The Monsters Rise: Ten Years After, Ocean Grid Finds Its Voice Again
The reunion show, celebrating the ten-year anniversary of their landmark EP, The Influence of Monsters (2015), was never going to be a quiet affair. But the cycle truly began two years earlier, in 2013, with their debut at the legendary 86 Club. On the way to that first show, the band's entourage was rear-ended—a literal collision that, thankfully, resolved easily, but foreshadowed the intense, kinetic energy that this project would carry for years.
Now, a decade after the EP's release, the ocean was silent no more. On October 30th, the monsters were at play, and Cincinnati felt it.
The Roots That Run Deep
To understand the night is to understand the roots. My involvement began in the late 2000s, stepping onto the scene as a young vocalist in my first band, Walking Toward Eternity, alongside drummer Zaky. I remember band practices in basements and cramped rooms like time hadn’t moved, a lifetime of experience compressed into a short, fierce run. That era gave us the stages we only dreamed of, including the cherished Mad Hatter in Covington, KY (RIP, you were the GOAT)—a venue that was, for me, holy ground after witnessing The Devil Wears Prada’s Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord release, which set the standard for my own performance and vocal inspiration.
Though that project ended, the bonds never broke. Over the years, I became entrenched in the scene through photography and videography, even having work published by Reverend Guitars and Standby Records. Through those deepening connections, I found Ocean Grid. I wasn't just a helper; I was their passionate, full-time advocate, referred to as their manager, dedicating years to connecting, serving, and providing support. Ask any stage tech, and they’ll tell you: Ocean Grid was the most efficiently loaded and unloaded band they’d ever seen. That quiet pride was everything.
Building the Hype: Nostalgia and Noise
The atmosphere at the reunion show was a deliberate build of local legacy and genre-bending noise:
MONEYBALL
Kicking off the night, the Cincinnati locals delivered their signature Midwestcore—a blend of midwest emo heart, punk urgency, and metalcore power. Their high-energy set successfully seduced the emo fans while making sure a few elbows were thrown, perfectly balancing swooning melody with physical impact.
Friday Giants
This set was drenched in the local scene’s history. Led by Zac Taylor on vocals, Friday Giants showcased their polished post-hardcore sound, pulling heavily from their successful EPs like Something Worth Saving and fan favorites like "Persistence." The nostalgia factor went through the roof when their dear friend and former frontman Gavin Mitchell joined them on stage to perform several legacy tracks, transforming their set into a collective look back at the band's evolution.
YUNG MO$H
They literally took the energy of the show and elevated it to a level only they could. Yung Mo$h is a sonic collision, dissolving boundaries between Metal and Hip-Hop. Their commanding stage presence and unique sound had the crowd feeling every beat, setting the atmosphere for the main event with a potent dose of boundary-breaking chaos.
Ocean Grid: The Unleashment
The time for the return had arrived. Though life inevitably shifts lineups, the core unit that defined Ocean Grid was back: original frontmen Andrew and Dustin, joined by original drummer Zaky, and veteran bassist Greg.
The show was, as expected, unbelievable. The ten-year silence had only amplified the band's precision and fury. Every riff, every transition, and every vocal burst was delivered with the controlled aggression of a monster finally set free.
The climax arrived with the final song, "Mind Over Monsters."
It was during those last, soaring moments that I joined the band on stage to perform vocals with them. Stepping into that light, hearing those words thunder through the venue, was less a performance and more a release—a moment where the years of blood, sweat, and passion finally paid off.
The Future Generation: Raising the New Core
The atmosphere of reunion and celebration was magnified by the presence of our own children. Beyond the mosh pit, a new generation was born on the sticky floor of the venue. We saw children of old friends—some we hadn't seen in six to ten years—dancing and playing tag. Watching Andrew's daughter witness her father perform in the element he loves most was a profound moment. This is the future of the Cincinnati music scene: a generation being raised around music, creation, venues, and the entire ecosystem. They will be the ones who bring back garage bands, who pile instruments into parents' cars to play in front of no one but the people who created this environment for them. This love and passion, backed by parents who lived the struggle, is the foundation. As we grow older, we truly embrace the mentality of Mind Over Monsters, battling day in and day out to provide the best, and in turn, raising the future.
The track itself is the ultimate expression of the band's message: a direct confrontation with the unseen enemies of mental health. Ocean Grid has always been a major advocate for fighting those "mental monsters," making it a prominent part of their legacy. Those very words, “Mind Over Monsters,” are tattooed on my arm, wrapping a rose drawn by a friend who committed suicide. It stands as a monument of grief, struggle, and fierce loyalty, perfectly embodying the band’s central message: MSP—a dedication to the enduring power of Mind over Monsters, and a reminder that no one fights alone. This night was not just about music; it was about honoring the experiences, the lost friends, and the raw passion that sustains a community. The ocean had been silent, but the influence of the monsters proved to be eternal.
