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Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
Alexandra Gardens
Friday 30th January
Encased in the balmy January air, I flocked to Alexandra Gardens to bask in the majesty of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. My fellow Bad Seeds and I brimming with excitement as it was finally Melbourne’s turn to finally play host to the Wild God tour that has taken the world by storm and awe.
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds launched their dazzling set with “Frogs,” the debut single from their critically acclaimed album Wild Gods. The track unfolds as a tender love letter to the simple joys of being in love, celebrating the gentle normalcy couples create together in life’s quiet, unremarkable moments. Love and grief sit at the heart of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds sprawling, varied discography, forming an intimate bond between the two. Each contains the other – love within grief, grief within love – two powerful emotions that often coexist quietly, and sometimes peacefully.
In exploring the complexities of the human condition, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds speak a lyrical language that cuts straight to the soul, performing a kind of emotional post-mortem on life’s highs and lows. Though their songs confront moments of smallness and lifelessness, they ultimately pulse with such deep humanity that we emerge feeling seen — and quietly restored with hope.
The punters were clearly in awe of this incredible band. It was hard to not keep my focus on them but was thrown off by a punter shooshing my friend which was an absolute world first for me. The interaction didn’t even remotely throw me off because I was happily existing in Nick Cave’s world as a humble spectator.
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds setlist was nothing short of spectacular, igniting the crowd with palpable excitement. As they commanded the stage with “O Children,” “Jubilee Street,” and “From Her to Eternity” – a cathartic medley of songs that explore joy and sorrow and the audience was swept up in shared joy. Voices rang out in unison, binding us in collective adoration and heightening the anticipation for whatever gems Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds would unveil next.
As the evening fell into the night, the intimacy between the crowd and Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds continued to blossom. Warren Ellis added such beautiful texture with his violin and the gospel quartet infused some of the most soul affirming harmonies which added to the band’s dynamic stage presence. A few bits of cheeky improvised banter drew plenty of much needed belly laughs after the musical rollercoaster we were all on!
Nick Cave’s bond with Melbourne was unmistakable. Between songs, he shared stories, paid homage to collaborators, and performed “Shivers,” a track the crowd embraced as a city anthem. Even after a brief pause due to a medical emergency, the band returned with seamless energy, bringing the evening to a deeply cathartic and moving close. Closing out their remarkable set, Nick Cave took to the stage solo and sat at his piano to give us his final goodbye in the form of ‘Into My Arms’ – a stunning and moving track the echoed around Alexandra Gardens leaving us breathless.
Over nearly three hours, the setlist flowed effortlessly between beloved classics and new material, blending moments of intensity with tender reflection. By the night’s end, the audience departed feeling recognized and inspired- a testament to the enduring humanity, artistry, and power of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds.
In Melbourne, the Wild God tour was far more than a concert; it was an unforgettable shared experience of music and emotion.
Words by Shelby Lane
