Live Review: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Wild God Tour - North America 2025

4/30/2025

Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine
Edited by Fiza Javid

The Salt Shed Chicago - Night #2
Tuesday - April 29, 2025

The gospel according to St. Nick.
Theologically speaking, I can see how certain people might misinterpret that statement.
In rock n' roll circles, a whole different animal entirely.
I say that with the utmost praise.
A guy like Nick Cave, let alone the members of The Bad Seeds, specifically his close friend and fellow musician Warren Ellis, have seasoned themselves over the years to get to a place of constant trust, followed by joyous experimentation, followed by exuberance produced tenfold on anything they wish to perform live.

Again, I don't say this lightly, noting in particular the wonderment of this current tour with The Seeds, and also their fervent opening song of this tour- "Frogs", followed by of course, "Wild God".
Both songs, bookends of spiritual uplift, gospel revival uplift, emphasized extraordinarily so with a backup choir that pushes both songs to new levels of reverie.
And things just unfurl mightily from there, with wonderful give and take between Nick and audience, with a mini runway protruding out from the main stage center, followed by mini wings that traverse horizontally the entire width of the stage at the rail to the audience, ever more pleasing to the eye for Nick to traverse whichever/ whenever, to make serious contact with his audience, making technically the whole venue come alive time and time again.

A whirlwind of emotions, less than twenty fours after for me, doing my best to take it all in, and write all this the way I experienced it firsthand.
Back to the first sentence- "The Gospel" which is considered "Good News". Positive News. News meant to be relived and re-kindled, over and over, finding certain passages that elevate and resonate, look for salvation and solutions to the spiritual and human condition., even to express feelings of tidings and joy, followed by shared beliefs with like minded folk.
Enter a clearer picture of Nick Cave, and you can now get the sense of his message through song, and sharing of "The Good News".

I love this quote he gave in regards to the album "Wild God:- "Wild God- There's no fucking around with this record. When it hits, it hits. It lifts you. It moves you. I love that about it".
So besides the two openers, another six songs played from "Wild God" throughout the set, all fitting in nicely with certain Bad Seeds nuggets and also a couple Nick Cave and Warren Ellis covers.
The entire set- energetic, and energetic some more, but clearly with thought in mind in regards to vulnerability and tenderness throughout.

Funny how Nick views things on older songs as well, such as "Jubilee Street", and how he writes songs on occasion that can be morbid, murder ballads lined up at the ready. But still, the way he explains it to the current day- they're there all right, ever certain upon creation, but not necessarily looked at with contempt, depending on the year or timeframe, but with a sense of "Spiritual Hovering", as I like to call it, where you see the actions and reactions of a troubling time, and now look at things completely differently, with a new eye, or with a new answer.

And even with Nick's demeanor and refrain on explaining things such as this, his overall mood is relaxed, possibly noting mentally "It is what it is".
All of this makes Nick more endearing, more jovial, more lovable, although from way way back in the day, he's always had that singular wizened owl charm about him.
For me, live photography has been in my flesh and blood since working professionally in all things "underground" since the early eighties.
Pose photography- a different animal entirely.

One pose photographer I truly admire, the Dutch photographer Anton Corbijn- He photographed the cover of Nick for the album "The Boatman's Call" back in 1997. Such rich and inviting detail, all things black and white, like super contrasty black and white.
A guy like Nick Cave- human expression is everything. The album cover pose is everything all at once- sly, mischievous to some extent, like a story within a story.

The extent of this to the present day, attempting to write a decent review from last night's show at The Salt Shed"- visually Nick is a constant contrast of gentlemanly charm followed by a modicum of blessed wickedness, older and wiser sure, but still a guy who comes off with sophisticated wit and charm, a guy who wouldn't bore you and look dated going into his eighties.

Like most recent releases from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, the songs encompass a stark look with all that he's been through, a timeless snapshot of deep and honest writing that compels, that sucks you in, ever reminding you on your own takes on survival, followed with a slice of wicked humor.
So a show like last night at the Salt Shed, Night Number Two, it's like the gospel of humanity, flawed and wounded, but surrounded by band members who relish in the brotherhood of spiritual pickup, elevated with song and fervent upkeep to keep belonging.

Yes, this show was anticipated months ago when announced, this tour, this statement on current affairs of all things The Bad Seeds.
It did not disappoint whatsoever, even the lighthearted banter between songs, catching your breath.
Hard to top a show like this, still reeling less than twenty four hours later.
Makes you want to join some of the brethren in attendance who've made it a pilgrimage to witness each and every stop on this North American Tour, who were in attendance last night.
Yep-
It was that good, that life affirming.
On the tour goes, with dates heading west though the middle of May.
Not to be missed.

Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Salt Shed, Bobby Talamine, Fiza Javid, Jerry Bryant, Chicago Live Music, JBTV Music Television

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Live Review: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Wild God Tour - North America 2025

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Salt Shed, Bobby Talamine, Fiza Javid, Jerry Bryant, Chicago Live Music, JBTV Music Television

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