SWG3, Galvaniser
Sept 18th, 2024
Rocking up to Glasgow’s SWG3, a place for music, food and other entertainment in its complex attracts many young fans having concerts of often a young audience. Its large halls seem to be perfect for a spaciously good time. Last night it was an Australian band called ‘Ocean Alley’ who took to stage to deliver a great and vibrant rock concert.
With its very effective lighting glowing red the first band of the evening ‘Girls Speak French’ played a blinder, a 4-piece from Glasgow playing a big gig, setting a tone for the greatly progressive rock, that has pillar’s in the music world.
The last two acts were Australian bands with the cool names of ‘Hockey Dad’ and the band of the hour ‘Ocean Alley’. ‘Hockey Dad’ are right now on a tour of half the world, their energetic and fore front music, had a great release to it, not a wonder as it has been termed as ‘Surf Rock’, no doubt from the waves they ride.
So, the night had the makings of a strong vibe, an overcoming, translated through music into some kind of soothing rock, a joy for the senses. In the rhythms of rock, The Beach Boys meets INXS.
‘Ocean’ streamed onto the stage as the final act coming with a booming presence as we savoured their praise worthy energy. To my ears there were traces of music from acts like 80’s Prince, Jeff Buckley and Santana, they are known to be performing a fusion of Psych, Rock and the great rhythms of Reggae.
Their current 6-piece ensemble had two electric guitars, keyboard, drum, two vocal and a booming bass. This was a band formed in 2011, after famously rehearsing in a backyard shed back in Australia. With epic influences like Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, and Dire Straits there was a magic there that had to be taken further. And as they moved from shed to gig they began to form songs of their own, and the style that is now a fusion of their own.
It was in 2013 that after years of touring culminated in their first EP ‘Yellow Mellow’, which I think is a Donovan reference, when they began to gather an audience that has spread half way across the globe. Of their four Studio albums, three of which with a label called ‘Unified Music Group’, their first was released in 2016, the acclaimed ‘Lost Tropics’. They presented themselves from that moment on as ready to set up in a style of rock music that was fresh, raw and uplifting.
Fusion music is an intense experience, taking fans by storm, moulding genres that in their day could make anyone dance. But ‘Ocean’ have been sure to find a kind of productivity that gives their music, whether recording, touring or simply gigging, the likeness of a massive overhaul. There was a kind of treatment of rock where with strong positive and passionate vibes, a bringing of musical joy to reality creating it into some very sociable terms of high release.
Daniel Donnelly
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