Ocean Colour Scene at Brixton Academy
If you could smell Britpop, it would probably be the whiff of slightly stale beer, cigarettes and sweat that hung in the air of pubs and clubs in the 1990s.
One’s affection for it, 30 years on, is probably determined by whether that aroma fills you with a vague sense of nostalgia or of relief the world has moved on. It’s undoubtedly the former for the crowd here to see Ocean Colour Scene at Brixton Academy.
Despite some strong tunes, OCS never quite made it into the stratosphere like Blur or Oasis, nor developed the intellectual, indie credibility of those who hit back against the laddish zeitgeist. As a result, they are perhaps somewhat unfairly overlooked and lumped in with Britpop’s also-rans.
At Brixton, though, they show there was always more to them, playing a set that showcases the enduring sing-a-long appeal of their biggest hits and skilled take on classic, soulful rock.
In the opening section, we get The Circle and You’ve Got It Bad, perhaps the more low-key of the top ten hits from their breakthrough 1996 album, Moseley Shoals.
Steve Craddock also demonstrates the dependable musicianship that has made him a longtime collaborator of Paul Weller. His sound, decidedly retro and yet distinctive, sets up frontman Simon Fowler, whose vocals guide us through some of their less heralded work.
At times, the crowd’s energy does dip. Tracks from the more melancholic One from the Modern, like Families and So Low, are not necessarily what fans are here to see, but are enjoyable and, at times, emotional nonetheless.
Then, with the cartoonishly hippyish Profit In Peace and the rampaging riffs of Hundred Mile High City, things come alive, and it’s a romp through the second half of the set, with classics like The Riverboat Song and Travellers Tune.
The latter three show why the group are still fondly followed – each having more musical depth than, say, other catchy Britpop hits bellowed by those whose mod cuts are increasingly threadbare.
OCS seemingly close with Get Away – something of a forerunner to Jack White’s bluesy garage rock – before they are back for an encore that finishes, inevitably, with signature anthem, The Day We Caught the Train.
It’s nothing fancy or groundbreaking. But then, a band whose sound was always something of a throwback to rock’s imperial phase isn’t likely to be. The gig is, however, great fun – and is almost enough to make you nostalgic for that 90s pub perfume.
Mark Worgan
Photos: Guifre de Peray
For further information and future events visit Ocean Colour Scene’s website here.
Watch the video for the single Hundred Mile High City here:
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