Making our way to London’s Alexandra Palace, also known as the legendary Ally Pally, the bus is taken over by the unmistakable Australian accent. “We must be in the right place,” I think to myself as we are gearing up to see one of Australia’s most genre-defining formations, Ocean Alley.
One of the most notable North London venues, tonight, Ally Pally feels somewhat transformed into a warm, laid-back, sunset-kissed moment in time, when you forget the fiercely approaching Autumn. With eagerly ecstatic Aussies running around right, left, and centre, Ocean Alley enters the stage with a tremendous roar, delivering the opening, ‘Tangerine.’
As people grab their last-minute drinks, the room feels full of music lovers, just in time for Ocean Alley’s fan-favorite, ‘Knees.’ Within only the two songs, you quickly realise that Baden Donegal, the lead vocalist, sounds even better live than on the recording. This being my second Ocean Alley show, I’m not surprised by the band’s musicality and high-energy delivery. Compared to their takeover of King’s Cross’ intimate Lafayette, the band has no issue tackling the majestic walls of Ally Pally, making it their biggest international show to date.
Donegal’s striking vocals are elevated by the company of the Ocean Alley band, made up of Angus Goodwird (lead guitar), Lach Galbraith (keyboard), Mitch Galbraith (guitar), Nic Blom (bass), and Tom O’Brien. (drums). Early in the show, they shout out to their fifth studio album, ‘Love Ballon,’ which only came out last week. Before sending the title track, ‘Life In Love’ is the third track of the evening, the crowd starts unwinding to the Ocean Alley signature psychedelic rock.
The tracklist is immaculately curated with hits from their 2016 debut album, ‘Lost Tropics,’ like ‘Partner In Crime ‘ and ‘Lemonworld,’ paired with new repertoire additions from the new record, ‘First Blush,’ ‘Left Of The Dealer,’ and ‘Sweet Boy.’ Music sets the tone, and the attendees are locked in to their favorite tracks, dancing in circles and swaying under the summer yearning stage lights.
For the last third of the show, as fans have already warmed up their throats, Ocean Alley bring it back with their playful 2013 breakout hit, ‘Yellow Mellow,’ which instantly puts a smile on everyone’s faces. Followed up by ‘Happy Sad,’ a personal favorte with a bridge when performed live, you are gradually invited to indulge in a fury-filled Woodstock-worthy hypnotic state. I wish the band would stretch out for longer. As the crowd anticipates the biggest sing-along finishers, Donegal announces they’re excited to perform a cover for us, and luckily enough, it’s their incredible triple J Like A Version of ‘Baby Come Back,’ originally by the late 1970s American band Player. A track that suits Ocean Alley’s unifying sound like a glove.
Streamed more than 250 million times, ‘Confidence,’ Ocean Alley’s earworm hit from their 2018 project, ‘Chiaroscuro,’ has everyone getting their phones up to capture the electrifying opening guitar and keyboard notes laced with the wah wah pedal. Expecting the chorus to be repeated more times than the original, the band sadly cut it short within two minutes, making people rush out to avoid endless queues.
For the more patient fans, Ocean Alley returns for an encore of a new track, ‘Drenched,’ and ‘Touch Back Down,’ from 2022’s record, ‘Low Altitude Living,’ a longing ballad, infused with the quest for home, water, and surfing; a perfect closing snapshot for Ocean Alley at London’s Ally Pally blessing the crowd of Australian expats with pinch of home and musical time capsules, which had probably defined their formative years.
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Words: Karolina Kramplova
Photographer: Josette Crispin/ Alexandra Palace