So finally we get to see Nick Cave and my continued love hate relationship with the Royal Albert Hall. Spectacular interior, people dancing as if little cameos in their own boxes, people standing up in the gods looking down, the domed ceiling with the acoustic dishes hanging down, set against still por acoustics, the snare drum bouncing off the rear.
Given that the other half was third in the queue at the RAH when they first went on sale the seats secured were not as good as I had hoped for, but at least NC sat at the grand piano facing us, but when he left the piano stool and confronted the audience, the powerful side light beamed straight into our eyes. The RAH has crap lighting.
For the first time ever i had the ability to purchase a recording og the gig directly after, which during a 3 and a half hour trip to London and back a couple of days later proved worthwhile listening.
This was, and rather appropriately, a gig aimed at the location, ballads, laments, love songs with Cave proving to be probably the greatest living post modern crooner in the business. Gone was the violent/disturbing/searing Bad Seed’s approach, a request for Stagger Lee, and I would have liked to hear it too, was rather brutally dismissed by Cave, (‘you might as well fuck off now’), although he did apologise immediately. No it was not going to be one of those gigs, a more suitable location would be required for that side of his and the full Bad Seed’s persona.
Unlike the weak bladdered, in constant need of a drink fellow audience members (another big grip for the RAH) who kept on getting up and down, passing by so we all had to shift (although swivel seats helped) with little regard to all those they were disturbing. And to the two pratts behind us who constantly chatted through numbers until those around started to complain to their faces. The guy next to me got up and started to go over the seat to get at them, thought he was going to deck them, Cave’s relationship with the audience could not have been better (the fuck off now was really a joke). He got down in with them, bought three up on stage for a group hug and even had a basic duet with one big guy who obviously knew every word. Cave was also generous in his thanks to the audience leaving the stage finally on after the second encore with a rendition of Push the Sky Away which was joined in by the audience in hushed tones.
Then there was a 20 minute queue to gather our pre ordered cd, a real production line was noticeable in entrance gate vestibule 9 with what looked like an optical cable running inside to the mixing desk. Even Tamsin Grieg the actress from the memorable Episodes comedy series, who was sitting just along from us had to queue. Once the cds were cut, then the queue moved quickly as they were placed into covers already printed for the tour.
Next Berlin a couple of days later.
9/10 (too many ballads) otherwise 10/10. (and for us, must see him somewhere less formal, Koko again please.
The photos above have a link to a video I shot using a small GoPro video camera. More atmospheric than pure recording of the performance. Did not know what the song would be in advance, just steadied myself and pressed the button.
Set List
Water's Edge
The Weeping Song
Red Right Hand
Brompton Oratory
Higgs Boson Blues
Mermaids
The Ship Song
From Her to Eternity
Love Letter
Into My Arms
West Country Girl
Tupelo
Black Hair
The Mercy Seat
Jubilee Street
Encore:
Avalanche
And No More Shall We Part
Breathless
Jack the Ripper
Stranger Than Kindness
Up Jumped the Devil
The Lyre of Orpheus
Encore 2:
Push the Sky Away
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