Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Vector Arena January 18, 2017

 

Well, for a lot of folks the 2017 concert season began tonight with Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds’ show at Auckland’s Vector Arena. And so stunning, so powerfully moving a show it was, that it might very well be the last show of 2017 for all intents and purposes.

This is just the fourth show of this tour…their first tour since 2014 and of course the first since the unspeakably sad death of Cave’s teenage son.

For this tour the Bad Seeds consist of Warren Ellis (violin, guitar, piano & right hand man), Martyn P Casey (bass), Thomas Wydler (drums), Jim Sclavunos (percussion), Conway Savage (keyboards), George Vjestica (guitar) and Larry Mullins, aka Toby Dammit, (keyboards).

The two shows in New Zealand (they played in Wellington the day before) are all Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, no opening act. The musicians took the stage just after 8pm, with Cave, in his usual black suit and white shirt, sat down to sing the opening number, Anthrocene.

Despite all he’s been through Cave was in good voice and seemed in a good mood, often laughing as he interacted with the audience.

It was that interaction that made this show so special.

It began in earnest with the might Higgs Boson Blues. Cave leaned out over the crowd, waving his hands as he sang the song. Eventually he was right in there with the fans. From where I was sitting it looked like he was almost floating over them…like Jesus walking on the water. The fans raised their hands and very often connected one on one with Cave. This was especially effective when he got to the lyric, “can you feel my heart beat”.

After that stunning moment, Nick and the band headed back to the 80s and brought out a couple of old favourites, From Her To Eternity and Tupelo. The former featuring a flailing Warren Ellis on violin, the latter illustrated by a thunderstorm projected on the rear screen.

It was clear that the band was still finding its oats, occasionally needing a second chance or a deliberate count in to get a song started. Such was the case with The Ship Song.

Afterwards, Cave announced, “If you could sing along with this, it would be ideal”. The song was Into My Arms and he didn’t have to ask twice.

As they made their way through the over two-hour set it occurred to me what a unique sound these Bad Seeds conjure up. There’s barely a guitar to be heard, let alone any kind of solo. Instead they tend to sound like some kind of ancient circus band…wheezing and  scraping, yet simultaneously sounding beautiful. With Warren Ellis acting the part of a wild-eyed ringleader, the illusion is complete.

It’s tough to pick out a highlight of the show, there were so many. I thought it was going to be the one-two punch of Red Right Hand and The Mercy Seat. But then the encore came.

Cave seemed open to playing whatever anyone shouted out.

They began the 5-song coda with People Ain’t No Good, with Cave claiming that it was requested on the plane.

“Is there anything you want to hear in particular?” he then asked. Of course everyone in the house had a suggestion. But the feeling that anything could happen helped ramp up the excitement level.

They settled on Jack The Ripper, and it was just that, a ripper…loud, distorted, ugly rock and roll and boy did it feel good.

Then Cave and the band, master of dynamics, brought things down with a beautiful Nobody’s Baby Now featuring a lovely Warren Ellis violin solo.

“Anything else?” asked Cave.

Why, yes, how about some Stagger Lee!

After taking a poll to see if we really wanted to hear it, Cave and the band tore into it. The song climaxed as Cave again waded into the crowd and sang directly to a woman who was propped up by the crowd facing him just a few feet away. It was a powerful moment that resonated throughout the arena…you couldn’t have choreographed a better scene.

Finally, the night ended with a hushed Push The Sky Away.

As folks were filing out of the Vector Arena, it was clear that everyone was feeling they had witnessed something special.  This wasn’t just a performance; it was something more intense, more meaningful. And it will stay with those who witnessed it long after tonight.

Marty Duda

All photos by Michael Flynn. Unfortunately Michael was only allowed to shoot the first song, so we only have a few photos.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds set list:

1. Anthrocene
2. Jesus Alone
3. Magneto
4. Higgs Boson Blues
5. From Her To Eternity
6. Tupelo
7. Jubilee Street
8. The Ship Song
9. Into My Arms
10. Girl In Amber
11. I Need You
12. Red Right Hand
13. The Mercy Seat
14. Distant Sky
15. Skeleton Tree
16. People Ain’t No Good
17. Jack The Ripper
18. Nobody’s Baby Now
19. Stagger Lee
20. Push The Sky Away