Nick cave and the Bad Seeds, Brighton Dome, October 2013.

So… almost 20 years on from the release of Live Seeds, the album which got me into Nick cave, I finally got to see him/them.

There aren’t many artists I have come to through a live album, but nothing unusual there for Nick Cave to prove the exception.

And exceptional it was. Despite Live Seeds Blixa and Mick being absent from the current line-up this lived up to everything I hoped it would be and more. Helped in no small part by them playing 5 tracks from the Live Seeds album.

Both of my other big gigs this year have been stadium concerts with 20,000+ seating affairs, and both were as excellent as two hours seated uncomfortably can be. For the Bad Seeds at the much more intimate Brighton Dome I chose standing tickets. And being a Brightonian we were there sufficiently early to see the support act, Shilpa Ray and the Happy Hookers.

The Happy Hookers were missing and she was the only one on stage as the auditorium filled but her mix of PJ Harvey meets Joplin was worth seeing. The other advantage to being Brightonian was we secured “our spot” three or four from the front, centre stage.

I’d had an IPA and a couple of G&Ts by the time Shilpa finished her set and was just debating whether or not to go for a pee, when The Bad Seeds followed by Mr Cave came on stage. I decided to hold it.

Bad decision…no one told me they were going to play a two hour set.

If it was two hours, despite the strain on my bladder, it flew by. With Jubilee Street being the opening number and then straight into Abbattoir Blues.  The eclectic mix present of quite young and quite old loved it. By the time they commenced the eight minute long Higgs Bosun Blues I was already regretting my decision and was blissfully unaware we were only a third through the set.

I have to say, I am sad not to have seen Blixa and Harvey but the current line up would give anyone a run for their money from the violin bow eschewing Warren Ellis to the, even out-modding Bradley Wiggins, Martyn P Casey.

My personal highlights were… Hiding All Away, Nobody’s Baby Now, (Are You) The One That I’ve Been Waiting For?, From Her to Eternity, Babe, You Turn Me On, Push the Sky Away, Deanna  and Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry all of which would make a pretty fine album on their own.

But I guess that is the thing with NCATBS. To highlight any one tune is a disservice to any of the others. And in the same way I would pay to see the Bad Seeds even without Cave (perish the thought though). And although you’re sorry to see one band member go their own way…but then look at the talent that fills the hole.

Leaving the Dome afterwards I reflected on nice though it is travelling to a European Capital to see some of the bands I have seen this year I am also very lucky to be able to see nights like this in my own city, at this point I left Church Street and entered Jubilee Street where my ride home was waiting for me. I’m sure this is where I came in.

Here’s the set list…

Jubilee Street
Abattoir Blues
Tupelo
Sad Waters
Stranger Than Kindness
Hiding All Away
Nobody’s Baby Now
Mermaids
Higgs Boson Blues
(Are You) The One That I’ve Been Waiting For?
From Her to Eternity
Babe, You Turn Me On
West Country Girl
Stagger Lee
The Mercy Seat
Push the Sky Away

Encore

We Real Cool
Deanna
Red Right Hand
Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry
Fucking Slow song (his words not mine)

My Top Ten Places in the World…

For this top ten I think we can say these are in order of preference:

10) London, England

“When you are bored of London, you are bored with life”

I’ve lived in the suburbs, worked and played in the centre. Fabulous parks, great concert venues, good markets, great history, some excellent eating, the Natural History museum, the Science museum, the National gallery and Arsenal Football club. I could sit in Trafalgar Square and people watch for hours.

9) Paris, France

The Musee D’Orsay, fabulous food, some of the most photographed landmarks on the face of the planet, all combine to make paris the capital I have visited most outside my own country. A warm day, time spent sitting at a pavement cafe nursing a beer watching the Parisians strut their stuff. Vive la difference.

8 ) Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand

So a few years back we were thinking of emigrating to New Zealand so we spent a month there and toured both islands. We spent a few days going up and down the Coromandel Peninsula and I just loved the green rolling countryside and the winding roads. I looked at a courier franchise that was for sale here and I think I could have lived out my days just driving these deserted roads delivering parcels and getting to know the place even better.

7) Brighton, England

I’m lucky enough to want to have my home town included in my top ten although unfortunately I’m not living in my number 1 destination. Brighton is on the South Coast of the UK, and is full of tourists and foreign language students in the Summer. Great eating out, great nightlife, close to the countryside, an airport on its doorstep, good travel links, great architecture. I think you are lucky if you can say “I love my hometown”.

6) Solway Coast, Scotland

The land of one of my grandfathers and the host for countless school summer holidays. A region full of fishing villages, great beaches, rolling countryside and some average weather. Lots of memories, and I still like to visit when I can.

5) Kerala Province, India

Known as “The land of the coconut” in India, great beaches, fantastic weather, warm people, crazy local politics, terrible poverty mingling amongst some fantastic holiday destinations.

4) Hampi, India

Second of two India destinations in my top 5. This I heard described as “the shantiest place some one had ever been to”. Unusual for me in that it is inland, but it has a river you cross by coracle. A lunar landscape dotted with Hindu ruins. I spent a week not wanting to leave my hammock but having to venture out for great street food and exploration.

3) Sydney, Australia

I hate cities. Despite this the greatest city in the world is number 3 on my list. I think I actually fell in love with Sydney before the plane touched the ground. Fabulous attractions, easily navigable, tremendous Chinatown, cheap, great food, great wine, friendly people, excellent open spaces, tremendous weather. I would move there tomorrow given half the chance.

2) Yangshuo, China

Some of the most unusual and enchanting landscapes I have ever come across. Every turn in the road is a camera shot. A boat ride down the river is a delight you don’t want to end. However, so popular with tourists you can eat Chinese, Italian, American or Mexican on the same street. Not really very Chinese but my favourite destination in China. Laid back in the daytime and lively at night. A great party destination.

1) San pedro De Laguna, Guatemala

Humming birds, tranquility, lush, colourful and volcanoes. Great weather – fabulous people. The hammock capital of the world in my opinion. Devastated when I left, even more so when I realised I should have stayed longer. Unique in the fact that it was so good I have vowed never to return incase it has changed for the worse. In this instance the memories will have to do.