Ocean Colour Scene, O2 Academy, Bournemouth (From Bournemouth Echo)

Ocean Colour Scene, O2 Academy, Bournemouth

5:47pm Thursday 4th February 2010

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SIMON Fowler re-emerged alone for the encore to deliver his much promised rant to the O2 Academy.

“What’s the deal with Sandbanks?” he demanded. “It’s nothing like it was - full of all those rich and famous now. I hear there’s even a house made of sweets there!”

After reminiscing about his childhood holidays in Poole, it was rant over and back to closing a fantastic set in style.

Pre-encore the gig had actually been something of a slow burner, opening the set with a couple of lesser-recognised tunes.

Their on stage formation didn’t help things either, with drummer Oscar behind the four guitarists who resembled a band from the 50s - worryingly they looked like four ageing guys going through the motions.

But it was their new material that brought them alive and they began to look like the band we’d come to see.

For new single Magic Carpet Days, Simon ditched the guitar for a Gallagher-style tambourine and was joined on stage by a female backing singer. From here on we were taken on a brilliant trip down memory lane as OCS relived their ’90s heyday.

Profit In Peace, The Circle, Hundred Mile High City, Travellers Tune, as well as Policemen And Pirates and You’ve Got It Bad from Moseley Shoals were all well received.

Following Simon’s rant, the encore started with an acoustic sing-along of the beautiful Robin Hood. Then it all kicked off!

Up to this point the atmosphere had been simmering – very much below the surface, but from the first notes of Riverboat Song pints were dislodged from hands and feet left the floor.

The Day We Caught The Train was an inevitable finale and gave everyone the chance to shout themselves hoarse, which they duly did.

A slow burner at the start... a towering inferno by the end.

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