• the217
• Music
• Colorful rockers tackle new sound on upcoming release

Related Media

• See Slideshow (3 images)

Related Artists

• OK Go's Profile »

Related Venues

Canopy Club »
Address: 708 S. Goodwin Ave. Urbana, IL 61801
Phone: (217) 367-3140
Show on map

Take a rock band with an upbeat sound, mix in a few colorful ties and vests, and sprinkle around intricately choreographed treadmill routines, and you will inevitably receive OK Go. The Chicago-based quartet has shaken up the music scene over the last eight years with their unique creativity showcased through music videos and powerfully entertaining live shows. After a year-long absence, OK Go is back in business, currently touring to promote their upcoming third album, Of the Blue Colour of the Sky. Fans may notice that the upcoming album’s name is a departure from past titles like Ok Go or Oh No. The group’s bassist, Tim Nordwind, explained that the name comes from a late 1800s book that tried to prove the color blue has healing power. “It ties into trying to believe a situation that may be pretty difficult to understand,” Nordwind said.

On this album fans can expect a different kind of sound as well. “This one sounds a little bit different. There’s a lot less guitar, and a lot more bass and drums. It is more like the punk rock we listened to when we were in high school. It is definitely dancier,” Nordwind explained. Whatever this fresh sound may be, it was well thought out as the band spent the last year hard at work. Secluded in a house in upstate New York, the band spent countless hours with their producer, David Fridmann, making this sound a reality. “We all write bits and pieces of songs. We wrote about 100 songs for this record and dwindled them down from there,” Nordwind said.

There is no doubt that OK Go has a lot to live up to with the new album. Having won a Grammy in 2007 for their iconic treadmill-dancing video for “Here It Goes Again,” there would appear to be a lot of pressure on them. Nordwind exclaimed, however, that the pressure they feel is typical to the process of creating any new piece of work.

In addition to the record, OK Go will tour the Midwest in November and the United Kingdom in January. Urbana has been lucky enough to be included on their list of destinations. At the show fans should expect nothing less than pure entertainment. According to Nordwind, “We like to make our shows feel like a house party. It’s nice when you can knock down that imaginary wall and really connect.”