Live Review: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The Necks

If you were after a soundtrack to warm you in to a highly anticipated set, The Necks are the perfect accompaniment. 

The local improvisational trio have become legend for their hour-long sets that see each member taking over from each other in a seamless transition between piano, bass and percussion. It’s free-form, it’s hypnotic and it’s beautiful. There’s no reason to watch them, just close your eyes and get lost in the rolling waves of sound that they create.

The paint at the brand-new ICC venue is still drying, but it looked resplendent for the return of Australia’s favourite export, Nick Cave and his band, The Bad Seeds. The pent-up feelings that we held in our chests were about to be released. Would it be joyous or heart-breaking? 

The band take to the stage before Cave himself saunters out. His presence draws the immediate attention of the 9,000-strong crowd and it never waivers for the next 145 minutes. 

His latest album, Skeleton Tree, with its eerie tones, its mostly spoken verses and foreboding lyrics, dominates early. The feelings are all there. The shivers down the spine. The tears welling up. It is performed with the beauty and grace that these new songs deserve.

Higgs Boson Blues pulls Warren Ellis to his guitar and Cave to his crowd. He stands above the standing throng as if conducting them to adore him as they reach their arms up high, in the hope of contact, which he offers the lucky few. Using hands to hold himself up he yells out "Can You Feel My Heartbeat?"

The Ship Song, starting quietly with just piano and bass gives us a chance to sing along and Cave a chance to catch his breath. His energy is high all night and he proclaims, "It’s too hot in this suit... but we have a certain image to maintain". 

The final songs of the main set froth us up as Red Right Hand flows into The Mercy Seat, before bringing us back to earth with Distant Sky and Skeleton Tree. The entire show is a perfectly curated and encapsulated piece of art. Cave doesn’t talk much, but he doesn’t need to. His music speaks volumes and we are spellbound. 

Of course, we are treated to a visceral rendition of Stagger Lee before Push The Sky Away rounds out an early contender for concert of the year. Staggeringly wonderful.