With his gangly arms flailing wildly in the air as he opened with 'West Country Girl', Nick Cave was reminiscent of a ringmaster harkening the crowds to his bark.
Scaled down to a quartet with the formidable Warren Ellis on violin, the hellishly theatrical aspect was undeniable. By the time Cave’s baritone began to break through in 'The Ship Song', the crowds were clearly enraptured.
Bathed in neon blue, blood red and eerie green lights, the intense Australian obviously oblivious to the smoking ban, lit cigarette after cigarette in the giant circus tent, while the music burst forth with thundering energy.
A mesmerizing version of 'The Weeping Song' saw Ellis bent on one knee with his bow in the air as a mark of respect to the Burtonesque figure of Nick Cave. When asked to play 'Into My Arms', Cave coolly replied “We could do that…but we’re doing something else, something nasty,” then launched into a violent version of the 'Cannibal’s Hymn'. With a sea of mobile phones swaying in the air, (I miss lighters!) Cave serenaded the crowds with 'Rock Of Gibraltar' of which he says.
“Most people think it’s a pile of sh** but it’s my favourite song.”
A half-whispered heart-breaking 'God Is In The House' followed.
Cave and co. provided a double encore to a fevered audience with a pounding performance of 'Stagger Lee' and 'Jack The Ripper', before finishing with 'Nobody’s Baby Now' and 'Lucy'.
Twenty one songs and two hours of surreal brilliance. We love the circus!