yes, indeed, an unusual case (or instance, look you see) of me using a title which directly relates to the subject. does feel a bit peculiar. whereas i don't think i have any particular sway or influence over much of anything, still, i thought it might be prudent (if not wise) to give this a title to help with "the google" thing, for it would be excellent if others found out about the chance to go to what was an extraordinary, phenomenal gig.
for all that has gone so quite spectacularly wrong in my life, and much of that is of my own making, i must have got the odd bit right. if only here and there. that can be the only explanation as to why, on a reasonably frequent basis, i have been able to go and see something to do with Ocean Colour Scene more than i would have taken as a given as possible. up until now this has meant seeing Simon and Oscar out on an acoustic tour a couple of times, and of course the full tilt band. delighted to be able to add seeing Steve Cradock to this list of OCS related shows.
exactly why does the music of Ocean Colour Scene, and by extension Steve Cradock, mean all that much to me? quite the risk of going full tilt hippy here. the first phrase that comes to mind probably isn't right, yet it feels it - high tides and green grass, to borrow the name of a Stones compilation (or at least i think). many of their songs naturally invite one to daydream of an idyllic, wonderful life, many allow one time for some introspection, to pause and ponder. some, of course (100 Mile High City) serve simply as reminders as to just how awesome rock and roll is.
some (many) of you will be wishing or willing me to get to the point. if you are so, then i am delighted to say that this Steve Cradock gig was easily one of the most amazing, mesmerising, enjoyable and engaging nights out i have ever had, probably on a par with that time i had the privilege of witnessing Nick Cave share his genius. two very different gigs, of course, but the "vibe" is comparable. as you have no doubt worked out from the above, indeed there will be the usual (yet unusually not that bad) poor pictures and a few videos. be warned, for an image of moi with him comes in at the end.
ostensibly this tour, which appears to have no fixed end date, is a kind of book launch. Steve Cradock has a fine book out called Travellers Tune, which is (as i have never been shy of saying) the name of my absolute favourite song by the band. during the performance he does mention that book launches normally feature someone just sitting on a couch and chatting, but he didn't think that was the way to go.
by "no fixed end date" i mean that i saw, with great interest, the tour carries on into next year, which as things stand is (indeed) 2027. delighted to see one of the dates is not all that far from my lodgings in my era of exile, and i shall certainly be making every effort to go once more. i am going to assume (or take as a given) that Steve Cradock will not mind me too much pirating the poster off of his official website for the dates so anyone keen can work out where and when to be.
as to what songs one can expect at the gig, well, not particularly the "obvious" hits. whilst chatting to some fellow fans after the gig (see, i can be social) i mentioned the set was predominantly buried treasure, and they really liked that description. so of course i have used it again here. kind of sticking with that metaphor, or what have you, this buried treasure features some really shiny, precious gems, be it from his solo albums or work with musicians like PP Arnold and Paul Weller.
the draw for most will, understandably, be Ocean Colour Scene songs. fairly obvious, as that's how Steve Cradock became known and they remain a deeply loved band. in terms of "hits" you get, of course, Travellers Tune and The Riverboat Song. so no, no Day We Caught The Train, and understandably 100 Mile High City isn't one any of them try as an acoustic song. but you also get some songs truly endeared to the fans, in particular Huckleberry Grove and arguably one of their most dearly loved songs, The Circle. mostly, in his own words, this tour (or the set) is a chance to play some songs that otherwise he wouldn't get the chance to play to an audience. sure, there's a part of that which you could describe as "artist indulgence", but is such not true of any performance? i would suggest it is more a means of people getting to hear admired songs live and in person.
perhaps one of the biggest reasons this evening was so special was the make up of the band. which just happens to be the Cradock family. my word, his son is a truly gifted multi-instrument musician, and the vocals added by Mrs Cradock (not that, i believe, she uses the name) were spellbinding. also the family dog, who(m) pottered about the stage. there's a very clear, palpable bond, a great sense of love and affection right across this beautiful family. don't believe i have ever felt so tacitly invited to feel quite as immersed in an experience at a gig as i was by the energy emanating from them.
exactly why does the music of Ocean Colour Scene, and by extension Steve Cradock, mean all that much to me? quite the risk of going full tilt hippy here. the first phrase that comes to mind probably isn't right, yet it feels it - high tides and green grass, to borrow the name of a Stones compilation (or at least i think). many of their songs naturally invite one to daydream of an idyllic, wonderful life, many allow one time for some introspection, to pause and ponder. some, of course (100 Mile High City) serve simply as reminders as to just how awesome rock and roll is.
video for you, then, above and below. i was too engaged, full on immersed in enjoying some rather fine artists share their craft, to worry all that much about videos. so, for Travellers Tune, i just sat with the camera held low(ish) down, ignoring it and hoping it captured the excellence of the song.
why, of all of the songs available, do i champion Travellers Tune as the "greatest", or the one that means the most to me? hard to quantify something that touches you so deeply. for the sake of something to write here, giving it a go would be to say musically it gives a sense of freedom, of being in the moment, of very much getting your groove on. lyrically i have always been drawn to a phrase or expression that inexplicably captures my imagination. i just love lines like "like two Christophers in the snow" and "we'll sail through the suns and moons" without being able to nail down why, exactly.
last picture coming up just now, and yes i (moi) am visible in it. for some reason there are some of you who(m) read this blog yet care not to see me, so for you this is your "last chance" warning to avoid seeing all that you do not want to see.
going to be quite difficult to word this without sounding (somewhat) disrespectful, but shall give it a whirl. i assured friends that i was not going to do the inevitable "selfie" with Steve Cradock. my reason for this was that whereas he is pretty well known as a name (and great musician) he isn't "in your face" with being immediately recognisable. he can, for example, go to the shops in a way that you would argue a Noel Gallagher cannot. so i figured if i got a selfie with him, showing it to people would be less looking at the picture, more saying who he is, what band he was in and then (badly) singing The Day We Caught The Train to jog memories. yet here we are.
just about every band you tell was part of it generally angry deny it was anything to do with them, but, you know what, for those what lived through it and loved it, Britpop was very much a thing. not all bands were explicitly so, but to place Ocean Colour Scene in some context. if we say Suede brought the sex and hedonism, Pulp (and to an extent The Verve) brough suburban realism, Oasis the swagger, attitude and in your face, you can't ignore this anthems, Blur (for want of a better word) brought a degree of artistic touch and the Manics gave it intellectualism, then it's Ocean Colour Scene what provided the whole movement (or moment) with its spirit and soul. apologies to the great bands missed out, and "toughies" to any of the bands that get all @r$ey about the reference.
right, not much more for me to add other than to (yet) again say thank you, this was a most incredible night, a wonderful life experience which shall be treasured for as long as i have left. on, then, to whatever the next gig shall be, but i have a feeling this will be the "best" of the year.
should for some reason you wish to read my (poorly written) ramblings on all other Ocean Colour Scene related nights out, here you go. links to the first and indeed second Oscar and Simon shows i gone done seen, and then of course the full tilt band.
be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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