What can I say? I know it's a cliche but truly, they came, they saw and they conquered. Following a blistering set from The Real People, on at least their second support slot to OCS, and a 30 minute agonising wait (made less so by the playing of The Las 'There She Goes' amongst other classics) the 'Scene took to the stage to rapturous applause from a packed, sold out Newcastle Mayfair. The Newcastle crowd are notoriously slow to warm to a live act but with the opening blast of guitar from Steve that is You've Got It Bad the crowd were won over in an instant. This was swiftly followed by storming versions of One For The Road and a Travellers Tune that rocked the Mayfair to its foundations, a sign of a brilliant gig is when sweat and condensation can be seen dripping from the walls and ceiling, usually towards the end, never have I seen it after three songs! The pace slowed while Simon played acoustic through Lining Your Pockets with Steve at the piano and playing electric guitar. Then into an absolutely fantastic version of The Riverboat Song with Simon shaking his head to clear the sweat from his eyes, Steve either with his head down in deep concentration or smiling, laughing, pointing at the crowd. It seems that Simon and Steve are joint frontmen, interacting with the crowd with Damon and Oscar taking a more background stance, providing a throbbing, thundering wall of sound and backing vocals as the backdrop to Steve's excellent guitar playing and Simon's impassioned vocal delivery. This led to a rocking version of 40 Past Midnight, with the band playing together looking and sounding incredibly tight, but most of all looking like they were not just enjoying it but loving it. This fed into The Circle with yet another singalong from the crowd, I doubt there was one person there who did not know the words to every song played! A gorgeous Fleeting Mind later the opening chords to The Day We Caught The Train flew through the air amid screams from the crowd and the whole place rocked and sang along, looking around I could see people hanging over balconies above me, the crowd around me, the front row, even the bar staff singing, faces all around me smiling at each other and at the band, this was truly a wonderful moment and one I shall remember forever. After this followed a cover of a Small Faces tune, and then Simon went to the side of the stage and returned with his harmonica and acoustic guitar, the crowd went wild this could mean only one thing and as expected Get Away started up, the crowd quiet during the opening verse, before building up to singalong as the band kicked in with a rocking third verse and finale. The Mayfair was filled with the sound of whistles, shouts, cheers and clapping acknowledging what was a fantastic set by a fantastic band.

No-one moved when the band left the stage, everyone knew that they would return there was no way they could leave on that note, on such a high and after a few minutes of chanting and clapping from the crowd Simon returned to the stage to rapturous applause clutching an acoustic guitar and he started up into Robin Hood, the crowd providing backing vocals to his heartfelt and sincere delivery. With the last few notes hanging in the air, Steve, Oscar and Damon returned to the stage and started up into I Wanna Stay Alive With You, sheer bliss, my two favourite b-sides being played unexpectedly, the crowd stood almost motionless listening in awe as Simon, his eyes clenched tightly shut, delivered the best vocals of the night. Steve head down staring at his guitar, glancing to the crowd occasionally and grinning, Oscar reliable as ever providing the backing beat and Damon stood drop-dead cool, cigarette held on his bass guitar strings, prowling around the right hand side of the stage, smiling at the crowd, and turning to Oscar and grinning at each other. It was a rare airing for these two songs and I wonder if they will be incorporated into the set on a more permanent basis as they deserve to be, although it would be hard when they have so many other quality b-sides they could choose from.

Everyone expected Day Tripper at this point but instead the 'Scene started into It's My Shadow amid huge applause, Simon stopping singing half way through, turning his mic towards the crowd, inviting them to sing to the band which they did singing with true devotion as Simon, Steve, Damon and Oscar onstage, grinned at each other knowing that here they have finally made it, through all the leaner times when no-one wanted to know, they have finally got the interest, the following, the hearts and minds of so many that they have rightly deserved for so long.

The song complete, Simon welcomed Tony and Chris (lead vocals & guitar and bass guitar for The Real People) onstage. With Simon and Steve on the centre mic stand and Tony and Chris off to the left using Steve's mic stand shaking tambourines and gripping pints of lager, the opening riff of Day Tripper sprang into life from Steve's guitar and, as the saying goes, the crowd went wild. People hanging perilously from balconies screaming along to Simon, Tony and Chris, the crowd by the stage jumping around singing their hearts out, Damon playing to Oscar, the two looking ecstatic, Tony and Chris slamming their tambourines against their hands, eyes shut tight singing their backing vocals, Steve grinning at the crowd throwing Weller style shapes with his guitar and Simon holding his mic stand in the air grinning, singing as if his life depended on it. The song reached it's peak amid a wall of sound, from both the crowd and the band. As the last few notes rang out the 'Scene shouted their thanks to the crowd, Simon blowing kisses to us all.

On the train journey home, soaking with both sweat and the torrential rain pouring outside the Mayfair people sang OCS songs, their spirits high after what was a set of pure brilliance. As I stared out of the window into the darkness, seeing lights in the distance I wondered what would happen next, with such a prolific writer as Simon, and the forthcoming release of more material it can only mean that Ocean Colour Scene will become even bigger as will the size of their devoted following they have deserved for so long. Chastised so wrongly by the music press for taking from the past it is obvious to all: