They've just played a sold out gig at the Garage in front of 600 people, and previously sold out places like the Barfly and Water Rats, done an Unplugged session for Kerrang a couple of weeks ago, they have toured the UK and Europe and are soon going on tour in Russia...
With its explosive opening riff, massive chorus and the infectious closing vocal
chants, Ocasan’s debut single ‘When You’re Around’ showcases the band at their most powerful.
There's
a
parable
somewhere
about
how
leaving
three
guitarists
in
the
same
room
can
only
end
up
in
endless
bickering
and
seething
jealousy.
Three
egos
of
that
size
in
one
place
never
works
and
is
likely
to
descend
into
misery
for
everyone
involved.
It's
funny
then
that
Ocasan
began
with
this
scenario
and
have
done
the
impossible
by
being
both
creative,
ambitious
and
very
much
enjoying
each
other's
company.
From
the
beginning
these
Northampton-based
twenty-somethings
-
guitarist
and
lead
vocalist
Nick
Burns,
drummer
Luke
McDonnell
and
bassist
Rich
Webb
-
shoved
songcraft
in
front
of
instrument
pride
and
played
early
shows
between
bouts
of
instrument
swapping.
“After
a
while
it
grew
tiresome
hurdling
over
drum
kits
and
chicaning
around
XLR
cables
mid-set,
so
we
all
picked
an
instrument
that
we
felt
well
versed
in.
I
love
playing
guitar
and
singing
but
there's
nothing
quite
like
kicking
the
crap
out
of
a
kit,” explains
Luke.
Meeting
in
that
renowned
bohemian
hotspot
Bath
sometime
in
2009,
the
three
musicians
built
solid
foundations
for
their
musical
ventures
through
a
life-long
bond
of
chemistry
and
camaraderie
spawned
from
those
memorable
early
skirmishes.
Since
those
virgin
forays,
Ocasan
have
managed
to
demo
and
record
their
self-titled
debut
album,
produced
by
Romesh
Dodanga
(Funeral
For
A
Friend,
Kids
in
Glass
Houses,
Manic
Street
Preachers),
sign
with
a
major
label
distributor
and
reach
number
one
in
the
Bulgarian
charts
with
their
first
single
'When
You're
Around',
released
in
the
UK
on
April
18th.
A
spacious,
commercial
stomp
with
an
itchy
and
chiming
central
riff,
Nick's
refined
vocal
stretches
from
idle
croon
to
an
impassioned
chant
against
the
pounding
backdrop
that
rocks
the
Ocasan
boat.
Yet,
this
early
high
point
is
but
one
side
of
the
band.
Their
forthcoming
debut
album
also
highlights
the
crowd
pleaser “Josephine” - anthemic,
indelibly
catchy
and
barely
a
distorted
guitar
in
earshot.
The
lyrics
address
the
unrealistic
nature
of
courting
fame,
a
subject
that
these
ambitious
men
aren't
exactly
enamoured
with.
Singer
Nick
says: “I
just
want
to
be
honest.
I
feel
so
disheartened
when
browsing
through
a
newsagents
only
to
find
rows
of
music
magazines
that
are
beginning
to
look
like
"teen
fashion"
I
don't
care
about
the
new
jeans
anyone
is
wearing
or
who
has
some
new
Toni
&
Guy
hair
cut.
I
just
want
a
chance
to
get
on
stage
and
explore
the
world.
I
want
to
re-vive
the
touring
life
that
many
bands
who
inspired
me
experienced.
I
was
born
to
do
this!”.
June 19, 2011