15 years ago Cast released the massive 'All Change', this year and after a 10 year spell in the wilderness they returned with an anniversary tour. Rich Denton joined the sell out crowd in Liverpool's O2 Academy
This comeback was only supposed to be a tester... a gig or two see if they still had it in them before trying to record some new stuff together. See if the fans of over a decade ago still held a place for them in their hearts. So one gig led to a mini tour, a mini tour led to a full UK tour and after selling out the 1200 capacity Liverpool O2 Academy two fold a third and final gig in the hometown was tagged onto the end. Guess what? This sold out as well.
So with the venue rammed to the max and red haze filtering across the room, John Power and the boys walked onto the stage to yet another night of heartfelt local acclaim with Power announced he was glad to be back performing in his hometown.
I saw Cast play an intimate warm up gig at Radio Mersyside before they went on tour and they opened with 'Alright' as a statement of intent, tonight the start was a bit more settled. 'Back of my mind' and 'Reflections from debut album 'All Change' kicked things off before 'Sandstorm' whipped the crowd up into a frenzy.
Taking classic tracks from the back catalogue the scouse quartet could do no wrong, 'Fine Time', 'Guiding Star' and 'Alright' all well written songs but with that unique Liverpool guitar sound to boot. This kept the crowd jumping before a change of tempo with 'Live the Dream' and 'Walkaway'.
After already having the whole venue, including those on the balcony, bouncing the finale of 'Flying' and the superb 'History' sealed a fantastic return. But, with the crowd baying for more Power returned to perform a tribute to the city's favourite son on the 30th anniversary of his death. With a special John Lennon remebered event taking place across the city at the Echo Arena, Power performed 'Working class hero' much to the appreciation of the assembled scousers. That just left time for 'Free Me' and fittingly the final track on All Change 'Two of a kind' to close things out.
The band are due to go into the studio early next year to begin recording a new album, I personally cannot wait
Set List
BACK OF MY MIND
REFLECTIONS
SANDSTORM
PROMISED LAND
TELL IT LIKE IT IS
FINETIME
FOUR WALLS
MAGIC HOUR
GUIDING STAR
ALRIGHT
LIVE THE DREAM
WALKAWAY
FLYING
HISTORY
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WORKING CLASS HERO
FREE ME
TWO OF A KIND
www.liverpool-live.info