Pool Of Sound - Casino

 

Liverpool bluesey soul band 'Casino' who describe themselves as ‘the bastard sons of Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding’, comprises of Dillon Kelly (vocals), Jamie Wild (drums), Anton Jackson (bass), Oliver Stone (keys) and Tom Donoghue (guitar). Ashton and Dillon have been friends since their childhood and the band’s formation was something of a happy accident. They were just going out all the time when they were 17-18 and Dillon says "I couldn’t play the guitar at all! I thought, what could I do? He said “You’ll have to sing”. I got my first guitar when I was 21, I had no intentions of singing but I was obsessed with music." Dillon has a voice straight out of a Memphis Mississippi gravel pit and they are a most rare combination of a band with tunes, melodies, danceable songs, a stormin' rhythm section and a voice which could easily have been born in Muscle Shoals.They met Jamie, via Facebook, after he moved from Wales to Liverpool to go to university. Their name comes from Wigan Casino, the legendary nightclub that became the heart of the Northern Soul movement from the late 1960s - 70s. Dillon said. "We used to be called 'The Sonder' but there was another band called that." 

Their debut single in 2022 was 'Back In The Day', a nostalgic high octane track that transports you back to a time of soul classics with big choruses, bursts of brass and soaring harmonies, a riot of classic Motown and Stax mixed with their own contemporary, modern take on northern soul, funk and a strong streak of fresh, danceable, irresistible Liverpool melody. It could easily be a Sam Cooke or Otis Redding song. Dillon said, "We always try to add some sort of big chorus, this one is a good reflection of that." In 2023 they released their second single 'Love Go On', a soul classic in the making which opens with a retro drum beat and trumpet. They supported Liverpool bluesey soul band 'The Heavy North' at their incredible Arts Club Theatre gig in their home town in 2022.

On stage in 2023

Their next two singles were 'Then It Hit Me' and 'By Your Side'. Dillon describes 'Then It Hit Me' as 'another type of soul song, big and anthemic, hopefully’. "It’s about being in a certain situation, asking for help and getting it." he said somewhat cryptically. 'By Your Side' is more contemporary, it’s got a big, big chorus, it’s a bit more emotional." 

In Cardiff 2024

Their latest track, 'Heaven' was produced by 'The Zutons' Sean Payne and follows support slots with the likes of 'CVC', 'Lightning Seeds', and Jamie Webster, and festival sets including Isle of Wight and Y-Not. The band describe the song's message: "Our new track 'Heaven' delivers a message of hope in adversity and the importance of a positive outlook and perspective in shaping our world around us." Recently, they have built a reputation as one of the best emerging live bands around after impressing on tour as they also have supported 'The Stereophonics' and 'The Suffrajets'. Their songs have already been championed at radio by the likes of BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio 2 and Radio X. Casino play their biggest headline show to date this October at Liverpool 02 Academy.

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2025/04/pool-of-sound-paul-crowe.html