CAST IRON PIÑATA

The Cast Iron Piñata story 

The Formation and Early Years

 In the vibrant music scene of Geelong, Australia, Cast Iron Piñata took its first steps in 2008, forging a unique path with their fusion of rock and funk.

The members, who first met in High School and played in various lineups, soon after began jamming and writing original material as a four-piece band, giving birth to Cast Iron Piñata. The band’s DIY ethos would see them begin to promote their own headline shows and record a series of demos. They quickly gained a devoted following thanks to their blend of Rock and Funk and their energetic performances in Geelong & the Surf Coast as well as in Melbourne.

"Rock / Funk / Awesome" 

The band's initial breakthrough came with the release of their first EP, "Rock / Funk / Awesome." This collection of songs not only introduced their diverse musical influences but also laid the foundation for their distinctive sound, captivating music enthusiasts and fans alike. This was the result of stepping foot into the professional studio setting for the first time, in late 2009, recording with engineer Luke Hill, who captured an authentic depiction of a selection of the band’s well-loved, road-tested tunes. The first release of the EP in 2010, was Mastered by the Grammy-winning David Briggs (‘Little River Band’, ‘Australian Crawl’).

The release set the stage for their distinctive sound, showcasing their diverse musical influences and the infectious energy and melodies, which caught the attention of music enthusiasts as well as independent and commercial radio programmers in Geelong, Melbourne and Western Victoria, with Triple M also using the groovy riff of “Sexy Lady” as part of their regular sporting segment introductions.  

The band won numerous Battle of the Bands events and stages throughout this period and the music video for the song, “Legacy” was released, which garnered further attention for it’s fun tongue-in-cheek style and helped to increase their audience.

The band began to play more shows throughout Melbourne, both in the rock and alternative pub scenes, as well as larger sold out shows supporting Australian Rock powerhouses such as the ‘Screaming Jets’, ‘Electric Mary’ and ‘Colin Hay’ of ‘Men At Work’.

"What A Coincidence You Are Insane…" and the “Insanity” tour 

In 2011, Cast Iron Piñata continued to enrapture audiences with their second EP release, "What A Coincidence You Are Insane..." which pushed into a harder rock sound overall, but also demonstrated their ability to seamlessly blend different musical elements and styles. The release coincided with their first interstate tour, which improved their presence in the wider Australian rock scene. The riff-heavy “On My Knees” became a cult favourite song among fans and the jagged hard rock-meets-catchy funk contrast of “Ghost” was released with the accompanying music video, which was the first professionally cut video for the band.

The EP marked the first substantial release to be entirely produced by Pepe Raye at P. R. Music Recording Studios, which would continue to serve as a Head Quarters and creative haven for the band, where all subsequent songs were both crafted and recorded. 

In addition a range of high profile support slots for acts including, ‘Kevin Borich’, ‘Ezekiel Ox’ and ‘New Neighbours’ (USA), the band solidified their relationship with bookings and management company, Spinning Half, which helped propel the band into booking interstate shows for their “Insanity” tour, and gain product sponsoring from ‘Russian Standard Vodka’ and ‘Monster Energy’ to coincide with their EP & Video launch and tour. Select shows of the tour aligned with that of international trio ‘Lord Bishop Rocks’ (USA/Germany), with whom a strong bond was developed on the back of sharing many stages and gaining mutual fanbases.

“Double A-Side” and the “Every Time You Go” tour 

Cast Iron Piñata’s journey of evolution continued with the release of "Double A-Side" in late 2011, further showcasing their musical versatility and creative growth, adding to their range and appeal with the two singles, “Every Time You Go” and “How Could You Leave Me” both combining punchy grooves and riffs with pop sensibilities and a polished production. A limited version of the physical release included a dance remix of “How Could You Leave Me” in addition to a DVD containing 5.1 Surround Sound mixes and imagery from the band’s shows.

Although support shows for Aussie Rock legends ‘Airbourne’ and ‘Hoodoo Gurus’ both fell through due to cancellations, the band did not let such bumps in the road keep them from forging their own path forward as they promoted their own tour to support the Double A-Side release with the “Every Time You Go” tour in the summer of 2011/12, which included South Australia, Tasmania, NSW, QLD and the ACT in addition to headlining shows across Victoria. The band also supported ‘Juke Cartel’ (featuring Toby Rand from Rockstar:Supernova) in a hometown show to launch a Victorian leg of the tour.

The Self-Titled Debut Album 

A significant milestone was reached in 2012 when Cast Iron Piñata completed their self-titled full-length album. This album marked their growth as composers and musicians, with a cohesive musical experience that resonated with fans old and new. The ambitious 14 song output combined the band’s quintessential fusion of groovy rock, riffs and funk, with introspective lyrics and a sense of increasing maturity compared to their earlier works, making this album a hallmark in their discography.

“See It To Believe It”, with its accompanying music video, became the first single released from the album, promoting the band’s leap in professionalism and showcasing their technical tightness, power, groove and intensity as a unit.

The band continued working hard in their local scene and in Melbourne, which was recognised and rewarded with support slots for Australian Alternative Rock royalty ‘You Am I’ and ‘British India’, which helped to provide inspiration and prepare Cast Iron Piñata for their next big leap…

International Ventures

In September-November 2012, Cast Iron Piñata quite literally took their music to an international audience with their European tour supporting Lord Bishop Rocks. This was a significant period for the career of the band, unveiling their global appeal and expanding their fan base beyond Australia's borders. The 40-show tour (covering the U.K., Germany, Hungary, Croatia, Switzerland, Czech Republic and the Netherlands), received a wealth of support (from Classic Rock Magazine, Westzeit Rock Magazine, Orange Amplifiers, Drum Craft, PopKillazz Presents, Panorama Music, Spinning Half & P. R. Music) and was met with great enthusiasm from audiences as demonstrated by the physical merchandise sales, helping to solidify the band’s status as an international rock act.

The band became enriched by the experience and their influences broadened and evolved as they played halls, clubs and dive bars through to festivals and supported a wide range of cult international acts including Ferocious Dog, and B.B. Blackdog, harnessing the skills required to communicate with diverse audiences in a way that would transcend demographic and language barriers. These experiences broadened the band’s reach and showcased their universal appeal, resulting in the band returning home and being received as a finely-tuned and captivating live act.

Upon return, the band released “Locked Down”, the second single from their album along with the accompanying video, which featured the band playing in the studio along with footage of the band on tour in Europe, the band played a series of headline shows across Victoria in the summer to promote the single.

Imaginations wonder what might have been as promoters, impressed by the band's electrifying performances, extended a tempting invitation for the band to return to Europe and take center stage as the headliners of their own tour. Adding to the allure, they also proposed a tour in Brazil, the land of vibrant rhythms and passionate football fans, which would coincide with the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup. Dreams of paving a way forward in Europe to adoring crowds or sold-out venues full of samba style crowds turned the band's excitement to new heights, however fate would have it that these plans would never materialise…

The Legacy Continues

Cast Iron Piñata packed more into their short few years than most and the band’s unwavering commitment to pushing musical boundaries and leaving their mark on the alternative rock scene continues through their legacy of music they have left as evidenced by the remasters* of their back catalog.

The remastered collection commemorates 15 years since the band’s first shows and 10 years since their last.

It celebrates the formal releases including 8 singles, 3 EPs and the self-titled album (which has been expanded to include radio edits), in addition to a ‘C-Sides & Rarities’ compilation (containing rare and never released material) and the ‘Radio Songs’ compilation.

EPs:

Rock/Funk/Awesome | What A Coincidence You Are Insane... | Double A-Side

Albums:

Cast Iron Piñata (Deluxe) | C-Sides & Rarities Compilation | Radio Songs (Deluxe) Compilation

Singles:

Legacy | Sexy Lady | Ghost | On My Knees | Every Time You Go | How Could You Leave Me | See It To Believe It | Locked Down