The current Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds’ tour is called the Wild God tour after the bands latest album, and it’s clear that’s how Nick’s most die hard fans see him, as a kind of wild musical god.
These most loyal fans, who clearly got here much earlier than I did, stand right by the stage reaching up adoringly as he performs inches away, their faces radiant, their screams strong. Some of these people have been following this man and this band for longer than I’ve been alive. It’s powerful to watch these interactions that become almost spiritual at times.
Seeing Nick with The Bad Seeds is a very different experience to Nick solo (which was my last Nick Cave show). He feeds off the band, he’s more energised and more extroverted, yet in some ways more shielded. He spends much of his time when not seated at the piano teetering on a narrow ledge inches from the crowd, or being hoisted into the arms of the audience, and this physical interaction seems to replace the verbal connection I saw at The Plenary (or maybe vice versa). He stills talks and connects with the audience, but it’s noticeably less vulnerable, less candid. This is Nick Cave the front man.
The band, including the musical powerhouse that is Warren Ellis (honestly if you do one thing before you die, watch this man play the violin live), Colin Greenwood, Jim Sclavunos, George Vjestica, Larry Mullins and Carly Paradis, are supported by a four piece gospel choir featuring Janet Ramus, T Jae Cole, Wendi Rose and Miça Townsend. It’s a truly impressive musical line up and Cave is generous both with his praise and his share of the spotlight. However, despite this, Nick still manages to captivate the audience’s attention for much of the show. He’s a striking figure with his jet black hair and impeccably tailored suit whose presence utterly enamours those around him.
The band open with Frogs from their latest album to rapturous cheers from the audience and it is of course this new album, Wild God, that takes centre stage for a large portion of the night with As the Water Covers The Sea being the only track not to make the set list. Interestingly, while deep cuts such as Tupelo and of course Red Right Hand incite a strong crowd response, newer tracks such as Joy and White Elephant are also equally well received with the crowd singing, dancing or listening totally absorbed in the music. The Bad Seeds have truly managed to take their audience with them throughout their journey. Unlike many bands who’ve been around that long, their audience aren’t here to revel in nostalgia, they’re fully on board for this current incarnation. You have to just pause for a moment and consider how incredible that is. Albums like Ghosteen are worlds away from early The Bad Seeds works such as The First Born is Dead, yet fan loyalty remains equally as high. Even the newer fans aren’t just here for the new music, or the classics they found in their dad’s record collection, they’re engaged with the band’s entire back catalogue.
After ending the main set on White Elephant, the band return for a lengthy encore, including a moving dedication to Anita Lane with O Wow, O Wow (How Wonderful She Is), a cover of Young Charlatans’ Shivers, and what appeared to be an impromptu performance of Skeleton Tree before Nick closed the night solo with Into My Arms. At points, emotions overflow and people are sobbing, it’s a powerful and moving experience largely unparalleled in live music.
Nick Cave is without a doubt one of the greatest song writers of his generation, and The Bad Seeds have to be one of the greatest live performances you’ll ever see.
You can find all Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds tour dates here.
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