O.A.R. plays MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa, Florida on May 26, 2017. Credit: Kamran Malik

The smooth, alt-rock vibes of O.A.R (short for Of A Revolution) first appeared at downtown Clearwater’s BayCare Sound last summer, as an opening act for Goo Goo Dolls (Kevin and Charlie Ries hosted a behind-the-scenes meetup with Clearwater Young Professionals).

There isn’t any new music from our headliners (what appears to be the first-ever band to play this venue twice), but during “That Was A Crazy Game Of Poker,” you just might see playing cards fly across the crowd like a beach ball.

This show is just one of many that will see the Sound (and the other two venues under the Ruth Eckerd Hall umbrella) offer up to four free tickets to first responders in Pinellas and Pasco counties, as well as linemen and beach hospitality employees in response to their actions following Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

“As we pick up the pieces from the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, we are humbled to be a refuge where the First Responders and Lineman, as well as the beach hospitality employees can go to escape the stress and recapture a little joy for a while,” Susan M. Crockett Ruth Eckerd Hall President & CEO and the Ruth Eckerd Hall Board of Directors, wrote in a release announcing the 5,000 free tickets.

Those eligible for tickets must present government or company issued identification at The Raymond James Central Ticket Office outside Ruth Eckerd Hall (1111 McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater) when picking up a maximum of four tickets per person.

Tickets to see O.A.R. play the BayCare Sound in Clearwater on Friday, Nov. 15 are still available for everyone else, and start at $40.