Ocean Colour Scene at The Academy | Review

Ocean Colour Scene at The Academy, Dublin on 17th February 2013

Ocean Colour Scene have been on the go a long time, releasing ten albums and achieving the peak of their success at the height of the Britpop era. They remain popular as evidenced by 3 sold-out dates in The Academy. Support was provided by Newcastle natives The Longsands, who put on a tight performance and had some decent songs, but seemed very tired after three shows in a row, lacking enthusiasm and energy.

Ocean Colour Scene began their set in a relaxed mood, with songs that were quite slow and reserved. The Circle was an excellent example of this, exuding a laid-back atmosphere, but with a strong melody that kept it interesting. Playing several of these sombre songs in a row would have run the risk of sounding repetitive were they not lit up by some incredibly skilful guitar solos. Indeed, impressive solos littered the night’s show, the lead guitar had a distinctly sharp sound that made it almost come alive, and these moments of musical trickery injected a sense of energy into the easy-going tracks.

This chilled vibe was soon blown away by the irresistible Riverboat Song which was the stand-out track of the night. The brilliant riff got both the band and the crowd buzzing, and the fantastic sing-a-long chorus sounds as fresh and exciting as when the song came out over fifteen years ago. The energy and power in the song was almost overwhelming and the crowd loved it. You’ve Got It Bad was also a livelier number that built on the momentum generated by Riverboat Song. The band featured some new songs too, featuring the veritable vocals, riveting riffs and powerful piano accompaniment that is typical of the band’s sound.

The Day We Caught The Train closed out the set and the crowd went wild for it, screaming out every word. The song, with an amazing chorus, was a brilliant way to end the night, and the crowd departed the venue chanting the band’s name. Despite a slow start, Ocean Colour Scene managed to find the perfect blend between the relaxed songs and the energetic ones to put on a thoroughly enjoyable show.