THEY say you can judge a person by the company they keep.
In the case of Nick Cave, look no further than his band of 40-plus years, The Bad Seeds.
Although the cast has changed/evolved over that time, extraordinary people have walked every step of the way with the Aussie on his wild sonic adventure.
In a recent instalment of Cave’s Red Hand Files, for which he answers questions from all corners of the globe, he writes: “I think of them all — The Bad Seeds, so deft, so expressive, so anarchic, so bloody awesome.”
It’s fair to say that their latest exploits together, the Wild God album and subsequent tours, have taken their studio and stage craft to exhilarating new heights.
‘Anything can happen’
In another post, Cave shares his thoughts on the transcendent recent live performances with his beloved Bad Seeds, which he calls “an antidote to despair”.
“The shows are outstanding, feel deeply musical, and we are enjoying them immensely,” he affirms.
“Those couple of hours on stage are intense and concentrated and there is a feeling of supreme metaphysical possibility where anything can happen, and frequently does.
“When performing, I experience an aliveness where I feel close to the living and to the dead.
“It seems that the show affords both band and audience moments of acute spiritual intimacy and communion, unlike anything that can be found outside of our own particular cathedrals — sex, nature, religion, identity, whatever.
“The new songs seem purpose-built for the live experience. Frogs, Wild God, Song Of The Lake, Cinnamon Horses and Long Dark Night become massive, emotional gestures, reaching a dimension way beyond the album versions.
“We play furiously as if our very lives depend upon it (which they do), but around that the reins of our time together are lightly held.
“We don’t take ourselves too seriously. We eat and drink together nightly, and we laugh a lot — these are times of good humour.”
This brings me to Live God, an 18-track live double album, recorded last year and at the start of this, combining Wild God songs with back catalogue classics such as Into My Arms, Red Right Hand, Tupelo and Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry.
To celebrate its release, I’m speaking to two Bad Seeds, lead guitarist George Vjestica, a Brit of Croatian descent, and American multi-instrumentalist Jim Sclavunos, who both share illuminating insights into their profound, frequently joyful experiences.
But to set the scene, here are more of Cave’s singular musings about his bandmates.
He says: “I think of Jim Sclavunos, the dynamic force around which so much of the music revolves; Larry Mullins, our not-so-secret weapon and George Vjestica’s gorgeous guitar playing.”
He praises Radiohead bassist, “the brilliant Colin Greenwood, who stepped into Martyn Casey’s illustrious shoes with such dedication.”
There’s Canadian keyboardist Carly Paradis, “who changed everything — free and wild and wonderful — and Warren Ellis, gloriously and deliriously destroying himself each night.”
Then there are the gospel singers who send Cave’s songs soaring to the heavens.
‘Extremely attuned’
He salutes “the great Wendi Rose, who leads our brilliant vocalists, and who has collaborated with me on and off for over 20 years”.
And he spares thoughts for “Miça Townsend, our newest member, a stunning presence on stage; the monumentally magnificent T Jae Cole; Janet Ramus and her powerful racked vocals, especially on Henry Lee — such a poignant moment.”
In return, let’s hear what Vjestica has to say about the mercurial Cave: “He’s amazing! He’s so true to what he does as an artist, as a singer and musician.
“He’s very creative and extremely attuned to what’s happening musically with the band.
“He’s very open to ideas — some might not work but he’ll always give it a shot.
“He has a fantastic sense of humour but he’s deadly serious about his work, too.”
Like those of us who have listened to Cave’s songs over the years and watched him perform live, Vjestica agrees that he’s a true one-off. He says: “Nick is a captivating songwriter. Unique. As soon as you hear his voice, you recognise that it’s him.
We don’t take ourselves too seriously. We eat and drink together nightly, and we laugh a lot — these are times of good humour
Nick Cave
“There’s poetry and soul in his songs that connect in a very human way.
“If you listen to Long Dark Night or go back to songs like Sad Waters or Far From Me, they’re incredibly sensitive and beautiful — but the flip side is a song like White Elephant.”
A highlight of the Wild God tours, White Elephant first appeared on Carnage, the 2021 album Cave made in lockdown with his chief collaborator, Warren Ellis, a fellow Aussie noted not just for his musical prowess but for his wildman hair and beard.
The song finds Cave in demonic form, spitting out lines like, “I’ll shoot you in the f***ing face/If you think of coming around here.”
Salvation comes in the form of a euphoric, gospel-infused coda, the whole song making for a thrilling, visceral live spectacle.
Vjestica says: “There’s a thing about people like Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Nina Simone — they’re all charismatic and fearless — and Nick has it too. You can hear it in his songs.”
Another song from the live set, I Need You, from 2016’s Skeleton Tree, is almost too painful to watch.
Just Cave solo at the piano with extreme emotion etched into his face, he once dedicated it to his two living sons, Luke and Earl, but you just know that the two he has lost, Arthur and Jethro, are also on his mind.
Sclavunos describes what it’s like seeing the singer up close, performing I Need You.
“I often am asked which song in The Bad Seeds’ repertoire is my favourite to play live,” he says. “As you might imagine, my personal favourite changes from night to night, especially depending on how that night’s performance has gone.
“Then again, sometimes my favourite song is one that Nick performs on his own, such as I Need You.
“For that song in particular, usually situated in the middle of our set, I have a ringside seat. My position on the percussion riser gives me a uniquely intimate view of Nick at the piano for that number.
“Although I’ll have heard him perform I Need You night after night — and it’s always great and moving — every now and then he surprises me with an exceptional delivery, further exploring the emotional depths of the song.”
‘Audiences can be rowdy in Poland’
The inclusion of fan favourites Into My Arms and Red Right Hand into the live set is another reason why the Wild God tours receive rapturous receptions.
Sclavunos says: “One of the wonderful things about both those songs is that they have somehow evolved into audience participation numbers.
“Into My Arms often prompts a spontaneous singalong. That is no real surprise as it is a very touching song which means a lot to many people.
“But the singalong which erupts in the formerly instrumental middle section of Red Right Hand is a wholly unexpected and very welcome development.
“It has transformed the way in which we and the audience participate in that song, which I reckon is very much for the better at this point.”
So, I venture, do audiences in different parts of the world react differently?
Vjestica answers: “In Mexico and South America, it’s crazy! London, Paris and New York are always exciting to play.
“In northern Europe, people are generally more respectful but they can be quite rowdy in places like Poland, Greece and Croatia. You never quite know what to expect.
“I loved playing in Minneapolis on the last US tour — it’s such a great music city — and I can’t wait to go to Australia next year, for obvious reasons.”
Next, I ask Sclavunos and Vjestica to give me a brief outline of their Bad Seeds journey.
First, big, bearded Jim: “In the current touring line-up, I’m technically the longest-standing band member after Nick, which is strange as it still feels so new to me in some ways.
“My role as a live performer with The Bad Seeds has always been fluid.
“When I was first enlisted for the band’s 1994 European dates, an extra set of hands was needed to play parts that had been overdubbed on the Let Love In album — such as tubular bells on Red Right Hand and Loverman, plus various other percussion and organ parts.
Nick is a captivating songwriter. Unique. As soon as you hear his voice, you recognise that it’s him
George Vjestica
“From my very first album with them, Murder Ballads, I was occasionally stepping in on drums for songs like Stagger Lee.
“Drums are, after all, the primary instrument I’m known for — with The Cramps, Sonic Youth and, more recently, The Pogues.
“For quite a few tours, I was the primary drummer in The Bad Seeds (not to mention Grinderman).
“But since our friend Larry Mullins accepted Thomas Wydler’s seat for touring, I’ve come full circle, back to my original set-up.
“Essentially, it’s still keyboard and loads of percussion, and still jumping onto the drum kit for classics like Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry.
‘I still feel like a newcomer’
“But my current set-up is a greatly expanded and more sophisticated version, built around key instruments like the vibraphone and tubular bells — rather unique elements for a rather unique rock band.”
And Vjestica remembers his introduction to the world of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.
He says: “I first came in during the recording sessions for Push The Sky Away in 2012, subsequently joined the band the following year and have been on all of The Bad Seeds albums and tours since.
“Nick, Warren and Jim are the old guard. I still feel like a newcomer and I’ve been around for 13 years!
“I guess I bring a certain energy and a subtle but somewhat valuable musical element to the band.
“For Wild God, Nick wanted it to be more of a band album than the previous album Ghosteen so I was able to contribute more.”
Nick, Warren and Jim are the old guard. I still feel like a newcomer and I’ve been around for 13 years!
George Vjestica
Vjestica also gives his verdict on the rest of his bandmates, aside from Cave, with special attention reserved for Warren Ellis, who plays violin, viola, accordion, flute, bouzouki, among other instruments with such panache.
“They’re all super-talented musicians but at times can be completely crazy,” he says.
“Everyone is slightly unhinged. You just have to watch us play From Her To Eternity live and you’ll see what I mean!
“Warren is a force of nature — the wild man of Ballarat [a city in Victoria, Australia]. At times, it’s like he’s on another planet but in the next breath he’ll be the most earthy musician you could ever meet.
“He’s totally connected to some kind of musical higher power that never switches off.
“They’re all beautiful and amazing people to be in a band with.”
Finally, I ask Vjestica and Sclavunos where they hope their Bad Seeds journey will take them.
The guitarist goes first: “I’ve been all over the world and I’m very fortunate to be able to do other projects when I’m not on tour.
“I recently worked on the music for the new Jennifer Lawrence film Die My Love, directed by Lynne Ramsay, which was amazing.
“Being a Bad Seed has given me so much and for that I’m extremely grateful.
“We’re playing loads of European festivals next year and it would be great to make a new record — that’s down to Nick really.
“I hope as a band that we may continue to live long and prosper.”
And what better way to end than with this response from Sclavunos?
“Onwards and upwards — where no mallet-thrashing, bell-ringing, snare-whacking, tambourine-twiddling musician has gone before.”
NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS
Live God