O.A.R. has been known to find the groove as well, though the whole jam-band-grassroots-success-story thing cuts two ways. There's a tug-of-war between down-home, word-of-mouth popularity and gaining mainstream cred as something other than a neocounterculture curiosity. With its latest studio effort, In Between Now and Then, it appears that the Maryland-born jam quintet wants to have its veggie burrito and eat it, too. A major label, a radio cut and a music video show the band's marketing evolution, but O.A.R. remains firmly tied to its improv-oriented ska-reggae roots. The group straddles the fence, but devoted fans don't seem to mind. It remains to be seen whether anyone else will take notice.
