Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Portland, Oregon, 09/22/2008

Monday was Nick Cave's birthday. He turned an ancient 51. He and
The Bad Seeds played a sold-out show at the Crystal Ballroom, which holds at most 1500 people.

So, how was the show? Great. I have a history of being let down by musicians I adore. Last year I finally saw the Smashing Pumpkins after loving them for 12 years... And was bored by Billy's wandering into neo-jam band territory. Ugh. A few years back I saw Bowie, and it was just OK as well; it was a decent performance, but it wasn't engaging thanks to the massiveness of The Rose Garden and the elder age of the audience.

Back to seeing the subjects of my adoration perform... Nick and the
Seeds were great! Nick may be getting up there (he said it was his "fucking birthday" and he was "disgracefully old" and then played "The Weeping Song"), but damn he still delivers. It's a combination of that moustache, that dancing, and that screaming and staggering!

They played a lot off the latest album Dig! Lazarus! Dig! and a hearty dose of classics too. Here's the setlist:

Night of the Lotus Eaters
Dig Lazarus Dig
Tupelo
Today's Lesson
Weeping Song
Nobody's Baby Now
Midnight Man
Mercy Seat
Deanna
Moonland
Red Right Hand
We Call Upon the Author
Papa Won't Leave You, Henry
More News From Nowhere
Love Letter
Lyre of Orpheus
Get Ready For Love
Hard-on For Love
Stagger Lee

I wasn't disappointed by the live spin put on these songs (as I was when I saw the Pumpkins...) It really felt like Nick and Co. were performing for us, not just the paycheck.

My review: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds put on a damn good show and I highly recommend seeing them! Just make sure to buy your tickets early.

I stumbled upon a few videos the band released before Lazarus came out. The record label posted a series of these promos. But, I admit, I have a special place in my heart for this sort of thing, as my final project for a Digital Photography class had a similar spirit to it (Ha!Ha!).