Some artists are real stage beasts. This is the case with Nick Cave. The Australian artist was back in Paris this Sunday, November 17, 2024, alongside The Bad Seeds, on the occasion of his major European tour “The Wild God Tour”. After more than 30 shows already held across the four corners of the Old Continent, it is at the Accor Arena in Paris that Nick Cave and his acolytes have decided to end their tour in style. We were there, and we'll tell you about it.
Nick Cave : here is an artist who has successfully survived the years. For more than 40 years now, the Australian artist has found his place in our ideal discography thanks to an undeniable genius, limitless creativity and a talent that many envy. Making a name for himself alongside The Birthday Party, The Bad Seeds, solo, with Grinderman, or even surrounded by his faithful collaborator Warren Ellis for the album “Carnage“, Nick Cave has also distinguished himself several times in the world of cinema. The Australian singer, author and composer is notably at the origin of various original soundtracks. We think of the series “Peaky Blinders“, but also to films”The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford“, “Blonde“and more recently”Back to Black“.
More Nick Caveit is also this baritone voice, recognizable among a thousand, its recurring, even obsessive, lyrical themes, among which we find death, religion, or even love and violence, and this communicative stage energy, incredibly generous and fascinating. Go see Nick Cave once live, you take the risk of catching the virus, to the point of wanting to relive this captivating experience as many times as possible.
This is in all what happened for many spectators present this November 17 at theAccor Arena in Paris. The Australian artist gave the very last concert of his European tour this Sunday evening.The Wild God Tour“. A large venue for the 67-year-old singer – his largest Parisian venue to date – which some fans seem to regret. Because several of them have already had the chance to see him in smaller venues: the Olympia in 1994, the Mutualité in 2004, the Casino de Paris in 2008, the Zénith de La Villette in 2013 and 2017 and the Salle Pleyel for “Carnage” in 2021.
For his first concert at theAccor Arenathe room is sold out this Sunday evening. There are the regulars and early fans of course, but also the younger generation and many foreigners as well, mainly English.
It is therefore in a packed room at the Accor Arena that Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds arrive around 8:50 p.m. We find on stage 6 musicians, including his brother in arms, the talented Warren Ellisbut also Colin Greenwood by Radiohead, as well as four backing singers, dressed in a sequined gospel toga.
As always, the dandy Nick Cave is dressed to the nines: fitted jacket, shirt and tie, perfectly polished leather shoes and slicked-back hair. The first notes of “ Frogs » then resonate in the room. You won't have to wait long to see Nick Cave take possession of the stage with passion. Incredibly charismatic and close to his audience, the singer quickly leaves to meet his fans, located in the front rows. The hands of the spectators are extended towards the artist who does not hesitate to touch them and to shake several of them warmly. The show has barely started and some fans are already in awe of the tornado Nick Cave.
The singer and The Bad Seeds continue with the single “ Wild God », the eponymous title of the latest album with the feel of gospel singing. Nick Cave then improvises as a preacher, hammering out several times “ Bring your spirit down ».
But the mass transforms little by little and becomes much more rock and explosive, when Nick Cave and his acolytes intone the heady “ O Children ”, with Warren Ellis playing the violin while standing on a chair, followed by the sensational “ Jubilee Street “. Excerpt from the opus “Push the Sky Away” (2013), this song is about a girl named ” Bee », explains Nick Cave, also a wonderful storyteller during his concerts, sharing sometimes painful and tender memories.
After a few notes played on the piano, Nick Cave gradually raises the temperature before exploding with rage. He jumps up and screams into his microphone. Going from one side of the stage to the other, the singer stares his fans straight in the eyes. The microphone flies, and the audience then goes into a trance. From now on, the beast is unleashed and this intensity will remain palpable for a while. And for good reason, the group continues its set with the excellent “ From Her to Eternity “. Here again, Nick Cave grabs the hands of spectators in the front rows, even going so far as to bend over in front of them, then kneel on stage. Much more than just a singer, Nick Cave is one of those rare artists who perfectly embody his songs. His angular face grimaces. We can then read the anger then the suffering. “ Cry, cry, cry », he repeats several times to a captivated and fascinated audience. Several of them also gave him flowers this Sunday evening. Nick Cave will even receive a kind of stuffed animal. “ I don't know what it is. That's me » ? he will say in an amused tone.
More Nick Cave also knows how to go from fury to melancholy in just a few seconds. The proof, when the sweet notes of the moving “ Long Dark Night ”, followed by the sublime “ Cinnamon Horses “. There is also this moment suspended in time with the poignant “ Bright Horses », where the voice of Nick Cave, mixed with those of the singers and Warren Ellis, rocking in his chair, touches us to the highest point. We don't forget “ I Need You », played solo by Nick Cave on piano. A title that he will dedicate to his wife Susie, present in the room.
But the powerful sound of rock quickly returns at a gallop, notably with two old songs by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds : « Red Right Hand “, taken from “Let Love In” (1994), then ” The Mercy Seat » which appears on “Tender Prey” (1988). It won't take much to raise the temperature at the Accor Arena another notch, to the point of pushing Nick Cave to take off his tie.
And Nick Cave attracts all the attention, Warren Ellis also impresses. The Australian multi-instrumentalist, who has lived in France for many years and pays his taxes in France, he joked that evening, has this undeniable presence mixed with this assumed casualness. And between Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, the complicity is obvious and beautiful to see.
Before leaving the stage, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds choose to perform the piece “ White Elephant “, taken from “Carnage“. For the occasion, the singers are invited to come down from their stage and join the front of the stage, to be as close as possible to the public, alongside Nick Cave, proud to be so well accompanied during this tour .
Warmly applauded, the troupe leaves the stage. But the show isn't over yet. Because Nick Cave and his acolytes return for a single encore of four titles. The set thus resumes with the heady “ O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She Is) », dedicated to Anita Laneformer member of The Bad Seeds. To pay tribute to the Australian author, who died in 2021 at the age of 61, images are projected on the screen at the back of the stage, accompanied by a sound extract where we rediscover the artist's voice . Profoundly beautiful and moving.
Back to the past again with the dynamic “ Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry ”, followed by the inevitable “ The Weeping Song “. Like a true conductor, Nick Cave launches a wave of raised arms into the pit, clapping frantically and rhythmically. Meanwhile, Warren Ellis, armed with his violin, stands fidgeting in his chair. The communion is total.
After so much energy deployed and sweat shared, Nick Cave chooses to end this flamboyant and memorable set of approximately 2h30 by performing solo and on the piano the sublime “ Into My Arms “. The audience, still captivated, takes up the chorus in chorus “ Into my arms, oh, Lord. Into my arms “. Nick Cave seems moved, and touches us in return.
It is on the beautiful words of this remarkable title that the poet Nick Cave decides to leave us, with this collective feeling of joy, sadness and hope, and this furious desire to find Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds as soon as possible live in Paris!
Setlist
Frogs
Wild God
Song of the Lake
O Children
Jubilee Street
From Her to Eternity
Long Dark Night
Cinnamon Horses
Tupelo
Conversion
Bright Horses
Joy
I Need You
Carnage
Final Rescue Attempt
Red Right Hand
The Mercy Seat
White Elephant
Rappel
O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She Is)
Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry
The Weeping Song
Into My Arms
