Television personality and AZfoothills.com columnist Nadine Toren is scouring the area, finding savvy Valley features, bringing readers “on the scene.” Every day she’ll introduce you to celebrities, athletes, and give you an inside look into local events and hot spots. She'll touch on topical issues, and keep AZ fans posted on all the big talkers around town.

This week: Nadine talks to the drummer of O.A.R., the band that will play at the Bird’s Nest at FBR.

When 31-year-old Chris Culos comes to town for the Waste Management Phoenix Open, he dines at City Hall, a savvy Scottsdale steakhouse. That’s where the drummer of O.A.R. says he was introduced to bone-in filet, and it was love at first bite.

Speaking of love, he fell head-over-heels for his wife back in college, visiting his Arizona State University Sun Devil between tours.

“I spent a lot of time in Tempe at the bars and restaurants. It felt like a second home,” said Chris Culos, of O.A.R.

Yep, this musician has ties to Arizona, despite being raised in Maryland, where he and his childhood buddies formed O.A.R. (of a revolution) in 1996, with high hopes and big dreams.

“Growing up and watching concert after concert after concert, I just wanted to be on that stage,” said Culos.

Fast-forward fifteen years, and O.A.R. is quite a success, scoring on Top 40 charts, releasing six studio albums (the seventh is due out this year), and selling out Madison Square Garden in 2006 and 2007.

“Madison Square Garden was just the coolest experience ever, in one of the most famous venues ever.”

This five-piece boy band has a rather newfound tradition at one of the Valley's annual venues. This will be the band's third year playing at the Bird’s Nest, the hot-spot for party-goers at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

“It’s like a rock concert crowd at a golf tournament.”

That’s right, it’s not tough for Marc, Richard, Benj, Jerry, and Chris to ditch winter weather, check in at a Scottsdale hotel, and do what they love most--perform for Phoenix-area fans. In fact, the Valley has so many O.A.R. groupies, Bird’s Nest officials had to turn people away when they played at the 2010 Waste Management Phoenix Open.

“Last year it turned into a big fiasco. The Fire Marshall was called in because a ton of people who had been at the tournament all day filled the tent before everyone else that planned on attending the show. It was mayhem.”

Culos believes that things will run more smoothly this year, as O.A.R. fans jam to their music he describes as “islandy,” roots, rock, and non-political.

“We want to bring people together and relate to the good vibes and pulse.”

The musician took to percussion because his dad was a drummer. Obviously, father knew best, because the few beats daddy taught him are paying off. The band has performed for more than 1.5 million people all over the world, including overseas in Kuwait and Iraq.

“It’s something that we find very gratifying. We are very fortunate we’re able to do this for our career.”

Culos says being on tour is not as glamorous as it seems. Living up to his idol, drummer Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, takes a lot of hard work.

“I practice three to four times a day; sometimes I can get upward of six to eight hours a day.”

He practices at his Chicago house, and when he‘s not beating the drums, Culos enjoys spending time with his wife, whom he says is the most intelligent and gorgeous person he’s ever met. (Brownie points!)

But if you’re a single lady looking for love at the 2011 Waste Management Phoenix Open, rumor has it O.A.R.’s bass player has an open heart.

“Benj is definitely the guy.”

And who knows, you might just catch the boys out and about in Scottsdale after they rock the crowd at the Bird‘s Nest... Or you can test your luck getting a glimpse of the celeb at City Hall, as Culos feasts on his post-performance bone-in filet.

You can catch O.A.R. at the Waste Management Phoenix Open Bird’s Nest on Thursday, February 3.

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