Ocean Colour Scene Live At Shepherds Bush Empire

What is this Ocean Colour Scene thing all about?

Their music used for the opening of TFI Friday by Chris Evans.
Proclaimed by NOEL GALLAGHER as “the best band in Britain”
And publicly praised for “keeping the flame of real rock and roll alive and burning”
by no less than the great Paul Weller.

Weller, Weller, Weller Ooh.
Tell me more, tell me more......

OCS, after often troubled early beginnings with Fontana, finally saw there way into world recognition with their second album 'Molesey Shoals' which was released in April of 1996 under the guidance of MCA, unexpectedly entering the charts at number two.
"The Riverboat Song" entered the charts at number 15 early in 1996.
The album was a fixture in the British Top Ten throughout 1996, spending six months total in the upper regions of the charts.
Two subsequent singles from the record, "You've Got it Bad" and "The Day We Caught the Train," reached the Top Ten and the album continued to sell strongly throughout 1996, going multi-platinum.
Before all this they had played with Paul Weller and supported Oasis carving a very credible niche in the music scene amongst the respected names of the day.
They became strong contenders to outlast the Bripop phase and eventually proved to be a name to be reckoned with.
So it was no surprise to see them at the Shepherds Bush Empire walk on to rapturous noise from their solid fanbase. Kicking off with an enjoyable accoustic session of songs, they beautifully warmed the crowd up to the explosion of rock that was to follow with "The Riverboat Song" and the rest of the gig.
They were "Ocean Colour Scene" to a tee and did exactly what it said on the label.
Steve Craddock dressed like a young Paul Weller twitched and jutted around like Steve Marriot.
His solos tight and perfect in every sense.
Simon Fowler the commanding frontman leading the music on with his rock vocal and rock posturing.
They played their songs with passion and a professionalism that exudes experience.
It was a performance that did not disappoint in the slightest.
And the range of songs covered summed up perfectly what a great night at an Ocean Colour scene concert should be.
My only wee thought is that they haven't changed in twelve years.
And while they have a creditable hardcore fanbase....That's all they seem to have.
They are not breaking any new ground.
And therefore, not gaining many new fans.
They all still look and sound the same as they ever did and there has to come a point where they ditch the old Ben Shermans and explore some new ground. That is the key to longevity and growth surely.
Take U2?
Somebody please.....(sorry, couldn't resist) Despite having a pompous, self exalting, politician for a lead singer, they have managed to pull this off very successfully for years and have stayed on top as a result.
And that doesn't mean simply following following fashion.
But, it means, like Madonna and U2 , being brave enough to try a different road and actually lead in music fashion and create new styles.
One day the old Ben Shermans are going to shrink and you'll be playing to a handful of die hards.
Why not do something different and not only wow your existing fans but create a whole new generation to follow?

But you cannot deny that what they are, they do extremely well and if you love 'em it is seriously well worth the money.
If you didn't get to see them, buy the live album and you'll see what I mean.
This is as fine an example of a live album as you'll get and an ear opener of just how good they are and what good material they have. I really do hope though, that we get to see that opening accoustic stuff on DVD at some point, it was a really refreshing moment.

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