dual guitars and dual drums weren't enough, the premier hip-hop band offered dual vocals on a couple of tracks, with friend Common joining Black Thought onstage.

Although the group played material from all five of its studio albums, the highlights were the more freeform jam sessions, especially a take on the classic "Apache," featuring a ?uestlove solo.

Speaking of jams, O.A.R. took all eight songs in their hour-long set into new territory, from the beginning bass groove of "Revisited" to the ending guitar lick in "That Was a Crazy Game of Poker," the band's signature live tune.

Adding to the band's already vibrant sound was the addition of keyboardist Gabe Dixon, who played discreetly for the first couple of tunes but broke out in a monster solo during the infectious "Hey Girl." The most impressive solo, though, came from steel guitar virtuoso Robert Randolph, who joined O.A.R. for "Anyway." Like Dixon, Randolph stayed in the background, until Marc Roberge sang, "A wise man once said to me, I feel no pain" and looked toward him, signaling his opportunity to jam.

Roberge sang more and more passionately as the set went on and the band was further harassed by hip-hop fans. At one point, the frustrated singer told a heckler, "I'm just doing my job."

Talib Kweli took the stage earlier and immediately broke the norm of hip-hop performances by prominently featuring two backup singers along with his DJ, who added a feminine touch to his sharp delivery. Kweli jumped into freestyling quickly, commenting on everything from his Von Dutch hat to world politics. "F--- George Bush, but I ain't a Dixie Chick," he rapped, drawing an "oooh" from the crowd.

Even Los Angeles' own Xzibit joined in on the freestyling fun, name-dropping his hits after trading verses with Kweli on their 2000 collaboration, "Down for the Count."

Kweli's set seemed to build with each song from "Good to You" to "Move Somethin'," so it was a perfect punctuated ending when he broke into "Get By."

"We keeping it gangster/ Say fo' shizzle, fo' sheezy and stayin' crunk," the crowd rapped along with Kweli. "It's easy to pull a breezy/ Smoke trees, and we stay drunk."

The bras weren't flying yet, but they were loosening up.

The Sprite Liquid Mix Tour hits Dallas on Tuesday (see "Roots, N.E.R.D., Talib Kweli To Perform On Second Sprite Music Tour").

For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports.

• Pharrell Williams
• N.E.R.D.
• Robert Randolph & The Family Band
• O.A.R.
• Talib Kweli

311's Nick Hexum
Photo: Jason Campbell

After spending last fall on the road with Jay-Z, N.E.R.D. and Nappy Roots, 311 are catering their next tour to the more rock side of their fanbase.

The hip-hop- and reggae-influenced quintet has lined up blues jammers G. Love & Special Sauce, piano punks Something Corporate and frat rockers O.A.R. (see "Frat House Revolution: O.A.R. Build Loyal Fanbase, One Greek At A Time") as openers for a summer trek.

The outing kicks off July 15 in Bakersfield, California, and hits mostly amphitheaters, crisscrossing the country until wrapping up September 5 in Santa Barbara, California.

"We always want to make sure our fans know how grateful we are and what a blessing it is to be able to do this, because we have fans that will follow us through thick and thin, whether or not we happen to be on the radio at that time," singer Nick Hexum said. "We just want to give back through putting on as good a show as best we can."

While gathered in their Hive studios recently, 311 said they plan on playing every song from their upcoming Evolver on the summer tour (see "New 311 Album Aimed At Old-School Fans, 7-Year-Olds Alike").

"If we push it down people's throats I think people are gonna understand what we're feeling," bassist P-Nut said. "This is one of the most personal albums we've ever made, and I think we're only getting smarter and we're looking to our audience to do the same thing. I think there's a lull in music right now. Hopefully we can influence more bands to look toward being more diverse and breaking that [typical] songwriting mode and have fun and play it as hard as you can."

Evolver, due in late July, is 311's seventh studio album, while this summer marks the band's 10th year together.

"It's better to sell a little bit of records in 10 years than a lot of records in one year, because it's the excitement of the process that keeps us going more than any financial reward or anything," Hexum said. "It's just such a blessing."

311 tour dates, according to the band's management:

• 7/15 - Bakersfield, CA @ The Dome (w/ Something Corporate)
• 7/17 - Fresno, CA @ Rainbow Ballroom (w/ Something Corporate)
• 7/18 - Costa Mesa, CA @ Pacific Amphitheatre (w/ Something Corporate)
• 7/19 - Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Amphitheatre (w/ Something Corporate)
• 7/21 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Bricktown Event Center (w/ Something Corporate)
• 7/24 - Columbus, OH @ PromoWest Pavillion (w/ Something Corporate)
• 7/25 - Indianapolis, IN @ Verizon Wireless (w/ O.A.R., Something Corporate)
• 7/26 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Heinz Field (Rolling Rock Town Fair IV)
• 7/29 - Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest (w/ G. Love & Special Sauce, Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 7/30 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Deltaplex (w/ O.A.R., Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 7/31 - Detroit, MI @ Meadowbrook (w/ G. Love & Special Sauce, Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/1 - Cleveland, OH @ Tower City Amphitheatre (w/ G. Love & Special Sauce, Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/2 - Chicago, IL @ UIC Pavilion (w/ G. Love & Special Sauce, Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/4 - Omaha, NE @ Westfair (w/ O.A.R., Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/5 - Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center (w/ O.A.R., Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/7 - Kansas City, KS @ Citimart (w/ O.A.R., Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/8 - St. Louis, MO @ Riverport (w/ O.A.R., Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/9 - Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend (w/ O.A.R., Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/10 - Philadelphia, PA @ Penn's Landing (w/ G. Love & Special Sauce, Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/11 - Gilford, NH @ Meadowbrook (w/ O.A.R., Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/13 - Boston, MA @ Fleet Boston Pavilion (w/ G. Love & Special Sauce, Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/15 - Waterloo, NJ @ Waterloo Village (w/ G. Love & Special Sauce, Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/16 - Washington, DC @ Meriweather Post (w/ G. Love & Special Sauce, Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/17 - Virginia Beach, VA @ Virginia Beach Amphitheatre (w/ G. Love & Special Sauce, Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/18 - New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom (w/ G. Love & Special Sauce, Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/19 - New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom (w/ Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/21 - Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
• 8/22 - Atlanta, GA @ Hi-Fi Buys Amphitheatre (w/ G. Love & Special Sauce, Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/23 - New Orleans, LA @ UNO Pavilion (w/ G. Love & Special Sauce, Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/24 - Houston, TX @ TBA (w/ G. Love & Special Sauce, Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/26 - Austin, TX @ Backyard (w/ G. Love & Special Sauce, Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/27 - Grand Prairie, TX @ Next Stage (w/ G. Love & Special Sauce, Something Corporate, DJ P)
• 8/29 - Englewood, CO @ Fiddler's Green Amphitheater (w/ G. Love & Special Sauce, DJ P)
• 8/30 - Salt Lake, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre (w/ G. Love & Special Sauce, DJ P)
• 9/1 - San Francisco, CA @ TBA (w/ G. Love & Special Sauce, DJ P)
• 9/3 - Los Angeles, CA @ TBA (w/ G. Love & Special Sauce, DJ P)
• 9/5 - Santa Barbara, CA @ County Bowl (w/ G. Love & Special Sauce, DJ P)

• 311
• G. Love
• Something Corporate
• O.A.R.

Spankin' New Music Week 2005: Live From TRL

• Thrice
• Pharrell Williams
• Green Day
• Usher
• The Click Five

Spankin' New Week Fall 2005: Artist Polaroids

• The Click Five
• Usher
• Pharrell Williams
• Robin Thicke
• Chris Brown

MTV.com LIVE: O.A.R. Photos 10.04.2005

• O.A.R.

2003 Sprite Liquid Mix Tour

• N.E.R.D.
• O.A.R.
• The Roots

O.A.R.: You Hear It First Photo Gallery

• O.A.R.