22 August 2026 – The Princess Theatre, Brisbane – words by Lucas Bell – pictures by Zachen Wiki
The last few years have been busy times for Ocean Grove. Headline shows, supporting slots, and international tours have kept the Melbourne quintet busy for the last two years. And on Sunday night, it was the last night of the Oddworld Underground tour. Supported by Cane Hill, Deficit, and blender, the night looked to be a chaotically fun filled event. And before I even get into the review, I gotta shout out the sound guys who all night were cranking 2000s nu metal, and even played ‘My Body Crumbles’ by Dry Cell, which is a track I don’t think I’ve heard for two decades. Banger.
Out first was Adelaide nu-gazers, blinder. There was definitely a vibe for these guys. Very chill, very 2000s Y2K coded fashion, very good music. The band didn’t talk too much, outside a shout out to Destroy All Lines and Ocean Grove for getting them on the tour, but instead, let the music do all the chatter for them. There were some great songs like the opener ‘chrome’, and ‘480p’, which saw the lead vocalist Will swap into guitar, and guitarist Ella took over. It was at this point I realised how much the band switch around vocals like this, which was kinda sick. For a first experience for this band, it was kinda awesome. Keen to see them do more.
blinder – Princess Theatre – photos by Zachen Wiki
Deficit were out next, and put on a set that could have induced whiplash. Out goes the chill, and we get pumped straight into the hardcore/metal stylings of one of the sickest bands out of Western Sydney. Walking out to Mark Henry’s WWE theme music (popped), they dropped seven tracks that show just how good they’ve gotten over the last few years. Opening with ‘DFCT’, they immediately dropped into ‘Trailblazer’, which even featured a crazy guest spot, as Karl Spiessl from Ocean Sleeper walked out to play with them. Ocean Sleeper were in town doing an album listening party, and it was sick to see Spiessl pop in for a minute to say hey to Brisbane. We got other heaters like ‘DEATHSTYLE’ and ‘FINAL BOSS’, which had the crowd jumping like crazy, and ‘Nothing to Lose’ had vocalist Nathan Newman in the pit screaming Queenslander, as the set came to a closer.
Deficit – Princess Theatre – photos by Zachen Wiki
As much as I love Ocean Grove, I was sat and ready for the next band. New Orleans very own, Cane Hill. I caught these guys in 2016 opening for Atreyu at Eaton’s Hill, and it’s taken a long 10 years, but they’ve finally made their way back to Australia. It sounds like I might not have been the only one waiting for the return either, as Brisbane was going nuts off the back of the opener, ‘Power of the High’. Vocalist Elijah Witt made Brisbane aware they flew 15 hours for these shows, so it was time to crowd surf, head bang, and punch your friends, and it was also time to make security work, as ‘Finding Euphoria’ kicked in. Witt talked a little bit of shit about Sydney being sleepy, and how tonight was already a better show than the Sydney show. The show was so good, even our own photographer Zachen was dancing and vibing in the photo pit to ‘Permanence in Sleep’, which is honestly, a vibe.
Cane Hill – Princess Theatre – photos by Zachen Wiki
Witt asked the crowd to get into the slutty part of the set ,with ‘Drowning Therapy’ and ‘Fade’ getting things sexy, with ‘Fade (Into You)’ getting the phone lights/no stage lights treatment. Cane Hill shouted out the new friends they made on this tour in blinder and Deficit, and spoke about how grateful to Ocean Grove they were because they’ve missed Australia so much. Clap-alongs came for ‘I Always Knew We Were Doomed’, and they closed out the set with ‘Singing in the Swamp’ and ‘The Midnight Sun’, with the latter being the song that Witt saying to Brisbane that for the next three and a half minutes, you’re all mine, begging Brisbane to make him feel the love for the band, as Brisbane moshed and partied to the track. Please, any promoter in Australia. Don’t leave it ten years to bring these guys back. They’re so good live, and should be a staple here every few years. Good to see them back.
With drawn curtains just before 10pm, John Farnham’s ‘You’re the Voice’ cranked over the loudspeakers, with the curtains open to billow smoke across the Princess Theatre, in anticipation for Ocean Grove to take the stage. The lights dimmed, and the lads ran out on stage and opened straight into ‘Junkie$’ to light up the entire crowd. The show had been hot all night, and the crowd felt a little tired after Cane Hill. But as soon as Ocean Grove hit, new life was injected into Brisbane. Vocalist Dale Tanner asked Brissy what was going on, and how stoked the band were to be doing the final night of tour in Brisbane, and have it be sold out. They broke into ‘Superstar’ which got the crowd moving like crazy.
Ocean Grove – Princess Theatre – photos by Zachen Wiki
After shouting out the first timers to an OG show, Tanner talked about how in 2024 they dropped Oddworld, and toured the world, and tonight, they are back for the final shows of the cycle, and that there is no place like home. Hands went up for ‘MY DISASTER’, and we dove deep into the catalog early, with ‘Mr Centipede’ off the debut record, The Rhapsody Tapes. We got another throwback with ‘Mr Alien’, before getting back into Oddworld with ‘CELL DIVISION’. Tanner spoke about how special Brisbane is to the band, and kept asking for the crazy energy. ‘Ask for the Anthem’ was up next, and even had Running Touch himself jumping out front to join Tanner on vocals, which was sick.
Lights then dimmed down as the band walked off stage, leaving drummer Sam Bassal on stage alone for a gnarly drum solo, before ‘What I Love About a Natural Woman’ kicked off. I know there is a lot of love for this track, but I’ve never really been into it, until seeing it live. Now I get why it’s a staple favourite in the fan base. Absolute beast of a tune. ‘Beers’ had the crowd singing loud, but not as loud as when ‘SUNNY’ started up. The crowd overdrive meter broke on this song for the rest of the set, as bodys poured over the barrier for the rest of the night from this point onwards. ‘Lights on Kind of Lover’ was sick, and ‘RAINDROP’ saw Tanner switch spots with bass player Twiggy Hunter, as Hunter looked incredible up front singing along.
Ocean Grove – Princess Theatre – photos by Zachen Wiki
‘Last Dance’ was dedicated to the ones we love in another dimension, and ‘Stratosphere Love’ got a simple we ain’t done yet from Tanner. After ‘Stratosphere Love’ was done, we got a massive monologue from Tanner, talking about how today’s show was an emotional show for the band. This tour has been the culmination of 15 years of brotherhood, traveling roads locally and abroad, to bring Ocean Grove to Brisbane tonight, and Tanner spoke about how that’s just the sweetest thing that’s ever happened for him, and that he was proud of everything the band has accomplished. Massive shouts of “I Love You” came from Brisbane as the band sent the love right back, and they even acknowledge all the kids on the balcony, with one in particular getting a shout out from Twiggy, as Tanner told her to start a band and “you’ll fucking love it”.
After shouting out blinder, Deficit, the return of Cane Hill, and each member of the band, Tanner asked the crowd to jump so high that they levitate, as ‘FLY AWAY’ closed out the night to a massive cheer, and a simple sign off from Tanner, “We are Ocean Grove. Don’t forget the name. PEACE”. It’s genuinely impressive to see the glow up of these lads. A band for years that have been grinding away, and one of the hardest working bands in Australia right now, getting what is finally owed to them. I’m sure the plan after this tour is to hibernate for a bit, get some new material cooking, and take it easy after a few years of consistently touring. But for now, they’ve earned a rest and a reset. And Brisbane will be ready for when they return.
