After nearly two decades of non-stop touring, the Cat Empire has split. We had fly-on-the-wall access to observe the mixed feelings and high emotions as the band performed its final show
Three metres high above the Byron Bay mud, side stage is chaos. Not just dark and loud but confused by shifting shards of light and shadow thrown from spotlights and flittering silhouettes.
“We’ve been talking for years about a certain ending,” he says. “We wanted to do a big world tour and that was going to be the farewell… It’s hugely disappointing that we couldn’t do it. Disappointing for us, the agents we’ve worked with all over the world, but no one more than the fans. We all deserve that, and it makes me sad that we haven’t been able to deliver.”Of the six original members, Jumps is the guy who wears his emotions closest to the surface.
“But it’s a big group of people and people walk away from things differently. It’s like, how do you leave a relationship? Some people are gonna have hurt feelings. Somebody’s gonna want to have it out: grievances from fifteen years ago. Other people are gonna walk away and never look back. I think that’s me. Some people are gonna want to celebrate. I think we’re all up for that. Especially tonight.
Fans have flown in from around the world for this. Leo’s first gig was in Edinburgh 17 years ago with his mate Jasper. He’s seen the Cat Empire in six cities. Tonight, they’ve travelled from San Francisco. “This Canadian is coming from Stockholm,” one Instagrammer posts. “We are coming for our honeymoon!” says another from the UK.Despite the challenges of jamming 20 years into 90 minutes, it’s unlikely anyone is disappointed.
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