Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at ACL Live Show Review

Walking into ACL Live Saturday night, curiosity and intrigue swirled around me as I realized I was a solid two decades younger than the majority of the audience, whom were an impeccably dressed and an impossibly stylish bunch. The riveting people-watching I engaged in was complemented by a personal recounting of how I’d first heard of Nick Cave and all of the cultural references and shreds of music news that had formed my opinion of him over the years. The gist of what I knew about this mercurial Aussie had all signs pointing to Saturday night’s show being a force of nature that would be conducted by chief rebel rouser himself, and I was not to be disappointed on this cool Central Texas night as Nick and his band, the Bad Seeds, tore through a 20-song set that held up to even the most demanding fan’s expectations.

Nick assumed the ACL live stage to a deafening roar from the eager crowd and immediately launched into his first song of the night “We Real Cool” which has a satirical view on scientific achievements stating “Wikipedia is heaven, when you don’t want to remember anyone.” The next song “Jubilee Street” begins slowly but cresecendos towards the end with a riotous eruption of musical fury. “Tupelo” was the third number of the night and had Nick diving into the crowd, taking refuge in the gropes and tugs of the crowd, which would become a running theme throughout the night.

Nick who was dressed like David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust with a gothic tinge, had a silver sequin shirt and circulation-inhibiting tight black slacks that had him looking like Jack Skellington from Tim Burton’s A Nightmare Before Christmas. With the energy of a jackrabbit on speed, Nick dashed from one end of the stage to the other riling the worshipping crowd, assuming an almost messiah-like persona, especially on the fourth song “Red Right Hand” in which he serenaded a sultry front row blonde for a solid two minutes. The Bad Seed’s violinist, Warren Ellis, must be mentioned as he wielded his bow like a battle axe and made playing the violin look as badass as I’ve ever had the pleasure of witnessing.

After the first four barnstormers of songs, the set eased into more relaxed but equally theatrical slew of songs including “Mermaids”, “West Country Girl”, “Into My Arms”, “The Weeping Song” and “God is in the House”. Nick’s intolerance of dopiness amongst the crowd flared up occasionally in the set, berating a front row fan for holding his camera up for the entirety of a song.

The set picked up again for the final four songs that featured the comical “Higgs Boson Blues” which has an odd fixation on Miley Cyrus stating:

“Hannah Montana does the African Savannah
As the simulated rainy season begins”

&“Miley Cyrus floats in a swimming pool in Toluca Lake

And you’re the best girl I’ve ever had”

The highlight of the night came in a cover of a century old murder ballad by Lloyd Price, “Stagger Lee” which had Nick giving every ounce of himself in a primal scream that gave me chills down to the bone. The set ended with “Push the Sky Away” which has an ethereal aura combined with Nick’s open-hearted candor that was an appropriate ending the wide spectrum of emotions that the set contained.

After the band exited the stage and lights went off, not a soul headed towards the exit as an encore was all but guaranteed. Nick came back on for a four song encore that began with the proto-punk “Deanna” followed by “Jack the Ripper”. He played through a maritime ballad of the “The Ship Song” and ended the night with “The Lyre of Orpheus” which was the cherry on top of the comprehensive set.

Nick Cave may have a reputation that underscores his unpredictable and antisocial antics, but it is on the stage where all his misgivings come together to allow for legendary performances. Say what you want about Nick and the Bad Seeds but selling out two nights at ACL Live to an audience that spans forty years is a feat that only a select few acts in the musical world can claim to do. I tip my hat to thee, Nick Cave.