A lot has happened in the last few days, festival season oblige, and even though there’s a lot more coming up – my brain is trying to process at full capacity right now, and yes for the record it hurts even with 0 beers at the counter – I couldn’t help myself but stop for a hot minute and write about one special band.
If you’ve followed my shit for a while, you might have already heard me ramble about these aussies – even when they were worlds apart from the conversation. What can I say? There are bands, and then there are the bands of your life so deeply rooted in who you are it becomes part of your DNA or some shit. And I’ve heard y’all talking about football for a month so now it’s my turn dammit.
As you may know, I do stray from rock music on occasions – put down the damn pitchfork, we’ve been over this already – and I guess this band is probably the furthest you’d expect on my musical spectrum (they do have a song called rock’n’roll though so eh, there’s that). I am not too sure, to be frank, how to define them. Something like… take joy, take insane talent, throw in a few languages, a ton of influences and give it a good shake. Yeah. That sounds like it.
That’s The Cat Empire.
They have the magical superpower of bringing you that thing you’re all chasing after – happiness. On any given day. Good or bad. They will never fail to put a smile on your face.
This was my last show after 3 days on the festival ground, with a starting time right in the middle of the night. I knew I was going to be sleep deprived (I was), legs would be gone (still are), probably dehydrated and sick of all the junk food (let’s skip that part shall we), but there was no way in this world or the whole multiverse that I was going to miss these guys. 20 years of being a fan, 12 years since the last time our paths crossed, if there was a time to make an old dream come true that was it. Frontrow guys. Frontrow at last. Let’s skip the melodramatic bullshit that spurred, there’s plenty of that ahead.
One in the morning, Eddie reminding us to keep rockin in the free world in the distance, and suddenly the moonlight turned into a flashing light.
It’s time. And with these guys, I’m never too sure if it’s show time or party time. Both is good as always, another reason to love them. Time to go crazy for sure and here’s a funny thing.
You know how so many bands you see live commands you to go loose, to jump, to just be in the moment and enjoy yourselves really – The Cat Empire doesn’t need those reminders, this is all explicitly implied in those sounds and beats, and that’s why it turns into a freaking celebration everytime. Music is the language of their souls alright and it carries you to the happiest places.
And the thunder rumbles (Lightning will strike!!!)
And the thunder rumbles
And the thunder rumbles (Bring on the thunder!!!)
And the drums go Bom, Bom, Bom, Bom, Bom, Bom!!!
You know I never dwell too long on setlists but this was pretty close to perfection after so long. Got the song that started it all for me. Got one of my fav. Got new songs too and new arrangements I was amazed to feel for the first time coursing through my body. You know the music is good when you listen with your ears but crave to experience it physically. Feel the drums rattling your bones, holding your breath with the brass section, having that specific piano key note tickle your brain cells, letting that bass line take over your heartbeat. The kind of music that makes you growl with pleasure really. I swear there’s no better description of it. You know what they say, if it’s not hormones, it must be a soul thing then.
Oops, spiraling again, let’s get back on track. I may not have seen these guys live for a long time but I’m well happy to report that time has left that love unchanged, and weirdly enough, even without the original line up, so were they.
It was everything I wanted and more so everything I needed.
They’re still the most talented musicians I’ve seen on a stage and if anything, their craftsmanship only got better to be honest. It’s been a long time since I’ve stopped trying to understand how so many different instruments can work so well together. What should be an utter mess, turns into absolute magic in their hands. I was still put under the spell of Oli’s magic in less than 10 seconds – remember when I said I’m a complete piano whore? He’s the man to blame for it. It all started with his solos. Thank you for that Oli, forever grateful for it. Felix’s joy is just as infectious as ever – question time, have you ever been to a gig and thought, man that must be the most joyful frontman I’ve ever seen? Well guess what. You’re wrong. Unless said gig is The Cat Empire. That smile is the best drug on the market and that’s a hill I’m willing to die on.
And then you have those songs, those enticing beats, that rumble under your feet slowly building up in your legs and giving you two shoes for dancing.
I don’t dance. I’m a damn punk rocker. I bounce, I jump, I headbang, I fall and scratch my knees but I don’t dance – except with these guys. If you needed proof of the power of this band, there you go. I dance every single second of their set like I was born for it.
A lot of words just to say, they’re still one of the best live bands you’ll EVER get to see play.
I was so eager to see them at work with this new line up, I had no doubt it would work well given the great songs that came out since Felix and Oli were joined by the rest of the gang but still, curiosity was indeed a thing. And let me tell you about it – It was the Cat Empire alright. There’s history but there are also stories, and these “new” guys, they are great storytellers for sure. Unbelievable musicians – which is really the trademark of this band for me – but also so in touch with the vibes flowing from those songs we know so well. If I dare, I’d even say they’re bringing a new depth to it all and sealing for good the cultural patchwork the Cat Empire has always aspired to be. For all I know they could have been part of the band from the start – original line up, new line up, truth is, there’s only one empire and it’s theirs.
And if there’s one world I wouldn’t mind living in every day for the rest of my life, it’s truly that haven they create the moment their instruments start ringing into the night sky. A place where the only weapons are instruments, where we embrace our differences and even use them to thrive together, a place where the light shines so bright in the darkness of the night.
From the joyful singalongs to the collective glimmer in our eyes at those high trumpet notes, there’s this recurring feeling you experience all along at any of their gigs – unity. It might have been two in the morning, but here we all were, band and audience as one, dancing the night away. Smiling. Jumping. Laughing. Living. Transcended by a joy that felt like it would last forever. Two in the morning, and everything is right in the world.
Damn. That’s how life should feel for real. Like a Cat Empire concert.
I wish there was a way to bottle up this feeling for all the rainy days, because that joy high would most certainly turn any of those around. I’ll keep holding onto it for now with that smile on my face only them know how to trigger, until next time.
Thank you, The Cat Empire.
I might go on dancing a while longer if you don’t mind.
