LIVE REVIEW: Ocean Grove @ The Joiners, Southampton

Australian nu-metal outfit OCEAN GROVE manage to bring the sun-kissed festival vibes to a rather grizzly October in the UK. They may be more suited to a broad daylight festival stage that lends itself to their power pop, chaotic 00s aesthetic; but tonight’s show at Southampton’s The Joiners is bustling with that same sing-along anthem energy that this band have brought to the likes of Brisbane’s Full Tilt Festival and UNIFY Gathering this year.

Mixing up the line up with a post-metal core sound is local support DREAMEATER. Vocalist Sam Culverwell tears through the set with gruff squeals and heavy lows, encouraging the crowd to move. Being the heaviest band on tonight’s bill, most the crowd seem confused about what they should be doing when they’re asked to two-step, but heads are still nodding with enthusiastic agreement. The band play a tight set with thrashing crash cymbals and guttural riffs. There are also moments of calm with more melodic guitar parts before hurling back into those blasting metalcore choruses. The band manage to stand out from the regular trawl of hardcore influences with enthusiasm and execution of their instruments.

Rating: 8/10

Local Portsmouth electronic nu-metalcore six piece SEETHING AKIRA bring the energy for their set, quite literally hopping onto stage. The band come with an attitude of no-mucking-about, illuminated by tall LED stands and the inability to stay still for their whole set. The two vocalists, Kit and Charlie, divide themselves, with Kit spending almost all their set in the crowd, challenging his onlookers while Charlie remains on stage, throwing himself around as the band deliver their throbbing electronic set with djent guitars. SEETHING AKIRA may be a band who make more impact live due to their stage presence than on record – this kind of performance either resonates and excites you, or it may irritate you a little bit. While their influences may vary far and wide, they certainly did their job of warming up a crowd ready for a party night with the headliners.

Rating: 7/10

OCEAN GROVE have smashed the nostalgia of bands being more than just their music, but an entire concept. They relish those vivid visuals with a very deliberate, varied fusion of influences; and this project is one where you can really sense that this is true music fans making music themselves. No one stays still for the entire night as the band pull out their big hitters early on in the set, opening with Superstar, the first track from 2020’s Flip Phone Fantasy. That energy shows no sign of being lost when the setlist explores the newer material from this year’s release Up In The Air Forever; the crowd soak up single Cali Sun, bouncing with drummer Sam Bassal’s snare hits. This is a band made for the infamous reputation of a UK crowd in a venue like The Joiners, with lead vocalist Dale Tanner almost flirting with his audience, leaning into cameras and offering the mic to all who know the words.

OCEAN GROVE have mastered capturing an entire aesthetic, coining their own sound as ‘Oddworld Music’. This philosophy is seeped over not just their records, but their music videos, their style, their press shots and merch. It’s an extremely clever and thorough approach to a band. This true sense of identity and vision is refreshing. OCEAN GROVE have managed to capture hazy grunge notes with pop hooks and nu-metal instrumentation in their unique storytelling, without being cliché. This triumph is reflected in their live show from start to finish. The night is infectious as they leap around stage during the roaring choruses on tracks like Sunny and Sex Dope Gold. The crowd is embraced like friends onlooking an intimate house show – like they’re in on some secret for the next big thing. From the moment bassist Twiggy Hunter jumps on the mic to deliver the heavier vocals on two minute hard-hitter NEO, to Tanner leaping into the arms of the crowd to finish the set, you’re involved in tonight’s performance whether you like it or not, and you’re going to enjoy it. Even the most experienced, ‘seen it all’ gig-goer will be leaving in a good mood after an OCEAN GROVE show.

Rating: 10/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Southampton from Dev Place Photos here: 

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