Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds engaged the audience early with a searingly passionate performance of their new album. Picture: Prudence Upton Source: Supplied
AS A proposition, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, with strings and a children's choir, at the Sydney Opera House looks intriguing on a billboard.
In reality, the opening night of the tour was one of the gigs of the year.
You could feel the buzz of anticipation as the concert hall filled with the worshippers of Cave's considerable church, including a sizeable political contigent led by NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell and federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek.
Expectations were exceeded from the second Cave and his cohorts walked onstage, with the frontman greeting his young choir guests with an amiable "Hello kids.''
In this gig of two halves, Cave and the Bad Seeds ran through their No.1 record Push The Sky Away first, the careful string arrangements and occasional choir swell adding to the band's considered performance.
The children's choir captivated the audience at the Sydney Opera House when they joined the band on-stage. Picture: Dan Boud
The frontman engaged his audience early with a searingly passionate performance of his new work which seemed to force itself out of his body.
Equally captivating was the chatty Cave who appeared genuinely mortified having dropped a naughty word in front of the "kids'' while encouraging the amorous antics of a front row fan.
At another point in the concert he enjoyed a hilarious exchange as he prepared to launch into the Higgs Boson Blues.
"Ready kids?'' he inquired.
After they chorused a resounding "Yes!" he asked: "Do you sing in this song?''
They answered "No!" in unison.
"Then don't! And no texting,'' he replied.
Maybe their presence explains the colourful confetti which rained down after a few songs. Confetti at a Nick Cave gig? Yep, this was a fun show.
Cave and the Bad Seeds succeeded grandly when it came to making the songs feel like well-worn favourites while also stoking a desire to delve deeper into the nuances of a record which is still so fresh.
The album's centrepiece Jubilee Street was an undisupted highlight, it's slow build swirling to a fast and furious climax.
And then there was the second half. The energy seared from the stage as they catapulted themselves into the "hits'' - From Her To Eternity, Red Right Hand, The Ship Song (and then the kids went off to bed), Deanna, The Mercy Seat and finishing with a visceral Stagger Lee as the encore.
Beg, borrow or steal a ticket to this show.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds perform at the Sydney Opera House today and tomorrow, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne on Saturday, Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide on Sunday, Red Hill Auditorium, Perth on March 6, The Riverstage, Brisbane on March 8 and Enmore Theatre on March 9.
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