The gig I went to in the evening had a precursor on the Friday morning of his great Friday evening when Nick Cave sang the streets of Brighton.
I had spent the night before in company of an Australian I rank beside Nick Cave as a vocal Australian, Josephine Cumbo. Jo told me to get down to Brighton early but I did not get to this secret gig. Up early on Saturday, I discover from the Brighton Argus that it wasn’t just in Brighton’s Preston Park that Cave appeared – nor that Cave would dominate with his brand of patriotism – as Jo told me he would.
Gig goers arriving by train throughout the day were also greeted by a “Welcome to Brighton Station” message, especially recorded by Cave.
Australians eh!
As every goer to a Nick Cave gig does, I felt he was singing each song for me. But this is personal when he sings his songs for “Henry”. Cave kicked off his morning set with a T Rex song- Cosmic Dancer but then he turned on me!
Bolan was followed by the macabre number Henry Lee, from Cave’s 1996 album Murder Ballads. But he wasn’t finished singing songs about me (or so it seems). The short and energetic set was concluded with “Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry”, from the early “Henry’s Dream”.
I – along with thousands upon thousands , listened to four bands later that day . Each of the warm up bands could have led but it was the 150 minute set from Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds that blew us away and rang in my ears as I made my way back to London with my son.
There is something very English about Cave , although he is from the other side of the world, he has chosen to live here and like Jo Cumbo has taken to us. From the opening songs including “From Her to Eternity” , to the duet with Kylie Minogue (singing in each other’s arms) through three decades of songs with highlights for me in Jubilee Street and Wild God.
Nick Cave is the guy we follow, being British we have the opportunity to see him more than most; this was a performance, that though he’s 68, saw Cave as lithe as ever. He snaked his way around the stage, disappearing into the crowd to reappear – refreshed it seemed to dance again!
Although I wasn’t at the Brighton Resident Record shop in the morning , I think these “Lane” photo best sums up all our days and I post it for my exiled friend Andy Young whose house overlooks the site of the afternoon and evening’s gig.
These photos catch a little of what this day was for Cave, who has suffered much sadness in this town. This day’s joy was poignant, Cave’s performance in the evening magnificent.
