SMOOTH. From start to finish.

Simon Fowler in action at the Barbican last night

Like a beer on a hot summer's day that doesn't touch the sides, so Ocean Colour Scene rolled over the senses of a gasping Barbican Centre last night with a performance that would have quenched the driest of thirsts.

Yes, Mod chic had arrived in York and, give or take the odd corduroy sailor hat about the place, it soon became clear that the seriously casual OCS faithful would not be kept waiting.

Bursting out with their opener, You've Got It Bad, the Blues-fuelled Birmingham four soon had the fans whipped into a frenzy - but the best was yet to come.

Singer/songwriter Simon Fowler rattled off the favourites in emphatic fashion, with drummer Oscar Harrison, guitarist Steve Craddock and Damon Minchella backing him all the way - and how.

They even treated fans to a track off their forthcoming album, a cheeky little number called Soul Driver. Others to look forward to include So Low, Profit And Peace, Families and Southern Soul, Northern Man - tipped to be the first single.

Class is something you cannot recreate, Ocean Colour Scene simply ooze it and seem happy to share it with their York following. And why not. They're Marchin' Already.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.