Some of the best days and nights of my life have been spent at gigs. From the Dog & Trumpet pub in Carnaby Street to the mind-bogglingly huge Toucheng KN Festival in Taiwan.
Music is the language, currency, fuel and most dependable resource for our souls. Everyone has a song that transports them to their happiest, saddest, most significant moments across their lives.
Like the smell of a freshly opened Quality Street tub at Christmas, the taste of a childhood pudding, the sight of a much-loved holiday destination – music wraps its unique spell around our hearts and in its best moments, gives a voice to our innermost feelings.
Discovering new music is a joy. No matter how long you’ve lived, no matter how cherished those tracks, EPs, albums – there should always be room for new music. And that’s what a very lucky crowd experienced last Wednesday at the Hotbox in Chelmsford, Essex.
I’ve had the privilege to have a ringside seat for the emergence of a new Essex/ Lincolnshire band called Oceanvein. And last Wednesday was their live debut. After many months of hard work, diligent practice and honing they finally hit the stage.
My erstwhile partner-in-crime Lucas is a co-founder of the band, along with his childhood buddy David. For a number of years they worked on developing an album of songs as a duo. Last year they expanded the personnel to include Tomasz (drums), Joe (bass) and Troy (2nd guitar) to a fully fledged band.
I went along to their early rehearsals. Whenever a friend tells you they’ve got some songs and a band, you always think “Oh god I hope it’s good, otherwise I’ll have to think of something polite to say…” I didn’t have to worry. Shortly afterwards I was asked to do the manager’s job for the band. Of course, I said yes.
Wednesday 19th March 2025 is the night that all the hard work paid off. And the start of what will hopefully be a steady rising. Here’s a few notes from that night.
From the moment they were announced on stage by award-winning DJ/Promoter Paul Dupree, the atmosphere was charged as friends, family and fans cheered their arrival. The tantalising guitar & drum Intro morphed into the powerful opener ‘The End’.
The guitar-driven menacing vibe by David and Troy hit hard, with Tomasz and Joe’s hard-hitting rhythm underpinning the majesty of the track. Lucas’ perfectly delivered vocal switched between pleading and demanding respect as the protagonist. What a start!
Straight into the tight rocker ‘Medusa Abusa’ with its spare arrangement and full-on between-the-eyes delivery, this was one that really needs to be played before a heaving mosh pit. Which it surely will.
‘Higher Power’ followed and concluded the trio of songs that had previously been part of Lucas & David’s original project. The song grows before your ears, a mighty mighty rock number, fully deserving its place in the set, crowd participation and all.
The pace was slowed to great effect with a cover of Nothing But Thieves’ ‘Your Blood’. This gave an opportunity for a quieter, but no less powerful delivery by the band. They have many gears and vibes at their disposal and, dammit they sound so good in all of them!
A clever and funny beatbox (Lucas) and drum (Tomasz) interaction was followed by another cover, Royal Blood’s ‘Little Monster’ raising the tempo and bringing some very sassy guitar interplay between David and Troy. It set the scene nicely for final trio of newly minted Oceanvein tracks, born out of the Colyer/Mackay songbook, with the full band collaboration to bring to market.
First the debut single ‘If It Kills Me’ – look out for this superb track already recorded. It’s in for mixing and release in the coming weeks. ‘Falling’ and ‘The Reason’ rounded off a quite frankly remarkable performance.
Watching in awe, I had to remind myself this was the first gig by this group. Lucas looked and sounded like he’d been doing this for years, such a talent. David was sated in the role of musical creator whose time had come and he rose to the occasion magnificently.
The ‘Grimsby Trio’ of Tomasz, Joe and Troy brought depth to every bar of every song; they are the difference between what would have stayed on a laptop and an actual living, breathing band capable of seducing the masses with a mighty musical opus.
They’re not paying me to say all this (they’re actually not) but I don’t care. This Gen-Xer is loving this ride. Can’t wait to see how far and high they will go. Do yourself a favour and check out the website for upcoming gigs. You’re going to want to be part of this.
Your servant,
MC
Links: www.oceanvein.co.uk
Shameless stage jump by the blogging manager…
Mark Cundy 