Option//Control has done what most other St. Louis bands would deem unthinkable. The fellows embrace names such as Katy Perry, Jason Derulo and even Ke$ha in describing Option//Control's music.
"I think a lot of our musician friends would shy away from the label of Top 40 and pop, but we have a lot of fun playing it, and our fans have fun listening to us," lead singer Steven Thomas says. "At the end of the day, it's all about having a good time.
"We love all music, though my favorite band is Radiohead, which isn't close to Katy Perry or Ke$ha. But at the same time, I grew up listening to Y98 in my mom's car and listening to piles of pop music. We're not trying to be overly pretentious about anything."
Option//Control mixes pop and rock influences in infectious ways that feature oversize guitar riffs and catchy hooks.
"Our goal, if you hear one of these songs on the radio, is for it to be ambiguous," Thomas says. "You might think you're listening to the next Jason Derulo or something and not know that it's a full band with five people playing instruments."
Option//Control is looking at a big boost in its profile as one of three local bands chosen as winners in the new Fair St. Louis Music Video Contest. The band will perform Sunday on the Budweiser Main Stage, where Maroon 5 will perform later that day. Hip-hip group Doorway and rockers Last Night's Vice were also selected.
It's a long way from Option//Control's usual haunts at the Pageant, the Firebird, Blueberry Hill and Cicero's.
The winning video was for "Saw Her There." Thomas calls the video, filmed in a downtown loft, simple in concept, but it allows people to see what Option//Control looks and sounds like.
"We didn't want to be overcomplicated with story line and actors and actresses, so we rounded up a handful of friends and shot a performance video of us performing in a party atmosphere," he says.
The 3-year-old band heard about the contest through Twitter and jumped at the opportunity.
"It was a chance to seize the moment since we had that video ready to go," Thomas says. "And playing at Fair St. Louis in front of families and that many people would really be great exposure."
The band released two EPs in 2007, but Thomas says "Saw Her There" won't lead to an album.
"We simply want to write and record and release singles digitally," he says. "If we put an album on iTunes, people would hack it up and just buy the songs they want anyway."
Fair St. Louis Music Video Contest performances
When Doorway at 2 p.m. Saturday, Option//Control at 3 p.m. Sunday and Last Night's Vice at 4 p.m. Monday • Where Gateway Arch grounds • How much Free • More info celebratestlouis.org
