Kula Shaker With A Support Slot That Felt Like A Headline Set

★★★★ (4/5) Ocean Colour Scene

★★★★★ (5/5) Kula Shaker

OCEAN COLOUR SCENE PERFORMING AT THE GLOBE IN STOCKTON-ON-TEES
PHOTOCREDIT: JOHN HAYHURST

This week, I had the pleasure of seeing Kula Shaker and Ocean Colour Scene at the Stockton Globe Theatre. It was one of those gigs that promised a heavy dose of 90s nostalgia, and while both bands delivered in their own way, it was clear by the end of the night that one had outshone the other. Kula Shaker may have been the support act, but in my eyes and ears they absolutely stole the show.

From the moment Crispian Mills and company walked on stage, there was an energy that felt electric, as if they were ready to prove a point. They opened with "303" which immediately had the crowd on side—its rolling groove and psychedelic flourishes still as infectious as ever. The sound was punchy, tight, and full of life. Mills’ vocals were spot-on, and his energy transferred across the room.

They had brought with them, from California, a psychedelic organic light projector that constantly changed the background and even used the band as a canvas for some freaky cosmic colours and shapes.

The setlist was a brilliant mix of hits and a few deeper cuts and covers. “Grateful When You’re Dead/Jerry Was There” remains a superb tribute and a surprise cover of “In A Broken Dream” the Python Lee Jackson song that originally featured Rod Stewart on vocals, felt like they owned it especially as that faultlessly moved into their own “Into The Deep”.

After “Shower Your Love” and “Charge Of The Light Brigade” they also threw in "Tattva," which got one of the biggest reactions of the night—its trippy, mantra-like refrain had people swaying and singing along, fully caught in the moment and feeling like they had been transported somewhere far beyond Teesside for a few minutes.

The band looked like they were having a blast, too. Mills was in good spirits, engaging with the crowd in his usual charming, slightly eccentric way. For extra energy effect he frequently dropped to his knees for the guitar solos, seemingly having boundless energy throughout their quick set.

A thunderous version of “Hey Dude” and then "Hush," their high-energy Joe South/Deep Purple cover that always gets a crowd going. At one point, he joked about how surreal it felt to be back on tour playing these old songs, but you could tell they still meant something to him.

The whole set had a vibrancy that made it feel like Kula Shaker were still a force to be reckoned with. Closing with "Govinda" with its hypnotic Sanskrit chorus echoing around the theatre, this was not just a nostalgia act dusting off the old hits for a payday, and by the time they walked off, it felt like the gig had already peaked.

After Kula Shaker’s set, there was a definite buzz in the room. When Ocean Colour Scene took the stage, they were greeted warmly, but the energy felt different—more relaxed, less urgent. They kicked off with "The Circle" which, to be fair, got people moving, but it lacked the spark that Kula Shaker had just brought.

That seemed to be the theme of their set: solid but lacking a bit of fire. "One For The Road" and "Fleeting Mind" kept things ticking along nicely, and it was clear that they would be playing just about the whole of their celebrated Moseley Shoals album.

Simon Fowler’s voice was still strong, though perhaps not as dynamic as it once was. He’s always had that laid-back, effortless style, but at times it felt almost too laid-back. A songbook stand by his mic now so that he can remember the words to some of the songs. Steve Craddock remains a resolute force on guitar and his energy was the most evident from the band tonight.

Overall there was a sense that they were just going through the motions, playing the hits without much reinvention or spontaneity. One of the best moments of their set was "Profit In Peace," which got a big singalong, its anti-war message still resonating with the crowd.

“The Riverboat Song” a clear highlight, immediately recognised by that Craddock riff and pints did fly in the air at that point, but those moments were few and far between. A 25 song set list felt a little too long at times.

"Traveller’s Tune" was another highlight, the brass section filling out the sound beautifully. And of course, when they finally got to the encore and "The Day We Caught The Train," the whole place erupted. It’s still one of the best Britpop anthems of the era, and hearing it live is always a pleasure.

But despite these strong moments, there was a feeling that OCS were slightly coasting. The band played well, but they lacked the energy and excitement that Kula Shaker had brought to the stage. Maybe it’s just their style—more of a laid-back groove compared to Kula Shaker’s more explosive psychedelic presence—but for a headline act, it felt like they should have delivered more. If anything, it felt like the billing should have been reversed.

That said, it was still a fantastic night of music, full of songs that defined an era. Seeing both bands on the same stage was a real treat, and for anyone who grew up with their music, it was a reminder of just how good the 90s British music scene really was.