The Tide Returns: The Ocean Blue Washes Over An SRO-Crowd At Delmar Hall.
Hershey, Pennsylvania’s alt quartet, The Ocean Blue, delivered over two hours of mesmerizing, shimmering, captivating, powerful waves of music that washed over the crowd of alternative music fans at Delmar Hall in Lou tonight. They masterfully recreated their first two albums – their self-titled debut, The Ocean Blue (Sire Records, 1989), and Cerulean (Sire Records, 1991) – both of which were performed in their entirety. As if that weren’t enough, they also performed a riveting three-song encore.
Life is not fair. The music industry is not fair. Oftentimes, some brilliant bands and artists may receive critical acclaim and moderate sales, but massive success eludes them. One such band is The Ocean Blue. Most people may vaguely remember the band The Ocean Blue due to the strength of their alternative hits, such as “Between Something and Nothing,” “Drifting, Falling,” or “Ballerina Out of Control,” as well as their alluring MTV videos. Still, they may not spring to mind as readily as alternative darlings of the late 1980s and early 1990s, such as REM, Radiohead, Echo & the Bunnymen, and The Smiths. For their legion of fans who remember The Ocean Blue’s brief time in the sun and on the airwaves, their return was a most welcome surprise.
The show, originally booked at the much smaller Blueberry Hill (340 capacity), was quickly moved to the larger confines of Delmar Hall (750 capacity), and that was a wise decision. Mature alternative fans, now in their 40s, 50s, and even 60s, flocked to Delmar Hall to acknowledge The Ocean Blue as an essential part of their formative and carefree years. Lead singer and frontman David Schelzel’s lyrics reflect the struggles of adolescence, life decisions, unrequited love, and finding your place in the world. This connection, along with the alluring and emotive properties of their music, still means a lot to many people. Ultimately, even if massive commercial success eluded them, their powerful tidal pull on their fans has only grown stronger. That was easy to see last night. Even the passage of time has not diminished the band’s powerful live performances or their connection with discerning music fans.
After a brief, well-received, tidy set from the opener, Brian Tighe, formerly of The Hang Ups, the four musicians of The Ocean Blue took the darkened stage to a warm and loud reception. They began the buildup with “Breezing Up,” under blue lights, and the crowd was on its feet for the next two hours and more. They played the 12 songs that comprise their second release, including the hit “Ballerina Out of Control,” as well as gems like “When Life Was Easy” and “Marigold.” During “Marigold,” the backdrop was illuminated with photos and videos of beautiful marigolds in bloom, and singer and guitarist David Schelzel took time to explain the stories behind many of their songs. He said that Marigold combines three of his passions and inspirations–love, poetry, and gardening. He also took time to express his satisfaction with the venue, the sound, lighting, the operation, and the staff at Delmar Hall. He also stated, ”This tour has been like time travel. Songs that I wrote as a teenager now hit me differently as a middle-aged man.”
Later during the first set and their tenth song of the night, Schelzel took time to explain the inspiration behind their modern rock hit, “Ballerina Out of Control.”Schelzel described how he had been in LA for meetings at Warner Brothers, the distributor of the band’s label, Sire. That same night, their label rep took them to an underground show in downtown LA. The band was the industrial duo Nitzer Ebb, and there were all kinds of characters both on stage and in the audience–the band banging on trash cans, two shirtless men dancing around, and a “ballerina” character dressed in tattered clothes and a ballerina outfit. Schetzel remembered the scene and said that Sandy (Alouete), their label rep, referred to the ballerina as a ‘ballerina out of control.’ He described how that phrase and extreme experience inspired him to return to his hotel room that same night to pen the song about an unattainable woman. The result was their hit “Ballerina Out of Control.”
He also described a memorable time when the band played Athens, Georgia–home of the B-52s, Love Tractor, and REM. They were the openers providing support for headliners, the Psychedelic Furs. He found out that three members of REM were attending the show. While outside getting some fresh air, he saw one of his idols, Michael Stipe, and approached him. He described that meeting as a highlight of his career. He also took away a critical piece of advice from the enigmatic frontman and singer: ‘Never reveal the meaning behind your lyrics.’ Schelzel violated that rule repeatedly throughout the evening, and that suited the fans just fine.
After performing the last cut from Cerulean, “I’ve Sung One Too Many Songs for a Crowd That Didn’t Want to Hear,” the band took a brief, and much-deserved intermission while the fans grabbed a drink, stretched their legs, or hit the restrooms. The majority of fans didn’t even bother moving.
The Ocean Blue, David Schelzel, drummer Peter Anderson, bassist Bobby Mittan, and multi-instrumentalist (guitars, keyboards, vocals), Oed Ronne, returned for the second half of the show to perform their self-titled 1989 debut. They opened with the modern rock hit “Between Something and Nothing,” a tune that had everyone dancing and singing along at the top of their lungs. This track probably best represents The Ocean Blue’s signature sound – expansive, aquatic, shimmering, shoegazy, with chiming guitars, big toms, pinging keyboards, and a lush, deep overall sound.
Before playing “Frigid Winter Days,” Schelzel explained how he loves winter and finds it one of the most beautiful, inspiring, and romantic times of the year. Saxophonist, guitarist, and vocalist Brian Tighe (Hangups, Starfolk and the Owls) joined the band on stage to play the sax parts on “Drifting, Falling.” Both Ronne’s keyboards and Tighe’s saxophone parts added texture and colors to the band’s lush, full, rounded sound. After finishing the second set with “A Familiar Face,” the band took a brief moment to take in the adulation and waves of warmth lapping the stage. You could feel the energy, love, and nostalgia, and it was as vast and deep as the Atlantic Ocean.
They concluded this historic and special show with three encores, including “Love Doesn’t Make It Easy on Us.” You couldn’t have asked for a more powerful, memorable, and epic dramatic performance, and if you did, you’re greedy.
The Ocean Blue proves that you can go back, and even if your town has changed and people have moved away, your memories last a lifetime.
