Cast at The Fleece in Bristol supported by John McCullagh and The Escorts

Posted on: 2014-12-16

Our rating:

The big guns came out towards the end of the main set with Power leading the Fleece Massive in a rousing chorus of ?Walkaway? which brought more than one reflective tear to the eye.


 

It was a sold-out crowd who turned out for a trundle down memory lane on a cold Monday night in December at The Fleece in Bristol.

John McCullagh and The Escorts provided proto-Dylan-through-a-Brit-Pop-filter support to a reinvigorated Cast. Young McCullagh and his band rattled through a lively set which channelled folksy retro indie pop and the upbeat enthusiasm of early Coral without the cringe-inducing lyrics and abrasive voice of Jake Bugg. His youthful bleating of self-consciously knowing lyrics belied his scant years and hinted of a real talent. In one track he sang “[To] look inside my head…read the books I’ve read.” If tonight’s set is anything to go by then a good number of the Fleece’s crowd will be taking out a library card for this young singer-songwriter’s local book depository.

John McCullagh and The Escorts supported Cast at The Fleece Bristol on 15/12/2014

Born from the ashes of late 80s indie pioneers The La’s and Shack, Cast had success in a Brit-Pop dominated 90s but lead singer John Power failed to capitalise on their popularity or move the band with the times in the way contemporaries the Gallaghers, Albarn and Cocker did with their various acts and side-projects. Nostalgia ruled the night with a perennially young looking Power leading the four-piece out to a bombastic fanfare of pre-recorded trumpets and kicking things off with a raucously rocky opening track. Classics ‘Promised Land’ and ‘Sandstorm’ followed, whipping the largely 30-45 year-old audience into a, if not quite frenzied but certainly mildly frantic, excitement.

Cast at The Fleece in Bristol on Monday 15 December 2014

The opening of the set was fraught with technical difficulties with Power noticeably annoyed by mic feedback. This however, was rectified early on and Cast were able to crack on with their set. And what a set it was! Blending a few newer upbeat, rocky numbers (the band reformed in 2010 and released the album ‘Troubled Times’ in 2012) with their classics of yesteryear, the boys from the Mersey played with passion and vitality. It was like the 90s never ended; hits such as ‘Finetime’, ‘Flying’ and ‘Beat Mama’ sounding as fresh and essential as they did back before the Millennium bug made all indie dour and miserable. Power sang and played rhythm with conviction and …well…power throughout and a strident Liam ‘Skin’ Tyson, rocking a serious Rasputin-chic look, was phenomenal on lead duties. Special mention has to go to Tyson’s delay tapping acrobatics in the encore, psychedelic genius!

The big guns came out towards the end of the main set with Power leading the Fleece Massive in a rousing chorus of ‘Walkaway’ which brought more than one reflective tear to the eye. Any cheeks that had remained undampened during ‘I’m So Lonely’ certainly weren’t now.

The encore brought the set to a close in spectacular fashion. New track ‘Baby Blue Eyes’ and the aforementioned delay-heavy juggernaut jam track leading the way for what everyone had been waiting for. Cast’s second single from their first album ‘All Change’, fan favourite ‘Alright’. Power sang “I guess I’m alright, I guess I’m alright”…and we were.

4/5

Reviewed by Phil Spring and Scott McIntosh for 365Bristol

For more info on the bands please visit www.casttour.com and www.359music.com.



Article by:

James Anderson

Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.