For a bunch of boys from Wagga Wagga, The Ocean Party seem to have adopted Melbourne as their new home with ease. Saturday was the very first show of their tour to support their brand spanking new LP Split, and if that gig was anything to go by, it’s shaping up to be an absolute belter. There will be different support bands all the way up the coast on their tour, but for the Melbourne leg we were graced with Totally Mild, The Clits and the mysterious Sam Cooked.
Kicking things off were the irresistibly sweet Totally Mild, whose mild-mannered pop was tied together quite nicely by the angelic voice of front-lady Elizabeth Mitchell. Mitchell’s vocals were reminiscent of Madeline Follin (of Cults fame), and when mixed with the jangly guitars, transported all involved to a surfy 60s dream-girl land that this reviewer did NOT want to leave.
In a flurry of destructive energy came The Clits, awash with charm, fuelled by bass, and with enough energy to whip the crowd into a hectic dancing frenzy. Brownie points go to Lucas Heenan in the lead, who bought a Totally Mild cassette for as many audience members as he could – finishing up only when his wallet was empty.
Untraceable on the Internet, Sam Cooked turned out to be a short solo set from the always-lovely Dan Kelly. For what he lacked in band members, he certainly made up for in electrifying underwater guitar solos. With the assistance of the crowd, who were more than happy to help with the backing vocals, the brisk outing made for a warm lead into the final set of the night.
Crammed on the small (but newly refurbished!) stage, The Ocean Party launched into playing their LP from beginning to end. Opener “Quarter Life Crisis” detailed youthful pointlessness alongside crisp upbeat guitar riffs that characterise so much of the group’s music.
“Split” saw an admittedly clunky changeover that propelled drummer Zac Denton out from the kit and behind the mic, where he shone during an effortless rendition of the album’s title track. At one stage, Denton disappeared into the crowd for a little dance while the band received some welcome backing vocals from Ashley Bundang (of Totally Mild).
Adopting a three-man line of rotating vocals at the front of the stage (each singing the songs they penned), the group glided through the gentle “Every Decision” and wonderfully warm harmonies that peppered “Grass Cuts” before launching into “Chinese Takeaway”, a self-described voyage into dolewave, detailing the comfort of suburban familiarity amidst droning, floating guitar.
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First side of the LP down, it was noted that things were going to move at a slightly different pace. Longer, slower songs washed over punters in a mellow wave. “Race On” supported the claim, with washed out guitars that blended into a soothing haze. “Got It Wrong” was similar, but featured a delicate keyboard line that continued to propel a relaxed vibe.
But before things got too relaxing, “Straight Face” snapped the set right back into charming pop, a piece with a winding melody that works its way round and round – a move that was oddly emotive, especially when paired with lyrics such as “You don’t hear from me as much as you should / But no-one does”.
“Water” was a stripped back song before the band launched into the synth fuelled “Something Stupid”, a brief but pleasant and brooding escapade into the quite literal regret of saying, well, something stupid.
Wrapping it all together was album closer “Outside”, proving that sometimes it’s the simplest of things that are most effective. No nonsense, no bells and whistles, just a decent melody and a heartfelt performance by all that lulled The Ocean Party to a finish. While showing their disregard for encores, the group were coerced into performing one more song. They ended with “In A Knot” from their 2012 album Social Clubs, drawing the set to a close in a wave of instrumentation that seemed to trap the feeling of lazing about on a sunny Sunday – all in just a few chords.
There’s something about The Ocean Party that makes them a delight to watch. Witty insights into the ordinary encapsulated a comforting level of Australianness, and it is this that makes their lyrical laments hit so close to home. There is a contagious warmth in the manner they hold themselves – these are guys that are simply having an awesome time on stage, and because of that, you can’t help but have the best time too.
Setlist
Quarter Life Crisis
Split
Found Out
Every Decision
Grass Cuts
Chinese Takeaway
Race On
Got It Wrong
Straight Face
Water
Something Stupid
Outside
In A Knot
