WORDS AND IMAGES DESH KAPUR
Saturday night I was in Manchester O2 Ritz for a night with one of Livepools finest Cast, celebrating the release of their brilliant new album “Love Is The Call” (check out All Music Magazine UK’s review here )
As I entered the venue it’s a mixed crowd of all ages, the diehard early fans to the young, maybe here to see Cast for the first time.
But before Cast, we have Woo a Liverpool-based, 5 piece indie rock band with an early 90’s grunge sound. It’s high energy from start to finish. That band was tight and the set was polished and the crowd seemed to enjoy it.
Then it was time for Cast, the band now consisting of John Power, Liam ‘Skin’ Tyson and Keith O’Neill with the new addition of former Lightning Seed Martyn Campbell on bass
For me, Cast is one of the best bands to come out of the 90s Brit-pop era and the new album “ Love Is The Call “sees the band back at their brilliant best. Cast have been called ‘the Who of the 90s’ and Noel Gallagher compared watching a live set of Cast to a religious experience, high praise indeed and they deserve every word of it!
As the band take the stage, looking very at ease and laid back you can feel the excitement mounting they kick off with “Sandstorm” and “Fine Time” from their debut record “All Change” , and it sounds brilliant and the whole venue and John Power seem to sing the words in unison and both songs sound as good today as they did on the day they were released back in the 90’s
They follow this up with the first track on their new album the brilliant Lennon esq “Bluebird” it’s only a minute and thirty seconds long but it sounds both amazing and beautiful at the same time.
“ Love Is The Call “, “ Love You Like I Do “ The Rain That Falls “ all from the new album follows and John Power’s vocals are spot on, I love the way John Powers Liverpudlian’s accent comes across in his singing.
Tonight’s set list is a brilliant mix of the best tracks from Cast’s first two albums “ All Change” and “Mother Nature Calls” mixed with the tracks from the new album “Love Is The Call” playing timeless, classics along with brand new fresh songs and they all sit alongside each other beautifully showcasing what an amazing songwriter John Power is.
The night is brought to an end with the timeless classic “ Alright “ and it brings the house down, tonight has been an evening of musical brilliance, and the performance has been epic. Cast write brilliant 60’s inspired songs and deliver them to perfection. And long may it continue!
SET LIST
1/ SANDSTORM
2/ FINE TIME
3/ BLUEBIRD
4/ LOVE IS THE CALL
5/ LOVE YOU LIKE I DO
6/ THE RAIN THAT FALLS
7/ FLYING
8/ GUIDING STAR
9/ I’M SO LONELY
10/ FIRST SMILE EVER
11/ FINETIME
12/ FARAWAY
13/ LIVE THE DREAM
14/ TOMORROW CALL MY NAME 1
5/ WALKAWAY
16/ FREE ME
17/ TELL IT LIKE IT IS
18/ HISTORY
19/ ALRIGHT
FOLLOW CAST
FOLLOW WOO
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
