No win? No problem: O.A.R. scores with a hometown set at Nats Park

While Friday night’s game didn’t end in a win for the Nats, O.A.R. gave fans a reason to stick around.

Wearing customized Nationals jerseys, the Rockville, Maryland-born band took the outfield stage for a short but lively postgame concert that brought a renewed energy to Nationals Park.

The band kicked off the set with “This Town,” a song that felt like a perfect match for the venue. It wasn’t about pageantry, but rather a genuine connection to their hometown, and that came through in the performance. Playing center field at Nats Park felt like a genuine milestone. “We should do this more often, you guys,” frontman Marc Roberge said with a smile. The crowd, a mix of Nats fans and longtime listeners, didn’t disagree.

For a band formed during an eighth-grade talent show, O.A.R. still plays like a group of friends who haven’t gotten tired of each other. The chemistry between Roberge, drummer Chris Culos, and guitarist Richard On is easy to spot: unforced and deeply familiar. As their bio puts it, Roberge still finds himself saying, “Can you believe we’re still doing this at this level, and it’s still this much fun?” On a night like this, it showed.

The set continued with longtime staples like “Love and Memories” and “Shattered (Turn the Car Around),” delivering what fans came for, while “Our Diamond. Our District.” served as the night’s most on-the-nose moment—a tribute to the team, the stadium, and the city they grew up around.

Even with just 11 songs, the band covered a lot of ground—emotionally and musically. Trumpeter Jon Lampley brought extra energy to “Peace,” and “I Feel Home,” which felt like a quiet nod to their D.C. roots.

If you’ve been living under a rock, O.A.R. (short for Of A Revolution) are the rock masterminds behind singalongs like “Hey Girl,” “I Go Through,” and the chaotic fan-favorite “That Was a Crazy Game of Poker."

In a stadium that had just watched their team fall short, O.A.R. offered something of a reset: an hour of music that leaned into joy, hometown pride, and the comfort of familiar songs. Not a bad way to end a Friday night.

If you missed O.A.R. at Nats Park, there's more to come this summer in the world of postgame shows as the Nats' Summer Concert Series continues:

Friday, June 6 — Natasha Bedingfield (6:45 p.m. game vs. Texas Rangers)

Friday, June 13 — Nelly (6:45 p.m. game vs. Miami Marlins)

Friday, Aug. 15 — Sam Hunt (6:45 p.m. game vs. Philadelphia Phillies)

Friday, Aug. 29 — Ja Rule & Ashanti (6:45 p.m. game vs. Tampa Bay Rays)

Friday, Sept. 26 — Riley Green (6:45 p.m. game vs. Chicago White Sox)