In a parallel universe, a band like Ocean Colour Scene would probably rise no further up the ladder than a Tuesday night residence at the Pig & Whistle. But in this world the patronage of Noel Gallagher has been enough to raise an honest but unremarkable rock band from mid-ranking obscurity to a packed Point Theatre.
It wouldn't be fair to call Ocean Colour Scene's ultraconservative guitar rock bad. It's just that, like the royal family, they dress nicely and say nice things, but do not think or do anything of much importance.
In their defence, their songs are melodious and pleasant, and they work the audience with a well-known batch of crowd-pleasers from Moseley Shoals onwards. But everything is stolid, anodyne and predictable. A slow piano introduction always signals bluesy gnashing of teeth, acoustic guitars accompany ballads singing vaguely of "sorrow" and electric guitars mean full-on romper-stompers.
Because each song sounds like a familiar old standard, one can think of a hundred bands which do it better.