It was a rainy Tuesday night in Sydney for Nick Cave’s second show at the historic State Theatre.
State Theatre Sydney,
30th April 2024
by Mandy Hall
Nick, on piano, was capably accompanied by Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood on bass guitar who did a wonderful job adding to Nick’s songs in stripped back mode. He held the audience in the palm of his hand through the evening with most being die hard Nick Cave and Bad Seeds fans.
Some of the more special moments included Balcony Man, which required audience participation from the people in the balconies. They were instructed “When I say Balcony Man, you go crazy“. They went crazy.
State Theatre Sydney,
30th April 2024 by
Mandy Hall
Alternately, Carnage required audience participation from the people in the stalls. “We play the song and you shut the fuck up“. Most of us did. While “I Need You” faded into complete darkness onstage. It was a lovely moment.
He described Jubilee Street as “fucked up, with a transcendent ending“, and suggested that he’d like that phrase on his tombstone.
Cave didn’t seem to want to leave the stage, doing 5 songs in the encore. The night ended with The Carnival Is Over, a Seekers song. It was an odd ending to a fantastic evening.
Set List
Girl In Amber
Higgs Bosun Blues
Jesus of the Moon
Galleon Ship
Euthanasia
O Children
I Need You
Waiting For You
Papa Won’T Leave You Henry
Balcony Man
Carnage
The Mercy Seat
Black hair
(Are You) The One That I’ve Been Waiting For?
The Weeping Song
Into Your Arms
Jubilee St
Push The Sky Away
Encore
Shiver
The Ship Song
God Is In The House
Give Us A Kiss
Nobody’s Baby Now
The Carnival Is Over