The perfectly tailored suit; the captivated, almost unbelievably focused crowd; the robed gospel quartet: right from the start, the spiritual atmosphere of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds’ O2 Arena performance is established, with Cave as the mysterious preacher, and the audience as his eager followers.
It is not unexpected that this semi-religious environment exists, considering his well-documented focus on religion in his work and his personal connection to experiences of loss, grief, and love that are often tied to spirituality. The impressive part is how this dome, with a capacity of 20,000, manages to create an intimate atmosphere; from the first notes of the song ‘Frogs’, it feels like every person is connecting with Cave personally.
And during the initial run of Bad Seeds live performances showcasing its songs, the new album ‘Wild God’ is absolutely magnificent. Tonight’s setlist includes just under half of the LP cuts, marking the vanishing point of all Cave’s religious inclinations. The only song not performed is ‘As The Waters Cover The Sea.’ Having a vast and diverse collection of previous work can make it challenging to balance presenting new material while also satisfying fans with older favorites during a tour. In this case, the newer songs blend so well with his existing artistic style that they actually enhance the overall experience.
The sharp contrast of the jagged edges in ‘From Her To Eternity’ in 2009 makes ‘Long Dark Night’ seem even more gentle; the desperate tone of ‘Final Rescue Attempt’ prepares us for the brooding feel of ‘Red Right Hand’ in 1994. Both ‘O Children’ and ‘Conversion’ are uplifted by the gospel backing singers.
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