Live review : We Are The Ocean (Islington Academy, London)
12:52
My last Friday night was spent in the Islington Academy, theatre of brilliant memories (namely State Champs last September) and heartbreaking ones (this is where my forever beloved Canterbury called it quits).
Spoiler alert : this gig was going to be of the brilliant variety.
Spoiler alert : this gig was going to be of the brilliant variety.
My train, arriving from Brighton, got caught in traffic somewhere around East Croydon and I sadly missed a big chunk of Allusondrugs' performance. When I finally make it to the venue, they have a song and a half left and it was enough to impress me. Their grunge, yet poppy and catchy sound makes a few heads bang and bob in the crowd, mine included. At the end of the set, I heartily clap and cheer, wishing I had had the opportunity to see the entirety of their performance. Damn you, Southern Railway.
Second band up is Brighton based Tall Ships. You know how, sometimes, you will see these small bands play tiny stages for very few people and you will think "Dammit, this band could and should be so much bigger"? That is exactly the way I felt during the Tall Ships' performance. Their sound, some sort of pop-rock turned ethereal by the very present keyboards, is a recipe for success and should get some national radio airplay. Their performance gets the crowd's attention very easily and if you look closely, you can find a couple of people singing along. Tall Ships are, without a doubt, a band to watch in the future, and I hope those radio plays and big tours will be coming soon for them.
What should be noted about We Are The Ocean's career is their versatility. They started as a post hardcore band, very often compared to the likes of Alexisonfire, and now, they are merging towards the classic end of the rock spectrum, seeming more influenced by artists such as Led Zeppelin. However, this wide range of styles and the drastic evolution of their sound following the departure of vocalist Dan Brown in 2012 never seems to be a problem as the quartet easily reinvents its songs, thanks to the presence of keyboards or guitarist Alfie Scully's gnarlier vocals compared to Liam Cromby's high notes. The frontman's vocals are incredible to say the least and will raise a few hairs during the evening, and rightfully so for they are always impeccable.
Second band up is Brighton based Tall Ships. You know how, sometimes, you will see these small bands play tiny stages for very few people and you will think "Dammit, this band could and should be so much bigger"? That is exactly the way I felt during the Tall Ships' performance. Their sound, some sort of pop-rock turned ethereal by the very present keyboards, is a recipe for success and should get some national radio airplay. Their performance gets the crowd's attention very easily and if you look closely, you can find a couple of people singing along. Tall Ships are, without a doubt, a band to watch in the future, and I hope those radio plays and big tours will be coming soon for them.
We Are The Ocean have been amongst my
favourite bands since I saw them supporting The Blackout at the O2
Academy in Birmingham in 2011. Since that day, I have stood with them
through absolutely everything – line up changes, genre evolutions,
you name it, I was defending them with all my little heart. Going to
see them on that tour was a no brainer, and when I think about the
performance they delivered in front of a packed Islington Academy, I
genuinely wish they would become a no brainer for everyone.
Opening with Do It Together, extracted
from their 2015's release Ark, they set the place and the crowd on
fire and do not stop for a seventeen song long setlist. The
singalongs are impressive and do no diminish for the entire duration
of the gig. Whichever album is represented, the audience is
responsive and the London based band's musicianship shows great
quality. Tracks like Young Heart (from 2012's Maybe Today, Maybe
Tomorrow) or old fan favourite Confessions thrill an attendance who
unites their voices as one. The setlist is a very pleasant mixture of
singles (Runaway, What It Feels
Like, The Road) and surprises thrown here and there, such as Playing
My Heart (from the rerelease of Cutting Our Teeth) or their quite
excellent cover of London Grammar's Hey Now.
What should be noted about We Are The Ocean's career is their versatility. They started as a post hardcore band, very often compared to the likes of Alexisonfire, and now, they are merging towards the classic end of the rock spectrum, seeming more influenced by artists such as Led Zeppelin. However, this wide range of styles and the drastic evolution of their sound following the departure of vocalist Dan Brown in 2012 never seems to be a problem as the quartet easily reinvents its songs, thanks to the presence of keyboards or guitarist Alfie Scully's gnarlier vocals compared to Liam Cromby's high notes. The frontman's vocals are incredible to say the least and will raise a few hairs during the evening, and rightfully so for they are always impeccable.
The band concludes
with a two song encore composed by acoustic track Chin Up, Son,
featuring only Liam, his guitar, and an ever so strong crowd
participation, and Good For You, extracted from Ark, which could be
seen as a sign of what's to come as the guys inform us they are
getting into the studio very soon.
In my humble
opinion, We Are The Ocean's evolution throughout the years only shows how talented the four members are and should be praised instead of
viewed as selling out by overly nostalgic fans or naysayers. It seems
to have left them stuck in between two scenes, the Myspace one of
their beginnings who miss the screaming and moshpits and the one of
2015 who could appeal to major radios and launch them into rock
stardom. Here's to hoping the next album cycle will be successful and
take these four to the top, where they belong more than most people.
They have the qualities for it. The general public better wake up.
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