It`s just over two years since I last saw Liverpool indie rockers Cast at this same venue and I`m near enough in the same seat that I was that night. The band have recently released their seventh studio album `Love Is The Call` and I have to say it is a cracker. Singer John Power had hinted that the new album felt like a missing link between his time with The La’s and Cast’s first breakthrough with their debut album ‘All Change’ and I have to totally agree with him.
There`s little fuss as the quartet of John Power (vocals, guitar), Liam “Skin” Tyson (guitar), Keith O’Neill (drums) and regular Cast touring musician Martyn Campbell (bass) hit the stage and head straight into the delightfully psychedelically tinged `Sandstorm` from their debut album which is quickly followed by another from the same album with `Fine Time`, a fairly thoughtful and reflective number about assessing a difficult relationship.
We enjoy a selection of numbers from the latest release with the stripped back and symbolic `Bluebird`, the melodic album title track `Love Is The Call`, the romantic quandary of `Love You Like I Do` and a number that really carries that `classic Cast sound` `The Rain That Falls`.
The dreamy `Flying` is shared before my favourite song `Guiding Star` which has to be one of the most underrated uplifting songs ever in my opinion and I have to admit brought tears to my eyes.
The `Mother Nature Calls` album beckons and we have `I’m So Lonely` which always reminds me of the trips i`ve taken on the ferry on the River Mersey and brings back a kind of collage of what this port city must have been like in the sixties, a wonderful nostalgic offering for me.
Before the fellas share a few more cuts from the latest opus, John Power takes time to his offer his thanks to all attending tonight and supporting the new record. He emotionally expressed how the album had been the band`s alone for many months but no longer is and we`ll each interpret or take something different from the tracks that we hear. This to me really sums up what it must be like to write a song and to realise that what you thought it was about is unravelling in a totally different way by somebody else. The mediative `First Smile Ever` and the uplifting `Faraway` blast out before the frontman adds the rhythmic, pounding `Starry Eyes` to tonight`s setlist.
The contemplative new composition `Tomorrow Call My Name` comes just before the anthemic `Walkaway` and `Free Me` close out tonight`s show.
It doesn`t take too long for the band to be encouraged to return for a three song encore with numbers all from their debut album `All Change` with `Tell it Like it Is`, `History` where Liam excels and bends his guitar strings to provide that expansive almost psychedelic texture before the guys closed out tonight`s event with the singalong `Alright`.
It`s difficult to express what a Cast gig is like and I`m sure it`ll mean something different for everybody who attends. But I find it gives me an opportunity to reflect on life, let off steam singing along to my favourite numbers and punching the air, before heading home with real joy in my heart. Cast, by rights should be massive but I`m sure for a lot of us they`re that special band, our band almost our secret but I’d really love them to be selling out stadiums where I could stand there and reflect in their deserved glory.
Nevertheless, I and many others will be there again in two years’ time if they tour again. In the meantime, stealing a line from a famous Swedish band `Thank you for the music and for giving it to me`
See ya soon.
