The clarity of sound was impressive from the start, the quality not faltering in quieter songs later on in the gig, and the vocals audible even when some songs reached intense crescendos sometimes layering piano, guitars, drums and percussion. Experience was clearly on the Mosley boys side and they were confident enough to record the show and sell it straight after the show. Musically tight and talented, as having an interesting set up of instruments made them a pleasure to listen to. To watch, however
A slightly artificial feel was given to the show by the arrangement of the band on stage. The drums were on the highest podium at back centre, and on either side the other band members were on podiums of decreasing height, the further from the middle they got. Only the lead singer, Simon Fowler, was on the actual stage floor in the middle of his band mates, which gave him far too much emphasis, especially when the lead guitarist Steve Cradock was much more interesting to watch, kicking enthusiastically to coincide with accented chords or kick-ins. It also meant that the other band members couldnt move around very much, which meant most of them just stood there looking slightly awkward. Again, though, the guitarists antics made up for this especially during his epic, and technically brilliant solos, which peppered the songs almost to the point of excess.
A band as popular as OCS must have a few pennies hidden away to spend on fancy lights and lasers, and they certainly didnt skimp on this show, despite the humble venue. The lighting was expertly controlled and anticipated the atmosphere of songs well, changing appropriately between intense and ambient lighting depending on the song. There was also a backdrop of coloured spots of light which flashed and changed colour, and these are what, to an extent, ruined the lighting. During some songs, one in particular, the amalgamation of too many colours coming from too many different places made Ocean Colour Scene look more like Vomit Colour Scene.
The set list was well chosen, and the reactions from the fans made this clear. An adequate amount of old classics were spread across the show, the most famous of which were played at the end much to the crowds pleasure. The show mainly focused around the newer material from the OCS as yet unreleased new album. These tracks were lapped up with an open mind and seemed to make a good impression. The band lost the attention of the crowd during one of the slower songs Drive Away, the verse of which couldnt really be heard over the hubbub of conversation.
I would now like to express my surprise at my enjoyment of the show, having not been a big fan of them in the past, with a small anecdote. During the Cradle of Filth concert at Wolverhampton last year Danny Filth, in his usual belligerent manner, convinced his audience to shout obscenities at OCS who were apparently playing nearby. If I had been to see OCS before this, I would have been much more reluctant to oblige to the scary mans orders.
FUTURE GIGS
- date performer venue price
-
Thu 4 Apr 2024
Ocean Colour Scene
Tewkesbury
Roses Theatre
[GL20 5NX] £32.50
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Sat 6 Apr 2024
Ocean Colour Scene
Southampton
Southampton University (SU, Turner Sims Concert Hall)
[SO17 1BJ] £32.50
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Thu 11 Apr 2024
Ocean Colour Scene
Eastbourne
The Royal Hippodrome Theatre
[BN21 3PF] £32.50
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Fri 12 Apr 2024
Ocean Colour Scene
Bury St Edmunds
The Apex
[IP33 3FD] £32.50
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Thu 18 Apr 2024
Ocean Colour Scene
Lytham St Annes
Lowther Pavillion
[FY8 5QQ] £32.50
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Fri 19 Apr 2024
Ocean Colour Scene
Corby
Corby Cube
[NN17 1QG] £32.50
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Sat 20 Apr 2024
Ocean Colour Scene
Stockton-on-Tees
Arc
[TS18 1LL] £32.50
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Thu 25 Apr 2024
Ocean Colour Scene
Norwich
Epic Studios
[NR3 1JD] £32.50
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Fri 26 Apr 2024
Ocean Colour Scene
Northwich
Northwich Memorial Hall
[CW9 5QJ] £32.50
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Sat 27 Apr 2024
Ocean Colour Scene
Coventry
The Empire
[CV1 5DU] £32.50
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Sun 19 May 2024
Ocean Colour Scene
Truro
Perranporth Beach
[TR6 0BH] £45.00
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Sat 1 Jun 2024
Ocean Colour Scene
Cardiff
DEPOT
[CF10 5DF] £38.50
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Thu 11 Jul 2024
Ocean Colour Scene
Tynemouth
Priory and Castle
[NE30 4BZ] £40.00
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