Ok Go

The year 2005 marked OK Go's breakthrough, as the quartet launched a series of self-produced videos to showcase its blend of skewed guitars, stylistic nods to the Pixies and the Cars, and direct power pop approach. Spotting the rising influence of platforms such as YouTube, the musicians filmed an over-the-top dance sequence for the track "A Million Ways" from their second album, Oh No. That clip soon claimed the record for the most-downloaded music video ever, while the band's next effort—depicting the members performing choreography on treadmills—earned a Grammy Award; throughout this period they kept issuing inventive, tuneful pop songs.

Damian Kulash on vocals and guitar, Andrew Duncan on guitar, Tim Nordwind on bass, and Dan Konopka on drums formed the lineup in autumn 1998. Before Kulash relocated from the East Coast to Chicago, the remaining three had already performed together in the local outfit Stanley's Joyful Noise. Once assembled, the group attracted substantial press coverage in the Windy City despite lacking a full-length release, thanks in part to their energetic concerts and support slots alongside acts such as Elliott Smith and the Promise Ring. They issued two three-song CD singles to sustain interest ahead of a debut album and also functioned as the unofficial house band for a traveling edition of the NPR series This American Life. A deal with Capitol followed, leading to the self-titled first album in September 2002 and a modest modern-rock radio success with "Get Over It."

The August 2005 arrival of Oh No occurred without Duncan, who departed once recording concluded; Andy Ross stepped in as his replacement and participated in crafting two resourceful, low-cost videos. The "A Million Ways" clip showed the musicians rehearsing intricate dance routines in a backyard during a single continuous shot, inspiring numerous fan recreations online and turning the song into a European success. Months afterward, "Here It Goes Again" again placed the band on moving treadmills and reached the Top 40 in both the United States and the United Kingdom. That video secured another Grammy, after which the musicians returned to the studio for the 2008 EP You're Not Alone. Their next full-length, Of the Blue Colour of the Sky, appeared in 2010, entered the Top 40, and benefited from singles including "This Too Shall Pass" and "End Love." Extensive touring ensued, with 180 concerts logged that year alone. Select performances were captured and issued the following year as the live album 180/365, mixed by Dave Fridmann; OK Go later reunited with Fridmann for their fourth studio album, Hungry Ghosts, released in 2014.