Photos and review by Amanda Daubert – Excited for another day of incredible music at Oceans Calling, festival goers strolled along the boardwalk, making their way into the sand, for another day with a fantastic lineup.
Honored to be kicking off day two of the festival was Virginia Coalition, an energetic, feel good rock band that provided the perfect welcome for the day. Since forming in the early 90’s VACO has been a local staple for years. Their decades of live performances meant for Oceans Calling they didn’t have to get ready, because they stayed ready. We caught up with the band prior to their set and asked how they plan for a performance this size, to which they replied “We prepare by engaging in one, maybe two rehearsals,” (they really do stay ready). What fans weren’t ready for was a surprise guest appearance by O.A.R’s Marc Roberge, who joined the band on stage for “Home This Year.” It felt like a musical family reunion and was just what was needed to start the day right.
Up next was Mike Campbell, who appeared to be a favorite amongst his peers, and his set with The Dirty Knobs was one not to be missed. After more than 20 years as the lead guitarist for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Cambpell ventured off creating a whole new catalog of hits with a gritty, gravely, bluesy take on rock and roll. Next up was 90’s rock radio staple, Gin Blossoms. With the first single off their first major label album, “Hey Jealousy,” a song that became a top 25 hit and went gold, Gin Blossoms cemented their place in an incredible decade of rock. The fans loved singing along to some of their favorite hits including “Hey Jealousy” and “Follow You Down.”
Keeping the good vibes and great energy going, attendees enjoyed a fantastic mid-day set from the honest and uplifting indie rock band, Dispatch. Captivating audiences for more than two decades with their blend of folk rock, reggae, and blues, the sound and emotions behind Dispatch are a genre all their own. We caught up with the band prior to their set, and learned a little about keeping a festival performance like this tight, “We look at the max time we have allotted and try to create as lean and efficient a setlist as we can—no different approach to rehearsing really. Though we might be more thoughtful about our transitions to save as much time between songs as possible.” When not on stage the band was just as excited to be a fan. When asked who they were most looking forward to see perform they shared “Weezer, Fitz, the Lumineers, and of course our buds OAR! We’re so stoked for them that they’ve pulled together such a killer fest!” After Oceans Calling Dispatch still has a busy rest of the year ahead sharing with us that they’re looking forward to “Sound on Sound Festival, Hulaween, and then we will finish out the year at our 2nd annual Only the Wild Ones Weekend in Puerto Morelos with Guster, Trevor Hall, Ripe and more!”
With the day in full swing fans made their way over to the main stage for a full set singalong with the one and only Sheryl Crow. With a laundry list of hit songs and an awards shelf that includes 9 Grammy’s, 3 American Music Awards, along with countless others, it was hard not to be in awe of all Crow has accomplished and how 30 years later she still dominates the stage. Fans sang and danced in the rain to her hits “If it Makes You Happy,” “A Change Will Do You Good” and “Soak Up The Sun.” Next, with an undeniable presence, calm, and strength, fans watched the incredible Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals take the stage. Harper not only beautifully blends different genres of music, but he has an array of Grammy awards from multiple categories to validate his multi-genre success that ranges from Gospel, Blues, and even Pop Instrumental. Harper let the audience know, one of the band’s mantras is “W.W.A.D.” which stands for What Would Aretha Do? And what they did yesterday was captivate the crowd especially during their hits “Diamonds on the Inside” and “Steal My Kisses.”
Up next was the captivating singer-songwriter, Noah Kahan. Over the last 6 years this Vermont native has been on a steady climb up the folk-rock charts. His authenticity, candor, and genuine storytelling both through his lyrics, and between songs, made his set a true crowd favorite. Fans sang along to hits like “Northern Attitude,” “Growing Sideways,” “Orange Juice” and “Dial Drunk.” Rolling through the evening and closing out the Rockville stage for day two were the California multi-platinum kings of the 90’s and 00’s, Incubus. As one of the most popular alt-metal bands during their peak, their genre-blending sound was the perfect cure for your post grunge hangover. Their hits like “Drive,” “Pardon Me,” and “Wish You Were Here,” were on everyone’s Napster download list. After decades of performing they still commanded the stage and captivated the crowd.
Closing out day two was the 7-time Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, and guitarist, John Mayer. Since making his mark with his debut album Room for Squares in 2001, an album that is now 5x platinum in the US and 2x platinum in Canada, Mayer has curated an amazing catalog of hits which showcase his talents and growth throughout the last two decades. Mayer was solo on the stage with just a band of instruments, playing several guitars and piano, showcasing his one-man-band. He admitted to the crowd that he was nervous that morning before playing a large festival crowd by himself, but those nerves didn’t show. He provided a performance full of energy, laughter, and great music including “Why Georgia,” “Neon” and “Stop This Train.”
With another incredible day of music still floating in the air, festival goers strolled along the boardwalk to rest up for one last day of performances.
COMPLETE PHOTO GALLERY DAY 2
