Interview with The Ocean Blue

Everyone has music that takes them back to a specific time, right? The Ocean Blue’s self-titled 1989 album does that for me. The funny thing is, when I listen to it now, it still sounds modern – a testament to good music making. Recently, I was able to get on a virtual call with David Schelzel, lead singer and songwriter of The Ocean Blue, and we had a lovely chat. The band recently remastered their 1999 album Davy Jones’ Locker, and David explains why below. They are also on tour this fall – hope you are able to catch them live!

Header image by Darin Back.

Interview With David Schelzel of The Ocean Blue

Aimee:
So, for those who don’t know, if you don’t mind just giving me a nutshell overview of the history of The Ocean Blue, that would be awesome.

David:
Wow.

Aimee:
Yeah, I know. It’s only a couple decades or whatever.

David:
Yeah, that’s what makes a nutshell a little challenging. Well, I guess we started the band when I was in junior high school in the ’80s. And it was basically friends that all liked the same kind of music, probably what we would’ve called new wave, or punk. We spent several years just kind of playing in each other’s basements, and making plans and all that kind of stuff. But things really kind of became more serious when, let’s see, I think I was in high school and we started working on some of our own material, and I found a real joy in songwriting and… Yeah, this is supposed to be nutshell, so, I better hurry up.

Aimee:
Well, you can talk all you want. I don’t care.

David:
So, eventually we were able to do some recordings of our original stuff. We shared that with some local management companies and attracted some interest. And then, that in turn, they were able to get some label interest. I mean, we were all teenagers and hadn’t done much playing, but we were starting to do that, and we started to shop around for deals and we got a lot of interests. And we ended up signing a deal with our very favorite label called Sire Records, which particularly in the late ’70s through early ’90s, was of all American labels, was just one of the greatest places to be. A lot of wonderful recording artists, a lot of artists from the UK that we loved. But I mean, they had Madonna and Talking Heads and Pretenders too, so great American bands as well. And we had a great run of three records with Sire. We had, from our perspective, a lot of success. We were on MTV and college radio and modern rock radio.

Aimee:
I was going to say, you guys are from Pennsylvania, right, originally?

David:
Hershey, Pennsylvania. Yeah.

Aimee:
I grew up near Annapolis, so I know exactly where that is.

David:
Yeah, and right around the time in my story, we started playing in DC and in Maryland, and got radio air play on WHFS, which I mean, it’s funny, we’re going to play in DC-

Aimee:
‘HFS was my channel growing up.

David:
Yeah, we’re going to play there on this tour, and I think it was because we played there so much as kids and had the support of that great radio station and the colleges in the area that we can still do that kind of thing.

Aimee:
Yeah, I am sure. And so fast-forward, you’ve re-mastered Davy Jones’ Locker. Why did you decide to do that?

David:
Well, a couple of reasons. One, it was the only album we’ve done that has never been out on vinyl. It was the first record we did when we left the major label in the late ’90s. And so, it has this strange place in the history of the band in our catalog, and it’s definitely the least fussy record and kind of the most lo-fi, but it’s also sort of the most experimental and kind of quirky. And it has some interesting things that fans like. So, we wanted to revisit that record, remaster it a little bit for vinyl. And I’m really pleased with the way it turned out and people seem to be really excited with it.

Aimee:
Yeah, that’s amazing. So, what, 30 plus… I don’t know the math exactly. You guys have been around for a long time. Do you have a-

David:
I don’t do that math, it’s too scary.

Aimee:
Well, but the point is, again, I mean, I’m almost positive I wore out your first album on tape. I remember that distinctly. And so for me, it’s exciting to hear from people who are still at it many years later… I know a lot of local artists who are working on making it a living. Do you have advice for up and coming bands for the longevity of that success?

David:
Yeah. Well, things are so much different now, but when I talk with younger artists, I think some things are really the same and still true. And it’s so important that you concentrate on making the best music you possibly can and that it really be authentic, it really be connected to you as a person, because that’ll resonate with other humans. If you try to manufacture it or follow trends or become popular, that’s-

Aimee:
The surest way not to.

David:
Yeah, I don’t think you’ll have a lasting success, or if you do have success, I think it’ll be trendy and fleeting. And we’re not a massively successful band. We’ve had success, but we have a wonderful fan base who we’ve really connected with through our music, and I wouldn’t trade that for the world. So, yeah, I think if you’re a young band, focus on really making great music, being true to yourself. I mean, there’s all sorts of practical issues with being a musician or an artist of any kind. But I know plenty of people, including myself, but also a lot of friends who have been lifelong musicians and they make it work.

Everybody makes it work a little bit differently. I mean, a lot depends on your partner in life, your family, what your expectations are around lifestyle. But yeah, I have plenty of full-time musician friends and they’re very, very happy and they’re not massively successful, commercially speaking, but they make it work.

Aimee:
Right. I have my blog and it’s 25% of my time, and I do web design 75%.

David:
Yeah, that’s the other thing is supplement your life with other things. I’ve always been the kind of person to do other things. I don’t think of myself as 100% musician. Makes for boring music and boring life. So, I like to do other things, always have, and that’s served me well.

Aimee:
And you touched on your fan base. I’m really bummed that you don’t have a Denver date on your tour.

David:
Yeah, we don’t this time, but we’ve probably played Denver at least the last two or three falls, and it’s been great. Were you at any of those shows?

Aimee:
No, and I saw it coming through and I missed it, but I’m going to make sure next time you come that I’m there. But, talk about your live shows. I’ve read that people regard your band as very good live.

David:
Well, first and foremost, I think it’s that relationship with our fan base or the people that like our music. Usually our sets are a balanced mix of what we’re doing now, what we’re focusing on the tour and what we’ve done in the past. So, I mean, sometimes when I go see bands I like, they play all new material and I’m kind of disappointed because I connected with other stuff. Or sometimes it’s a nostalgia trip and all they’re doing is playing old stuff. So, I think we’re hopefully a blend of the positive aspects of those things. I mean, this fall we’ll be focusing on some of Davy Jones’ Locker, but I mean, not nearly even the majority of the set.

And I think playing live has become more enjoyable for me, especially in the band, because we don’t go on long tours anymore where we’re away for two or three months. We do it in little digestible runs of shows. So, we’ve got three shows this weekend, two the following weekend. So, we tend to play on weekends when I think more people want to go to shows. We tend to play a little earlier than we used to and in venues that make sense and are kind of comfortable and right-sized for us, I think. So I don’t get too tired after three shows like you would after three weeks.

Aimee:
Right. And then, it doesn’t feel as much as a grind.

David:
Yeah. So, it feels fresh. And I think the other thing I’d say about our live shows is the guy who does our lights and visuals has been a friend of mine since junior high, and he does I think a great job in making us look much better than we actually are.

Aimee:
As a photographer, I’m always looking for fabulous lights, so that’s great. So, again, as a musical statesman so to speak, are there new bands that you’re really enjoying that are coming up that you’re into?

David:
Oh, sure. Yeah. I mean, there’s lots of newer bands I like. Matter of fact, a lot of the bands that are support on our shows are younger bands that we love. The Tallies from Toronto, we met them at Chicago a few years ago and just really hit it off. They’re kids, but they’re big fans of the band. And their guitar player even filled in for Ed when he couldn’t tour with us a couple of falls ago. So, they’ll be on some shows. There’s a band from Salt Lake City called Choir Boy that’s played with us a lot, and some of their members have played with us. They’re a great young band. And then of course, lots of young bands out there we’ve never played with, just saw Pure Bathing Culture is releasing a new record. And Seablite who we have played with from San Francisco. So, lots of bands. I love, from your neck of the woods, Beach House, who have been around for a long time, but not as long as us.

Aimee:
Yeah, they’re from Maryland, right?

David:
Maryland, yeah. Yeah, I’m sorry. You’re in Denver now.

Aimee:
That’s okay.

David:
Cigarettes After Sex from Texas are fantastic.

Aimee:
They just played The Mission here in Denver for two nights.

David:
Yeah. And then, there’s King Krule from London, who I think is hilarious and great. Yeah, I could go on and on.

Aimee:
I know! It’s a pet peeve of mine where people are like, “There’s no good music these days.” And I build a playlist all year, and it’s getting bigger and bigger. It’s already 670 songs.

David:
Yeah, that’s great. And I think some of that is, I think older people like me, we do get stuck, but that’s a negative way to put it. We look for –

Aimee:
Comfort.

David:
Yeah, we get really attached to our formative years, like our teens and 20s where we’re going through tumultuous or just significant life changes and growth, and that music really means a lot. And I appreciate that and I get that, but if you love music, it can and should continue to be a part of your life. So, I’m with you on that.

Aimee:
Yeah. So, what’s next? What are you doing after touring?

David:
We’re working on a new record. So, I mean, I’ve been working on new stuff for a long time and, well, since we released the last record in 2019. It’s just a slow process. So, the work on that will continue.

Aimee:
Well, we had this three-year thing that kind of stopped the whole world and everything.

David:
Yeah. And also, the plans for that last record too, I think we were still touring when COVID hit, and had to go back over the last couple of years and make up some shows. I think we’re all done with the make up shows and this fall is all fresh stuff.

Aimee:
Yeah. Well, good. Then, I look forward to hearing that. And hopefully you can tour again and I’ll catch you that time.

David:
Oh, yeah. And we’ll absolutely be back to Denver. The shows there have been really fun the last couple of years.

The Ocean Blue Tour Dates 2023

Sep 1- Milwaukee, WI @ Shank Hall
Sep 2 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
Sep 3 – Minneapolis, MN @ Parkway Theater
Sep 8 – Washington, DC @ Howard Theater
Sep 9 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls
Sep 29 – Philadelphia, PA @ Ardmore Theater
Sep 30 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Neptune Festival
Oct 6 – San Antonio, TX @ Sam’s Burger Joint
Oct 7 – Houston, TX @ Numbers
Oct 19 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
Oct 20 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Bag
Oct 21 – Columbus, OH @ Natalie’s Grandview Music Hall
Nov 10 – Miami, FL @ The Ground @ Club Space
Nov 11 – Chapel Hill, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
Nov 16 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah
Nov 17 – San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
Nov 18 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom

See our other interviews and music posts!