When it comes to 90s nostalgia, there aren’t many more iconic bands than Cast. The Scouse indie legends have been pumping out timeless anthems both back in the day and in recent years, and over the last 27 years have cemented themselves as one of the best Liverpool acts of all time.
Following a year of festivals and touring the UK, Japan and Australia, Cast are finishing 2019 with three huge Liverpool shows at the O2 Academy. On Thursday 19th December (All Change), Friday 20th December (Mother Nature Calls) and 21st December (Magic Hour), they’ll be playing one of their classic albums alongside their greatest hits — ending the year in emphatic style!
For tickets to the Thurs 19th Dec All Change gig CLICK HERE! For tickets to the Fri 20th Dec Mother Nature Calls gig CLICK HERE! For tickets to the Sat 21st Dec Magic Hour gig CLICK HERE!
In this La Vida Liverpool exclusive, we talk to frontman John Power about what Cast have been up to, what the Liverpool shows are about and what exciting plans are on the horizon….
LVL: So, what have you guys been up to?
John: On the back of the Kick Up The Dust album in 2017 we’ve been mainly touring the UK and doing loads of festivals. We’ve just been enjoying getting back together playing again and we’re really looking forward to the Liverpool shows.
As a songwriter I’ve been putting together ideas for a 12 track album to be recorded next year. I think it’s important to always have new material. I’ve been editing bits and bobs and soon I’ll be working with the lads to get something concrete together.
We’ve all been busy outside of Cast — Skin has been working with Robert Plant and Keith has been doing his tour managing, but Cast is always the priority. We’re a really tight unit and we can always rely on each other.
We’ll be rehearsing a lot for the Liverpool shows. Other shows we just know what we’re doing — we play with a real looseness and edge and we’re a much better band live than we were. We know each other really well like it’s ingrained. But for the Liverpool shows we know how much it means so we’ll be rehearsing hard and working on our set order.
For tickets to the Thurs 19th Dec All Change gig CLICK HERE! For tickets to the Fri 20th Dec Mother Nature Calls gig CLICK HERE! For tickets to the Sat 21st Dec Magic Hour gig CLICK HERE!
LVL: So what are the Liverpool shows all about?
John: We’ve started to make a thing about ending tours in Liverpool. But to play the classic 90s albums in their entirity is something really special. Some of the tracks on All Change, Mother Nature Calls and Magic Hour we’d otherwise never play again, so it’s a piece of history digging them up again live. It was put to us and we thought it was a great concept.
Coming back home is a great way to end the year. It’s like a celebration of our heritage. I think for each gig we’re probably going to do the classic album in the first set then some of our greatest hits in the second set. It’s a nice way for people to hear tracks they haven’t heard for years that they’d never get to hear live, and then of course the better known greatest hits.
For tickets to the Thurs 19th Dec All Change gig CLICK HERE! For tickets to the Fri 20th Dec Mother Nature Calls gig CLICK HERE! For tickets to the Sat 21st Dec Magic Hour gig CLICK HERE!
LVL: How would you compare the original Cast music to your new material?
John: The latest Kicking Up The Dust album came quite out of the blue really. You just get together a collection of ideas, demos, and it just grows from there. If I compare it to All Change — that was of a time, young, idealistic, focused, purposeful. It was written like we wanted to change the world. Albums are of a time and place, they can never be recreated.
I do think though that our latest stuff is going back to the roots of Cast. We’ve gone back to our original rhythms, it’s just our intensity, meanings and subject matter has changed as we’ve older and wiser and got the battle scars of life.
I do have a vision for our new album. I can feel what it’s going to be — that original Cast rhythm and big, acoustic rock n roll melodies. British American rock n roll. Hopefully we can demo some of the tracks before Christmas.
For tickets to the Thurs 19th Dec All Change gig CLICK HERE! For tickets to the Fri 20th Dec Mother Nature Calls gig CLICK HERE! For tickets to the Sat 21st Dec Magic Hour gig CLICK HERE!
LVL: What’s it like playing in Liverpool?
John: It’s always fantastic. It’s always such a big deal. It’s the only time we really feel the nerves. I mean it’s always so special — this is where we grew up and we’re playing to our family, friends and local fans. It’s always nerve wracking because we want it to be such a special show even more so than the others.
The energy at the Liverpool gigs is always electric. Everyone lets loose and everyone’s free. We know the crowd — we’ve been in the crowd ourselves. It’s tough to put into words.
For tickets to the Thurs 19th Dec All Change gig CLICK HERE! For tickets to the Fri 20th Dec Mother Nature Calls gig CLICK HERE! For tickets to the Sat 21st Dec Magic Hour gig CLICK HERE!
LVL: What will you be doing over the festive season after the Liverpool shows?
John: Just turning the world off you know. It’s that time of year when we can just relax and not give a shit for 10 days. Rent, mortgage, tax, bills, whatever — it all goes out the window. You just put your feet up, chat, relax, it’s ok isn’t it. I do get January blues and think wow I’ve got to do it all again this year haha! But the festive season’s great isn’t it, tapping into that earthly loving that society needs.
For tickets to the Thurs 19th Dec All Change gig CLICK HERE! For tickets to the Fri 20th Dec Mother Nature Calls gig CLICK HERE! For tickets to the Sat 21st Dec Magic Hour gig CLICK HERE!
LVL: What about 2020 and the future? You mentioned a new album?
John: Yeah we’re just loving being back playing as a band again. You’re always on a perpetual curve and you’re always trying to get to that place — wherever or whatever that place is, always evolving along the way. We’re just continuing our journey and staying positive in a chaotic world.
I’ve found a cool place within myself and I have great people around me. I’ll be continuing to follow Klopp’s Red men, there’ll be loads of footy and loads of music in 2020. I’m really excited about our next album and have a great vision for it. Hopefully we’ll get recorded and release next year! Until then, see you in December!
For tickets to the Thurs 19th Dec All Change gig CLICK HERE!
For tickets to the Fri 20th Dec Mother Nature Calls gig CLICK HERE!
For tickets to the Sat 21st Dec Magic Hour gig CLICK HERE!
