Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

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OK Go to rock WASB event

Who doesn’t want to get their face rocked off?

Remember those awesomely choreographed guys dancing away to “Here It Goes Again” on treadmills? Wish you could see them up-close and experience the band firsthand? Well, have no fear, they will be here.

OK Go will be headlining the Badger Blowout Concert for the All-Campus Party, sponsored by the UW Credit Union tonight at 8 p.m. at the Overture Center for the Arts. Also performing will be We the Living, The Nod and the winner of this year’s All-Campus Idol, Kari Rongstad.

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“We are excited to play any event called a Badger Blowout. It sounds like something that happens once in many, many moons — maybe once in a lifetime,” drummer Dan Konopka told The Badger Herald. “I personally enjoy playing small clubs. The types of places that get crammed with people shoulder to shoulder, where if you were to be lifted on top of the crowd, you could touch the ceiling.”

Konopka also explained how he became a drummer and his passion for music.

“I started playing drums at around 10 years of age. I started because I wanted to be like my older brother Stanley — who played viola … and went to an ‘important’ far-away art school to do so. I was fascinated by the music, his talent and the adoration he received — but I also wanted to make the music that I was hearing on the radio,” Konopka said.

OK Go is comprised of Konopka on drums, Damian Kulash on vocals and guitar,

Tim Nordwind on bass and Andy Ross on keyboard and guitar — replacing previous member Andy Duncan in 2005. The band formed near Chicago.

“Tim and Damian knew each other from when they were 14 and knew they wanted to play in a serious band together. Tim, Andy Duncan and myself met during college and played for a short while in a band called Stanley’s Joyful Noise,” Konopka explained. “We played around Chicago for a year or so and had a great time. Around the time that band winded down, Damian was about finishing up with his school — he soon after moved to Chicago and that’s when OK Go officially started. I’d say around late 1998-ish.”

He also shared how the name OK Go was born.

“The OK Go name came from an experience Tim and Damian had while at art camp. Their teacher would set them to do a still-life drawing or something, and after the assignment explanation and prepping, he send them off with an, ‘OK… Go!'”

He added, “You should really hear Damian tell the story. It’s a lot funnier when he tells it.”

The band released its critically acclaimed album Oh No in 2005 — a follow up to 2002’s self-titled album — featuring the hits “Here It Goes Again” and “A Million Ways.” However, OK Go may be better known for their music videos.

Take the video “Here It Goes Again,” which consisted of fantastically choreographed dancing on treadmills. Needless to say, the video itself was a hit, and it won the Grammy in 2007 for Best Short-form Music Video. Konopka also shared how the band reacted to the hit’s success.

“In amazement, really. No one expected that video would go on to do so much. Winning the Grammy for best video was definitely the ultimate, unexpected cherry on top.”

Also unexpected was the source for the idea of the contagious video.

“The idea for the “Here It Goes Again” video came from Damian’s sister Trish Sie. We got together, combined our strengths and choreographed it along with her. It was a very fun and exciting ultra-creative experience,” Konopka said.

If you’ve never heard OK Go, the band has an interesting power pop-rock sound and a wide variety of influences to boot.

“I’d say the main musical influences of OK Go would be the groups The Pixies, The Cure, The Cars and Prince,” Konopka said.

When asked what compels the band to make the music they do, Konopka said it comes down to fun.

“We all really enjoy being musicians,” Konopka said. “We enjoy working together to create our sound and to make a living. Being in a rock band playing these songs is as about as much fun as you can have without breaking the law. There’s 10,000 more reasons why we do what we do — I could go on forever — (but) I’ll just stop there.”

So, what should the audience expect?

“A whole lot of rocking!” Konopka said. “A couple unexpected musical left hooks. Maybe some intense video accompaniment. A shitload of confetti. Not too sure about any dancing.”

Oh, and if you’re wondering how Mr. Konopka fares at the game Rock Band (which offers “Here It Goes Again” among its tracks), here’s your answer:

“Just terrible. It’s a shame. I can’t get through the drum part I originally recorded in the studio on Rock Band, even with [it’s] set on ‘easy.'”

OK Go will be performing a sold-out show tonight as part of All-Campus Party at 8 p.m. at the Overture Center for the Arts.

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