NICK CAVE DISPLAYS HIS GENIUS AT BARCLAYS CENTER

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds returned to Brooklyn last Friday night to play the fourth gig of his five run North American Tour. Die hard Cave fans lined the street outside The Barclays Center from late morning to get a prime spot at the rail so they could be in close proximity to the genius at work.

Opening the night were Brooklyn based Slowcore specialists Cigarettes after Sex. The airy dream poppers were as always, a hit. Greg Gonzalez and Co. played a 35 minute set with some choice pickings from their 2017 self titled debut album.

Cigarettes after Sex

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds stormed on stage and opened with “Jesus Alone”. For those who spent their afternoon in the cold waiting to get up front were immediately rewarded as Cave spent the entire song strutting back and forth in right in front of them, while taking the song by the scruff of the neck and digging deep – “You’re a young girl full of forbidden energy Flickering in the gloom, You’re a drug addict lying on your back, In a Tijuana hotel room.” This was to be the benchmark for the evening and it was never in jeopardy of dropping below it at any point.

Nick Cave

Full steam ahead the 61 year old Cave moved around the stage like a teenager releasing every ounce of angst in their body. During “Red Right Hand” he one by one held the hand of the whole front row while screaming “On a gathering storm comes, A tall handsome man, In a dusty black coat with, A red right hand.” The Bad Seeds poured over every note and it came alive like gasoline on a fire.

Nick Cave

“The Weeping Song” came as another surprise to those folks on the floor where a mini riser popped up and Cave joined them in a sea of balloons (which were clearly not his idea). As he made his way back to the stage the engine revved up again and kicked back into overdrive. The audience were soon thereafter invited to join him onstage for a couple of songs “Stagger Lee” and “Push the sky away.” A full on party ensued.