Harley Young attends the church of Cave for a biblical Tuesday night performance
Who: Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Where: AO Arena
When: 5 November 2024
Tour tickets: Limited tickets and dates remaining. Book here.
What we say:
Following the highly anticipated release of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ eighteenth (yes, eighteenth) studio album, ‘Wild God’, the Australian music mogul and his entourage are currently anointing the record with its UK tour, sprinkling songs from their poetically dark and eerie-yet-beautiful discography from North to West.
Last night (5 November), Cave and co. took to the stage at 8:30pm prompt, transforming Manchester’s AO Arena into his very own chapel for musical sermon, and proceeded to perform what can only be described as an incredibly moving, fiercely energetic two-and-a-half-hour performance.
Opening the evening with ‘Frogs’, swiftly followed by ‘Wild God’ from the album of the same name, Nick wasted no time in working with the crowd, reaching out his hand to a sea of adoring fans as they stood entranced, fully encapsulated in the moment.
One woman, who clearly couldn’t contain her joy any longer, blurted out “I love you, Nick!” to which he replied, “I love you, too. This one is for that lonely woman’s voice,” before continuing his set with ‘O Children’ from 2004 album Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus.
Joined by a quartet of choir singers, the band’s awe-striking performance was only further intensified.
Enacting a ground-shaking performance of the seven-minute gospel-esque builder ‘Tupelo’ from 2009 album The Firstborn is Dead, Cave ferociously leapt across the platform, running back and forth with such gusto that would be impressive from a 20-something-year-old, let alone a man in his late sixties.
Cave introduced bandmate, and fellow producer of the new album, Warren Ellis, giving him the spotlight to sing backing vocals on an ethereally haunting rendition of ‘Carnage’ (Carnage, 2021), before upping the tempo again with ‘Final Rescue Attempt’ (Wild God, 2024) and ‘Red Right Hand’ (Let Love In, 1994) - a song that catapulted back to fame after featuring in the 2013 BBC crime drama Peaky Blinders, and one that the crowd evidently adored.
Performing not one but two encores and a whopping 21 tracks in total, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds had Manchester in the palm of their hands from start to finish, not once wavering or losing grip of the energy in the room - no need for flashy visuals or special effects; just raw talent and emotion from a band who are experts in their field after 40-plus years in the game.
P.S. Nick, if you’re reading this, from one goth to another, what hair dye do you use to achieve such an inky black colour? (Thanks in advance.)
Setlist
Frogs
Wild God
Song of the Lake
O Children
Jubilee Street
From Her to Eternity
Long Dark Night
Cinnamon Horses
Tupelo
Conversion
Bright Horses
Joy
I Need You (Nick Cave solo)
Carnage (Nick Cave & Warren Ellis cover)
Final Rescue Attempt
Red Right Hand
The Mercy Seat
White Elephant (Nick Cave & Warren Ellis cover)
____________________
[Encore 1]
Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry
The Weeping Song
____________________
[Encore 2]
Into My Arms (Nick Cave solo)
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