Ocean Grove brought the Oddworld home last Sunday night, packing out 170 Russell in Melbourne for a night that felt like both a celebration and a victory lap.
Ocean Grove’s Melbourne performance was truly one for the books. Diamond Construct opened the night with razor-sharp precision, flipping the room from simmer to boiling within minutes.
DREGG followed with a full-frontal assault of chaos and charisma, commanding the stage with their signature blend of mayhem and message. The energy never dipped – not even for a second.
By the time Ocean Grove took the stage, the floor was heaving. The crowd erupted as ‘OG FOREVER’ rang out over the speakers, a rallying cry for the band’s decade-deep fanbase. From that moment on, it was all gas, no brakes – and the Oddworld faithful gave every drop of energy right back.
With founding members Luke Holmes and Matthew Kopp (Running Touch) in the lineup, the band tore through their Black Label and Oddworld eras in full. ‘CELL DIVISION’ hit like a war cry, while ‘You Know Something We Don’t?’ and ‘MY DISASTER’ saw the circle pit open wide. Holmes led the charge on vocals for most of the night, especially shining on ‘OTP’, while ‘LAST DANCE’ brought a rare stillness — phones in the air, voices unified.
New Ocean Grove material like ‘RAINDROP’, ‘SOWHAT1999’, and ‘FLY AWAY’ landed with the kind of impact most bands only dream of, standing toe-to-toe with fan favourites like ‘B.L.U.D’ and ‘Lights On Kind of Lover’. For a show rooted in nostalgia, there was nothing outdated about it.
The night truly proved Ocean Grove’s legacy is as alive as it’s ever been.
Check out the full gallery from the night below with photos by Philippa Grosse and additional pictures by Emily Spindler.
Ocean Grove at 170 Russell Gallery
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