OK Go-ing

OK Go is a band less famous for its music than its videos, some of which have gone viral on YouTube to the tune of 10 million hits, including one that netted the band a Grammy award. But what would you expect from a power-pop quartet, the seeds of which were planted in sixth-grade art camp many moons ago? This is a group of adult men who are still very much in touch with their inner child. For those of us with children of our own, well, they’d like them, too, if not for the X-rated content (“You’re a f!!!ing nerd and no one likes you”), which puts OK Go strictly off limits for kids. Too bad. I think middle-schoolers (and their parents) would engage with OK Go’s weird science. For example, consider Hungry Ghosts, which (as reported by New Yorker magazine) was released on vinyl, CD, via downloads, and on strands of DNA. Last year, OK Go singer Damian Kulash learned of a scientist who’d converted an entire book to DNA, hence the idea.

OK Go solidified in Chicago while band members were there going to college; they have since moved to Los Angeles. Their first EP was self-released in 2000. By 2002, they had a deal with Capitol Records and a new full-length album that didn’t grab much in the way of sales or radio play but that is fun nonetheless. They’ve made most of their income by licensing songs to soundtracks and commercials. So what does this mean for you? A frenzied live act with dazzling lights, confetti cannons, and killer power pop. The OK Go Joe Jackson–meets–Greg Kihn sound is a hit at festivals all around, like a man version of the Jumpitz, but for adults. By the way, converting all that DNA back into Hungry Ghosts hasn’t really happened yet, but no matter. It’s the thought that counts.