The Ocean Party was an indie rock band originally from Wagga Wagga, Australia and based in Melbourne. Formed in 2009, the band's final line-up consisted of Lachlan Denton on drums, Curtis Wakeling on guitar, Liam Halliwell on guitar and saxophone, Jordan Thompson on keyboard, and Mark Rogers on bass.[1] All six members shared vocal duties across studio performances and live recordings. The band was renowned for its prolific recording output, having released eight full-length studio albums over seven years, and its heavy touring schedule that frequently took in regional towns alongside more traditional capital city venues.[2]
The Ocean Party | |
|---|---|
 Three of the band on stage. From left to right: Liam Halliwell, Mark Rogers and Zac Denton. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Wagga Wagga, Australia |
| Genres | Indie rock, indie pop, experimental pop |
| Years active | 2009–2019 |
| Labels | Spunk, Emotional Response, Sound of Melbourne |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
After a decade of existence, The Ocean Party announced in February 2019 that it would be disbanding at the conclusion of a farewell tour.[3] The decision was motivated by the shock passing of guitarist, drummer and vocalist Zac Denton, who died of a brain cyst in October 2018, with the band saying that "we felt that writing new material without him wouldn’t feel right".[3][4]
History
editFormation and Shakin' Like a Leaf EP (2009–2010)
editThe origins of the band began in Wagga Wagga, where initial members Lachlan Denton, Curtis Wakeling, Liam Halliwell and Ben Protasiewicz met while in high school.[5] Each member played in "a lot of youth bands", on account of Wagga's burgeoning live music scene and an injection of government funding that spawned the creation of a host of local outfits, whom would play regular shows.[2] The quartet moved to Melbourne in 2009 and formed The Ocean Party, with an initial lineup of Denton on vocals and guitar, Wakeling on guitar, Halliwell on bass and Protasiewicz on drums.[6][7] The band's name was inspired by a themed party held for Wakeling's 21st birthday.[8]
Still in its nascent stages, the band would record a handful of tracks for its upcoming debut extended play, uploading "Winter", "Shaking Like a Leaf", and "St Kilda Beach" to the Triple J Unearthed website.[9] The former would receive its first spin on national radio on 5 November 2009, appearing on Steph Hughes' Home and Hosed program on Triple J.[10] Those three songs, alongside "Clouds" and "I Don't Know If I Should Go" formed the band's self-titled debut EP, launched at The Tote Hotel in Collingwood, Victoria on 14 November 2009.[11][12] Protasiewicz would depart the band soon after the release, replaced on drums by Simon Lam and joined by pianist Jordan Thompson in early 2010.[9] The band's work continued to catch the attention of Triple J, with "Shaking Like a Leaf" receiving airplay on music director Richard Kingsmill's weekly show in February 2010.[13] Continuing to write and tour, The Ocean Party released "Young Love" on SoundCloud in November 2010, promoted as a track from a second EP of demos to be released late that year.[14] Details of the Demos EP are scarce, and it remains unknown what other songs appeared on the release and how widely it was distributed.
The Sun Rolled Off the Hills (2011–12)
editThe now five-piece would turn its attention to crafting its debut album in the new year. Australian music stalwart Dave Graney championed the band after seeing them play the support slot at a Ron Peno gig, describing them as "quite post punk in the ringing guitars and vocals" and likening the band to early Orange Juice.[15][16] The worked from their home in Northcote to record the album, which would be composed of songs written from the band's inception right up until the present day, with completion of the recording process occurring in September 2011.[17] Lead single and album opener "The Dogs" was self-released through Bandcamp by the band on 1 October 2011, backed by B-side "Luscious Lips".[18] Music journalist Zahra Khamissa wrote for Tone Deaf that "The Dogs", a guitar-based track just short of two minutes in length, was "a light-hearted tune, one that should be accompanied with roof top beers and a hazy sunset."[19] Six weeks later, second single "Deadbeat" received a digital and physical release on 15 November 2011, with "Young Love" being re-released as the album's third single on 20 December 2011.[20][21]
The Ocean Party's debut album, The Sun Rolled Off the Hills, was released on vinyl LP, CD and digitally on 31 January 2012 through Sound of Melbourne Records.[22] The band wrote collaboratively to craft the album's ten tracks, which clock in at 27 minutes total.[17] Unlike the band's later work, The Sun Rolled Off the Hills almost exclusively features guitars, piano and drums, with little to no extra instruments or studio flourishes. The immediacy and brevity of the record led one reviewer to bestow the band with having a "get-in, get-out attitude".[16] "Shakin' Like a Leaf", the only song from the band's debut EP to be reprised on the album, drew comparisons to The Shins, while album closer "Every House" was described as sounding "like The Go-Betweens doing 'Born to Run'-lite".[16]
Thematically, the record's lyrics talk of blossoming relationships, leaving home, and adolescence.[23] It also references locations such as Shepparton and Northcote railway station.[16] Opening pairing "The Dogs" and "The Farm" centre around vast landscapes and persistent sunshine, the latter theme recurring on final track "Every House"; "Shakin' Like a Leaf" explores the nervousness around losing one's virginity; and "Still Raining" and "Shepparton" follow the challenges of a long-distance relationship. Single "Deadbeat" presents a dichotomy between a homeless beggar and a burgeoning arts student, raising issues around respect and upbringing. The album's remaining songs all fall under the banner of young love.
The band toured the record with a four-date album launch beginning in their hometown of Wagga Wagga on 17 February 2012, and stopping in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne.[24][17]
Social Clubs (2012)
editSplit (2013)
editSoft Focus (2014)
editLight Weight (2015)
editRestless (2016)
editBeauty Point (2017)
editThe Oddfellows' Hall and death of Zac Denton (2018)
editZac Denton suddenly died due to a brain cyst that caused swelling in October 2018. In honor of his life, the band released their final album, The Oddfellows' Hall early. [25]
Disbandment (2019)
editMusical style
editInfluences
editThis section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (July 2023) |
Band members
editLachlan Denton
Zac Denton
Liam Halliwell
Nick Kearton
Simon Lam
Ben Protasiewicz
Mark Rogers
Jordan Thompson
Curtis Wakeling
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| The Sun Rolled Off the Hills | |
| Social Clubs |
|
| Split |
|
| Soft Focus |
|
| Light Weight |
|
| Restless |
|
| Beauty Point |
|
| The Oddfellows' Hall |
|
Compilation albums
edit| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Mess & Noise Critics Poll 2015 |
|
| B-Grade Material |
|
Mini albums
edit| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| I.B.O. |
|
Extended plays
edit| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| The Ocean Party |
|
| Demos [citation needed] |
|
| In a Knot |
|
| Split |
|
| USA Tour EP |
|
| Guilt |
|
| Nothing Grows |
|
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "The Dogs" | 2011 | The Sun Rolled Off the Hills |
| "Deadbeat" | ||
| "Young Love" | ||
| "On the Floor" | 2012 | Social Clubs |
| "In a Knot" | ||
| "Split" | 2013 | Split |
| "Quarter Life Crisis" | ||
| "Wading In" | 2014 | Soft Focus |
| "Head Down" | ||
| "Deluded" | 2015 | |
| "Floodlights" | ||
| "Guess Work" | Light Weight | |
| "Greedy" | ||
| "Black Blood" | ||
| "Back Bar" | 2016 | Restless |
| "Restless" | ||
| "Quality Control" | 2017 | Beauty Point |
| "More to Run" | ||
| "Tell" | Guilt | |
| "Promotional Single" | 2018 | I.B.O. |
| "Off and On" | The Oddfellows' Hall | |
| "What It's Worth" | ||
| "Nothing Grows" | 2019 | Nothing Grows |
Music videos
edit| Song | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|
| "Deadbeat" | 2011 | The Ocean Party |
| "Social Clubs" | 2012 | |
| "In a Knot" | Matthew Cribb | |
| "Split" | 2013 | |
| "Quarter Life Crisis" | ||
| "Wading In" | 2014 | Thomas Mendelovits |
| "Head Down" | The Ocean Party | |
| "Deluded" | 2015 | Alex Badham |
| "Floodlights" | Alex Badham[26] | |
| "Norman Street" | The Ocean Party | |
| "Guess Work" | Katrina and Troy | |
| "Greedy" | Rex Kane-Hart | |
| "Black Blood" | Matthew Cribb and The Ocean Party | |
| "Light Weight" | 2016 | The Ocean Party |
| "Back Bar" | Bree Carter and Matthew Cribb | |
| "Restless" | Declan Baker | |
| "Decent Living" | 2017 | The Ocean Party |
| "Quality Control" | ||
| "More to Run" | Zachary Bradtke | |
| "Memorial Flame Trees" | The Ocean Party | |
| "Cracked and Shattering" | ||
| "Off and On" | 2018 | |
| "What It's Worth" | ||
| "Rain On Tin" | 2019 |
References
edit- ^ "The Ocean Party – Beauty Point". Discogs. 12 Feb 2019. Archived from the original on 12 Feb 2019. Retrieved 12 Feb 2019.
- ^ a b Stillman, Nick (20 Oct 2016). "Is The Ocean Party the most well-oiled band in Australia? We chat with bassist Mark Rogers about their touring ethos and their 7th record in as many years". Happy Mag. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
- ^ a b Jenke, Tyler (6 Feb 2019). "The Ocean Party announce split following passing of Zac Denton". Tone Deaf. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
- ^ Wills, Steff (2 Nov 2018). "Regular Eastern Hotel musician Zac Denton dies, aged 24". The Courier (Ballarat). Retrieved 14 Feb 2019.
- ^ Tan, Melissa (9 Aug 2013). "PREMIERE: The Ocean Party". Who The Hell. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
- ^ "The Ocean Party To Hit Yah Yah's". Beat Magazine. c. 2013. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
- ^ "The Ocean Party on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads". MySpace. 11 Sep 2009. Archived from the original on 11 Sep 2009. Retrieved 14 Feb 2019.
- ^ West, James Oliver (4 Oct 2017). "New Music Interview: The Ocean Party". Hidden Herd. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
- ^ a b "triple j Unearthed - The Ocean Party". Triple J Unearthed. 7 Feb 2010. Archived from the original on 7 Feb 2010. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
- ^ "The Ocean Party – "Winter"". jplay. 14 Feb 2019. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
- ^ "The Ocean Party [sound recording] / The Ocean Party". Trove. 14 Feb 2019.
- ^ "The Ocean Party EP Launch". Facebook. 29 Oct 2009. Retrieved 14 Feb 2019.
- ^ "The Ocean Party – "Shakin' Like a Leaf"". jplay. 14 Feb 2019. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
- ^ a b ""Young Love" by Curtis Wakeling". Facebook. 2 Nov 2010. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
- ^ Graney, Dave (27 Oct 2011). "Northcote Social Club – Cup Eve Mon 31st Oct". you were deep inside that thought. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
- ^ a b c d Newstead, Al (c. 2012). "The Ocean Party: The Sun Rolled Off The Hills". Beat Magazine. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
- ^ a b c "Melbourne Is Jammin With The Ocean Party". Livesimple. 5: 38–39. 21 May 2012.
- ^ "The Dogs, by The Ocean Party". Bandcamp. 1 Oct 2011. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
- ^ Khamissa, Zahra (14 Sep 2011). "The Dogs by The Ocean Party". Tone Deaf. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
- ^ "Deadbeat, by The Ocean Party". Bandcamp. 15 Nov 2011. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
- ^ "Young Love, by The Ocean Party". Bandcamp. 20 Dec 2011. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
- ^ "The Ocean Party "The Sun Rolled Off The Hills" is available to buy..." Facebook. 31 Jan 2012. Retrieved 14 Feb 2019.
- ^ "The Sun Rolled Off The Hills by The Ocean Party". Genius. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
- ^ "The Ocean Party Album Launch Tour. Wagga Wagga". Facebook. 17 Feb 2012.
- ^ Facebook. 31 Oct 2018 https://www.facebook.com/theoceanparty/photos/a.164922817262/10155915764197263/?type=3&theater. Retrieved 7 Feb 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "WATCH - The Ocean Party 'Floodlights' video premiere - Three Thousand". pandora.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 2019-02-20.