The Ocean Blue at Marquis Denver

If you are from Denver and regularly visit The Marquis, you know it’s primarily a hard rock venue, emphasis on the hard. So, I was pretty surprised when dream pop band The Ocean Blue were slated to play there. Don’t get me wrong, I adore both the venue and the band – it just wasn’t the normal matchup. However, apparently the room wasn’t quite big enough for David Schelzel and his bandmates, because rarely have I seen the room that packed!

Formed in 1986 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, this quartet captured the essence of ‘90s alternative music with lush guitars and smooth, melancholy vocals. I was honored to interview Schelzel in 2023 and glad I finally got to see/photograph their live show. For their stop here in 2025, they played their 1989 self-titled album and 1991’s Cerulean in their entireties.

Given the fact that one could barely move in the room, I was only able to photo from side stage, but it was still well worth it. The band sounded great – the sound was rich and full like their recorded music, but the show still felt fresh and intimate. David Schelzel’s voice is perhaps better live, even.

The Ocean Blue continue this tour through the spring and have just announced they will be playing the Bourbon & Beyond Festival in September. Hope you can catch them!

The Ocean Blue – Denver Concert Photos

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