#stevecradock

07/05/26

Another night of genius music performances I've been looking forward to since its announcement earlier this year. Island Music 'Jersey's greatest promoter on the live scene in St Helier, also the only guitar retail store on the island' have gone all out on this one. As Steve Cradock (Ocean Colour Scene/Paul Weller fame), and band arrive on the stage of the upstairs function room of Jersey's Royal Yacht Hotel, made up of his family members; all the while combining a great stripped down acoustic unit made up of acoustic guitar, vocal, keyboard, and bongos. As they fire through Steve's greatest moments of his entire back catalogue, greats from the likes of 'Self Titled', 'Moseley Shoals', 'Marchin' Already', & 'One from the Modern', 'Mechanical Wonder', 'North Atlantic Drift', 'On The Leyline', though also solo works, and new material. He speaks briefly before some of the solo songs mentioning he had the pleasure of writing the very songs with his hero The Mod Father, and the legendary Paul Weller. Imagine growing up loving The Jam, Style Council, and becoming great friends with the person that inspired you to want to make music, thus then to become writing partners. You can hear the passion in Steve's words. He's a full fledged music lover with influence's ranging from mod, punk, northern soul, rock'n'roll, folk, blues, and psychedelia! As a travelling family band, they capture the spirit of the stage gracefully, and with no conviction, they blast a set of humble rock anthems that get people moving on their seats, and tapping their knee's. One thing that has really struck me is how great the sound is in this room for the acoustics. I'm actually so glad there was a change of venue instead of the downstairs stage at The Drift, as this works so much better for this type of performance. 'The Riverboat Song' is a stand out on the night, from their mid 90's outlet. It's a total mod-rock, indie britpop stomper, and anyone who knows me, knows I love a 90's anthem; as it builds, the audience goes with it, everyone singing along in the room. An energy of great atmosphere engulfs the Yacht's now to be regular gig venue. Travellers Tune's has really summed up exactly what this performance intended, thus great songs, belted out by a true pioneer, backed by great players who took the show on the road, and some show it has been. I use to rock out in my bedroom, and play air guitar to Ocean Colour Scene bashing out 'Hundred Mile High City' on Top of the Pops when it was just aired. I'm a true 90's kid, and Steve Cradock is a true 90's revelation for a generation of youth that just wanted to rock the fuck out, one of Britain's greatest guitar players by far. A real king of the wah pedal, but it's also great to hear him play his songs acoustically, just like Simon Fowler, and Oscar's Opera House show in November. it felt kind of like the sequel to that, which if you love Ocean Colour Scene, like I do, you would have really been in for a real treat here tonight. Hats off to Steve Cradock & Band, also hats off to Island Music. What a truly colourful, and epic performance!

By Gavin Tate

for Gavin Tate's Music Journal