Not too long ago I went to see a comedy show with friends around town, and one of my friends confessed that seeing this famous 80's comedian was sort of a "bucket list" event for him, though hopefully we all have some good years ahead of us.
I suppose that's how it is for me with Nick Cave. Probably ten years ago I purchased tickets to see him perform. The show was postponed due to illness, and eventually rescheduled. At the time, I was so preoccupied by work, that I finally remembered that I had a show to see, only three days after the concert. Lately, I've tried to get tickets, but usually by the time I realize he is doing a North American tour, every venue on the East coast from Atlanta to Toronto is sold out, and I really don't enjoy scalping tickets. The funny thing is, most people I know have no idea who he is--I would venture that an artist of his pedigree must be as famous as AC/DC or Men At Work in his homeland of Australia.
Well this time, Nick & the Seeds are touring without a new album & in New York between college semesters, so I hit paydirt & bought a standing room seat. I drove down to the venerable Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan and I was glad I did. Though I don't grouse about set lists, for me, him not having a new album to promote became a great opportunity for me because the show was a veritable greatest hits showcase. He played songs off of nearly every album, including his first two albums, From Her to Eternity, and The First Born is Dead. From concept to execution, I was always deeply impressed with "Tupelo", so seeing him perform it live was a treat. My only regret was that they did not do any Birthday Party songs. I saw this on YouTube & was hopeful.... but no real regrets.
Though I would not have been disappointed if Chris Bailey came on stage and dueted with Nick on Bring It On, or Ed Kuepper hopped on stage as a guest axeman.
Nick Cave is a formidable live performer, still riveting after 30 years of touring. He paces the stage hyperactively, zooming in and out of focus, alternately interacting and at times stalking the audience. His guise is both theatrical and visceral, taking on different roles, from carny to confidence man to preacher to killer. And while he can croon like a jazz stylist, he still can yowl like a psychotic tomcat. While watching him perform, I was thinking how this sort of show could come off as a parody or as lame, but with his out-sized stage presence and gravitas he brings to each song/tale, he pulls it off. Nick and the audience are co-conspirators.
It's fascinating to see how he contorts himself on stage, with his tall gangly physiognomy, twisting & twitching in the air, dancing, jiving, then lunging forward into the audience, laying hands upon them. Jingle, Jangle. Unlike everyone else in the audience, I found myself staring at his gyrating shadow on the black curtains on the right side of the theater.
The Bad Seeds are one hell of a backing band, but with the exception of Warren Ellis (he of the Dirty 3), they really keep themselves in the background. At times I thought I was watching a Broadway musical. I would be surprised if they weren't cooking up a plan to put together a Nick Cave show ala Mamma Mia! I think it would have a lot of potential---all the tension in those Jim Thompsonesque murder songs, plus all the tender ballads he has amassed over the past 20 years or so.
Below is video from my concert experience. Shiny shirt, crazed like Evil Neil Diamond. Song Sung Red my friends....
From Her to Eternity!
People Ain't No Good!
Jubilee Street, from Lift High the Sky...
Other songs I got to see were God is in the House, The Ship Song, Mermaids, Stagger Lee & The Mercy Seat, to name a few.
Well I don't know if I am so obsessed with bucket lists, really. I just like seeing a good show from time to time. And this one was A-list.
Maybe grabbing a bunch of shows and mixing them all in a bucket is more appropriate to food, as the culinary bloggers on those commercials for KFC can attest. It feels a little like soul stealing, or idle fodder for the watercooler.
These last threes videos can attest to the power of a great live show, where the entertainer and the audience are working together. This was an amazing show, for the most part a band just performing without a bunch of silly props. Thanks to all the fans in the audience holding up their cell phones for 2 hours you can catch a glimpse of what I was seeing. But it still isn't the same. Visceral, theatrical, intellectual, psychotic at times--not many people are capable of bringing what he does. And its obvious he puts in tremendous effort to have become the songwriter and entertainer he is. If anyone out there has these sort of lists laying around, think long and hard about including a Nick Cave show in there somewhere.
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