“Death or Jail” Actually you’re not posing a question provoking this answer to an artist; neither to a newcomer nor to somebody making a living being the singer in a rock band for 15 years. “What or where would you be without music?” can as well be an unintended support for somebody and Nathan Gray openly admits that “If that fresh start doesn’t work out I won’t be sad. Then I’ll travel through the bars of this world with my acoustic guitar!” Who’s seen the end of the film ‘Rockstar’ (With Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston) has the consistent picture before their eyes; a man, a guitar, a voice, but Nathan Gray has never been connected to bonfire romantics in any way. His “baby” BOYSETSFIRE actually was the exact opposite: loud, fast and most of all political. A Punk Rock legend with hardcore background, four albums full of rage but as well joy of living.Not shattered in 2007 on their mission but on different life plans. Some people found families in their mid-30s; others call their next projects ‘Go Crazy! Throw Freworks!’ “I know it sounds childish but it’s a quote of OZZY OZVOURNE. Ozzy toured in the 80s with an unknown Metal band. In a city in the Middle East the aggressive audience ran them off the stage with fireworks. When Ozzy stumbled on stage he yelled ‘Go Crazy! Throw Fireworks!’ Even before the first song started and that somehow stuck in my mind!” CASTING OUT’s debut does his name justice and especially it’s much fun. Nathan Gray is proud of the evolution; not of Darwin but of his own, personal as even protest singers get to their limits. Even though 68 years old BOB DYLAN is still touring and tries to make the world a better place with mutter songs, Nathan sees his retirement a little more different.
“I’m still a political man and I’ll always be one but some day I reached the point of just wanting to have fun. That you’re always agonizing about the world and all the problems doesn’t mean you always have to be in a bad mood. I find it wonderful to encompass difficult subject matter with sugar sweet melodies. It makes things a lot easier” And it works, especially as there’s a red line on this record: It’s called maturity. Doesn’t matter if Gray sings about failed relationships or the drug problems he once had. The dedication and heart’s blood of a man in his mid-30s who’s conserved his youth is in every word, in every sound. Without naivety but enthusiasm he’s entering the next part of his life in a band whose boss he was in the beginnings but now is ‘only’ their singer and lyricist. And that part suits him. The titles of the record but also of the last song are program: ‘Dial 9-1…And Wait’. Dial the first numbers of the emergency call and wait what happens. Life is exciting and gets better with records like ‘Go Crazy! Throw Fireworks!’ Even BOB DYLAN couldn’t prevent that. By the way Gray wants to tour until he’s 80 years old…
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