Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

NICK CAVE is probably one of the most charismatic and influencing musician/artist these days. He is also a songwriter, author, screenwriter, composer and occasional film actor and leaves his impact everywhere. Currently his band NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS comes first. In February they have released their new album entitled Push The Sky Away, a masterpiece of subtle beauty, which meanwhile overtook his most successful record Murder Ballads.
In 2013 NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS were already touring worldwide, but in Germany you do not see him that often. Last time he stopped here was in 2008 during his Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!! tour and this one included only 2 shows in Berlin.

However, I have never seen NICK CAVE so far, neither with the THE BAD SEEDS, nor with Grinderman and I am utmost delighted and stoked to get the chance to catch him now at the • Mitsubishi Electric Hall • in Duesseldorf, Germany. Unfortunately it did not work out for a photo pass, which was only handed out to a selected number of print media photographers. And those were only allowed to take photos (contracted) during the first song with difficult lights. Afterwards NICK CAVE could not get them out quickly enough it seemed. So I was bound to enjoy the show from the first tone to the last, fully :) And I did, with a bit melancholy in my heart…

Before it was time for Mr. Cave we got :: SHILPA RAY :: who performed without her Happy Hookers (and was not allowed to be photographed too). A woman and her harmonium. An Indian harmonium to be exactly. I never have heard of this woman or band before, both come from Brooklyn, NY. Nick Cave discovered her during is latest Grindreman tour through the States and now released her current EP It’s All Self-Fellatio via his own label. With the first tone it got clear why he likes her and her music and why her stuff fits so well to a Nick Cave show ;) SHILPA RAY has a phenomenal, rather dark voice and a huge and diverse vocal range sounding bluesy, punky, a bit jazzy and Cabaret-like. She can do it loud, bitchy, harsh and sarky, she can do it gentle and quiet, mixes No Wave with Velvet Underground. Her entire approach is like a melting pot of styles and genres of a whole century with the vibes and spirits of a metropolis like New York. When SHILPA RAY starts screaming she sounds odd and off-key what again perfectly suits the atmosphere and the craziness songs of Nick Cave can breathe too. Yes, SHILPA RAY is a really impressive singer/songwriter. Just wow!

Nevertheless, this evening belongs to :: NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS ::. Shilpa Ray had hardly left the stage with her tattered bouquet as everybody was rushing into the hall and towards the stage. The Mitsubishi Electric Hall was already scaled down and still far away from being sold out. I’d roughly guess 5.000 fans inside. As already mentioned I got no photo pass and just could watch the “others” doing their job during the grandiose opening track We No Who U R with NICK CAVE in the center of 3 spotlights. The sound was brilliant, maybe a bit too loud without earplugs. I loved the bass rhythms, similar distinct as on the new record Push The Sky Away. I also loved the new versions of old songs such as Tupelo. But my personal fave was without doubt the Higgs Boson Blues. So stunning, captivating, mesmerizing. I so love this song!
NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS so bloody rocked the stage. Unbelievable. As if they were just mid-twenty and as if there were no tomorrow. During Jubilee Street Warren Ellis rocked out so hard that his violin bow flew far away and made a stagehand running fast to get it back. There have been various platforms in the pit to make it easy for NICK CAVE to jump from the stage via the speakers on them, in front of the fence with the fans behind, to hold and shaking hands with them, while others were reaching out and up to him. What great scenery. Damn… I miss my cam… From the second track on we also got a perfect, well-staged and balanced light show… oh my… *sighs*
In between NICK CAVE also sits alone behind his piano to sings his ballads, just to freak out right after, dancing, jumping and joking. After 1 1/2 hrs the show officially (and way too fast) comes to an end, perfectly closed with the title track of the new album Push The Sky Away. A vehement whistle-, clap- and scream marathon later the band came back for a 3 song encore, ultimately closing with a brand new ballad entitled Give Us A Kiss. What a great show! Breathtaking! Definitely one of the highlights in 2013. And I definitely fell in love ;) The tickets ain’t that cheap I know, but NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS are worth every single Cent. So, if you still have the chance, go and catch him!
Band: Martyn Casey (Bass), Warren Ellis (Violine), Conway Savage (Piano), Jim Sclavunos (Drums), Thomas Wydler (Drums)
Setlist: We No Who U R, Jubilee Street, Tupelo, Red Right Hand, Mermaids, From Her To Eternity, West Country Girl, God Is In The House, Watching Alice, Into My Arms, Higgs Boson Blues, The Mercy Seat, Stagger Lee, Push The Sky Away // We Real Cool, Papa Won't Leave You, Henry, Give Us A Kiss