WHAT a change standing and dancing makes.
While technically not allowed on Saturday night under NSW's COVID-safe restrictions, Ocean Alley went to another level when the reggae-flavoured guitar riff of Yellow Mellow kicked in.
The 75 per cent capacity Civic Theatre audience had been compliant during the first 10 tracks to patiently groove in their seats.
But this was too much. The dam was ready to burst.
It began with a trickle of several young women, propelled by the funky guitar, who rose to their feet and danced. It rapidly became an avalanche as almost the entire Civic Theatre rose in unison.
After nine months of seated gigs the transformation was electric.
For the opening 45 minutes Ocean Alley had impressed with their surf-bleached brand of indie which melds influences from '70s classic rock, psychedelica, reggae and even prog.
The Northern Beaches six-piece, who released their third album Lonely Diamond last June, had waited a long time to showcase these tunes. Fans were demanding to hear Lonely Diamond, too. Saturday was Ocean Alley's second consecutive night at the Civic Theatre.
However, it almost felt too polished.
Soulful frontman Baden Donegal's vocals were smooth and drenched in reverb, while the two-pronged guitar attack of Angus Goodwin (right-handed) and Mitch Galbraith (left-handed) laid down their splashes of colour on top of the well-drilled rhythm section of Nic Blom (bass) and Tom O'Brien (drums).
Keyboardist Lach Galbraith completed the sound with his spacey synths and backing vocals.
The heavy use of smoke machines in the first half of the show and along with Donegal's minimal crowd engagement meant there was an aura of mystery surrounding Ocean Alley. We weren't all in this together, not just yet.
Early highlights Tombstone, The Comedown and Stained Glass all found their mark with an appreciative audience.
Even as the smoke lifted, there remained a sense of detachment. But with Yellow Mellow that all changed.
Ocean Alley are a band that demand engagement and with a standing audience they were energised. An impressive gig suddenly became an revelatory experience.
The unmistakably slinking bass riff of Confidence, Ocean Alley's 2018 triple j Hottest 100-topping track brought the audience back to their feet and there they remained, dancing and singing through Happy Sad, Hot Chicken, Way Down and the encore of Luna and Knees.
After a year of uncertainty and false dawns, there's finally hope life that punters and musicians can return to normalcy with restrictions easing and vaccines rolling out.
Ocean Alley as one of Australia's most professional live acts, armed with three albums of material, are well placed to lead the revival.
On their closing song Knees Donegal sang, "Where do we go from here?" The answer is wherever Ocean Alley choose.
