Returning to Australian stages after a nine-year hiatus, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds delivered a fierce and generous set that captivated a 10,000-strong crowd in Fremantle Park, Perth. The band’s “Wild God” tour, in support of their 2024 album of the same name, showcased four decades of the group’s acclaimed music, blending the brooding and the electrifying.
As Cave leapt into the air and charged towards the audience, arms flung wide, the choir roaring behind him, the crowd was immediately in the palm of the band’s hands. Opening with the moody “Frogs” and the explosive title track “Wild God,” the performance was a crescendo of high-pitched strings, soaring vocals and pounding percussion.
The 68-year-old frontman’s sardonic self-recognition shone through as he acknowledged his “slick black suit and tie” look, joking that he appeared like a Mormon. This moment of levity belied the deep spiritual and philosophical themes that permeated the set, with the title track of “Wild God” sketching a God-like figure forged through suffering.
The formidable ensemble, including longtime collaborator Warren Ellis, seamlessly moved between new material and fan favourites spanning Cave’s illustrious career. Standout moments included the urgent, gospel-tinged call to “care for the next generation better than the last” in “O Children,” and the electrifying rendition of “Tupelo,” which had the crowd dancing as Cave rocked an imaginary baby.
The staging amplified the intensity of the performance, with a narrow runway pulling Cave into the audience and banks of lights flashing in gold, green and red. Lyrics from the “Wild God” album artwork were projected onto the screens, mirroring the themes of love, pain and the search for faith.
Moments of devastating fragility, such as the performance of “Bright Horses,” written in the aftermath of the death of Cave’s son, were balanced by the uplifting refrain of “Joy,” a call to embrace happiness in the face of sorrow. The encore, which included the haunting “Skeleton Tree” and the plaintive “Into My Arms,” cemented the band’s ability to navigate the complexities of the human experience with both raw emotion and poetic grace.
As Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds continue their tour through Australia, audiences can expect to be captivated by the group’s electrifying blend of faith, fury and fragile joy.