Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Sometime in March 1993, my first wife, Katherine, went into Smyths Records in Kendal in search of a birthday present for me. Smyths was a proper old fashioned record shop located on Highgate, with racks of records and CDs, and posters and rare records up on the wall. I was something of a regular in there and so Katherine asked one of the two chaps who ran the place if they could recommend something to give me.

Their suggestion was quite inspired although when I unwrapped the CD on my birthday, I had to mask my disappointment: it was Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' album 'Henry's Dream'. If there was one Mute artist I knew I didn't like, it was Nick Cave. Still, I didn't wish to be ungrateful and I dutifully added the CD to the pile next to the hi-fi from which I would compile tapes to listen to on my commutes to and from work. 

The first track I compiled, 'Papa Won't Leave You, Henry', initially confirmed my prejudice; slackly tuned guitars, a barely sung vocal, no apparent hooks. And yet, over the following days, the track grew on me, especially the vocal stretch towards the end with its "favelas exploding on inflammable spillways" and, earlier, the "wet-lipped women with greasy fists". Over the course of the next few weeks I fell in love with the album and the band.

I was too late to see the tour of the album, which had been released almost a year before, but an excellent live album, 'Live Seeds', was released and that was followed by another tour, 'The Tin Tour', to promote it. Katherine suggested that we go along to the gig at the Forum (or The Town And Country Club as it will always be to me) with her sister and husband.

I guess we left Charlie and Hannah, who would have been three and one, with either my parents or Katherine's, and duly met up with Ric and Anne-Marie in Kentish Town. I can't remember now but I'd like to think that we rendez-vous'd at the Bull and Gate where Ric and I, along with the rest of Halo Jones, played one of our best gigs. 

The Town and Country Club was (and remains) a terrific venue. Perfect size, great sound, and, with the right artist, a fantastic atmosphere. And Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds completely lived up to my hopes, that evening. I never really understood people raving about the E Street Band or The Attractions until I encountered The Bad Seeds and saw for myself what a difference a backing band could make to an artist. So many disparate characters, yet such a brilliant whole. (It would never be the same for me after Blixa Bargeld left.)

And Cave himself was incredible; prowling the stage, finger jabbing out into the audience, throwing himself around like a scarecrow caught in a tornado, leaping into the air and landing on his knees, head banging, hair everywhere, always pulling on a cigarette or a can of lager. 

As you might imagine, there was a heaving mosh pit at the front and at some point, late on in the gig, Katherine decided to go and join it. Good on her, you might think, what a gal! At the time, though, she was six months pregnant with Izzy. Despite my (probably inaudible) protests she set off for the front, disappeared for heaven knows how long, and returned with Nick Cave's can of Grolsch. I was very, very impressed.

It's a sad truth that when I have been urged to declutter over the years, I have thrown away some items I sorely wish I'd kept and that beer can is one of them. However, moving house has given me a chance to review all the treasures that didn't get discarded, including this ticket from that night.