“I hear stories from the chamber
Christ was born into a manger
And like some ragged stranger
He died upon the cross
Might I say it seems so fitting in its way
He was a carpenter by trade
Or at least that’s what I’m told”
Mercy Seat
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds were at Beacon Theater on June 13, 2017. I have been following them since they played Lollapalooza at Randall’s Island. The setlist included much from the latest work Skeleton Tree, beginning with “Anthrocene” (a beautiful and delicate song) and ending with “Push the Sky Away.” “Jubilee Street”, from the album “Push the Sky Away”, was amped up compared to the much more somber recorded version. “Red Right Hand” and “The Mercy Seat” are funny and terrifying. In the past, along with “Stagger Lee”, they had been played with so much vitriol, but now have been slowed down with slightly more subtlety. Cave now inviting children and even half the front row to join him on stage to dance, sing or just hang out with him. Nick told one man who stayed on stage until the end “you can do whatever you like”. He flung himself by plan stage right into the arms of his waiting fans several times during the set. Old Cave, new Cave, we love him whatever the version. At one point a fan screamed, “I love you”. Nick responded , “I know you do, but don’t stop telling me”. His speaking voice being just as idiosyncratic as his singing voice makes his fans giddy. From The Birthday Party to Grinderman to movie Soundtracks, Nick Cave has been going almost non stop for over 30 years. He is one of the most prolific and talented artists of any generation and is as electrifying on stage as he ever was. Not to be missed.