If you're a fan of pop music, and more specifically, the Boy Band era, then chances are you remember O-Town. And, unless you have been living under a rock, you should also know that they are back and better than ever. The once five member band was formed on the reality show, "Making the Band" in 1999, and took the world by storm in the early 2000s. Unfortunately, their lifespan was short-lived, and fans were left feeling devastated following the band's separation in 2003.
Now a quartet, Jacob Underwood, Dan Miller, Trevor Penick and Erik-Michael Estrada have catapulted their way back into the hearts of their fans. Their newest album, "Lines and Circles," was released in August 2014 (available on iTunes and Amazon) and is a mastery summation of their raw talent. Their first single, "Skydive," is a heart-pounding lyrical message to their fans that they are back! Their newest single, "Chasin' After you," is a Michael Jackson clad track that will get people of all ages on their feet. If you love "All or Nothing," then "Sometimes Love Ain't Enough" will be your new favorite. A more mature sound and tastefully relatable lyrics, "Lines and Circles" has no track that requires use of the skip button.
Being a fan from the very beginning, I could not contain my excitement when I heard they were coming to my hometown. I attended their show in Portland, Maine, and it was a far more intimate experience than the show I attended in 2001. If there was ever a time to be an O-Town fan, the time is now! They have catered this comeback to their fans, shows oozing with appreciation for their loyalty. They have a way of interacting with the crowd and really making it a memorable experience for each person in attendance.
In an attempt to become a bigger part of "Team Townie," I became active on Twitter, which I highly recommend if you are looking for the ultimate fan experience. As a means to stay connected with fans, the guys do weekly Q&As and surprise Periscope streamings to show a sense of appreciation. In addition to following them, I connected with an admin of two fan accounts. Jessicca runs the Erik and Jacob fan Twitter accounts and has attended 13 shows over the last year and a half. Only attending the shows VIP, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to get the fan experience from her perspective. She has interacted with the group countless times face to face, as well as over social media, and is on a first-name basis with them at this point. Every fan's dream, right? She was gracious enough to answer some burning questions:
Seeing O-Town perform 13 times in less than two years sounds like a dream. Could you sum up your overall experience from attending the shows?
"The overall experience of attending an O-Town show is amazing. They have so much fun, and it’s a great combination of both old and new music as well as some of their old dance routines. It's clear how much they've grown as a group, and have grown that much better with age and experience. Some great moments are when the lights go down just before they hit the stage and the first note of "All or Nothing" is played; both of those moments at every single show can be deafening. All of the guys interact with fans during the show and you can count on still swooning over Erik, being amazed by Dan's vocals, screaming when Jacob does his traditional microphone flip and admiring how great Trevor sounds!"
What is the meet-and-greet experience like? Can you offer feedback on how they act toward their fans?
"The excitement on the fans' faces as they are about to meet them for the first time, or to finally see them again after 15 years, is the best part. All of the guys go the extra mile to make all of the fans feel comfortable and at ease. They give each person one-on-one attention by reaching out to hug them, asking questions such as their name, where they originate from, etc. They really make their experience as personal as they can. They genuinely care and want to give back as much as they can to each and every single fan they encounter. They are all very humble and down-to-earth, appreciate this entire experience and know the fans are the most important factor to their success."
How would you describe your show touring experience?
"Getting to travel with my friends and make such amazing memories with them and the guys is something that will never get old. I will continue to do so as long as I am able to."
What prompted you to start the fan pages?
"I started my fan support pages in December of 2013. I can’t say the exact thought process behind starting my pages because I don’t know that there was one. I just did it on a gut feeling and that gut feeling changed my life. I certainly had no idea that it would blossom into what it has; it has been an awesome ride. I love the guys and all of the fans, and I can't say enough about how blessed I am. I've developed great relationships with the guys that I will treasure forever, and I've also made some really great friends in the process. One of the major benefits of these friendships is that a few of us, Sonja, Bobbi, Dea, and I currently run street team support for O-Town. Sonja and Bobbi first promoted in Boston and the show sold out so our goal is to help sell out as many shows as we can, and support the boys in every way possible. We are super excited about the street team and welcome all the fans to help support and promote O-Town in their comeback!"
O-Town definitely delivers the ultimate fan experience by showing their value and appreciation and this, paired with their obvious talent, is what gives them staying power. Their tour picks back up on February 25, 2016 in L.A. at the El Rey Theatre. Purchase your tickets and VIP upgrades as soon as possible. This is a tour you will regret missing!
A special thank you to everyone who contributed in the making of this article!
