Australian Duo Returns As Nick Cave & Warren Ellis Premiere New Album Live In Chicago At The Auditorium Theatre

Mar 21, 2022 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

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By Kelly Clausen

The micro supergroup comprised of two Australian pioneers of rock music, Nick Cave and his long time music collaborator, Warren Ellis, released another duo partnership album during COVID and are finally able to tour in support of it as pandemic tensions relax in the US. Last night, the team played to a sold out show at Roosevelt University’s mammoth venue, Auditorium Theatre. This isn’t the first time the team have played the historic halls. The last was as Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds back in 2017. This time a stripped down version with Cave and Ellis front and center promoting the latest release, ‘Carnage’.

To be honest, there’s not much difference between any of Nick Cave’s ventures when it comes to a live performance. They all center around the Alternative Prince of Darkness’ blue and or red lit stage filled with various instruments that Ellis will command and a grand piano that Cave will at some point pounce upon. They had a trio of backup singers that gave a more soulful feel, fitting to the mood and elements presented. But little change is not a bad thing. There’s a reason Nick Cave has the following he’s been building since the mid 70’s with “The Birthday Party”. He developed this persona of the slenderman in black with slicked back hair for years and it just works. Ellis is nearly the same as well as with his wild hair and dapper dress, both musical madmen.

When the lights dimmed, the band entered the stage. This time accompanied by three backup singers and another multi-instrumentalist. Ellis came out pumped and settled into his world of electronic wonder, perched on his chair and plugged in rearing to go. Ellis, a true magician, seems to be able to play every instrument presented masterfully. Cave graced out of the wings greeting the front row of fans with hand shakes, bowing gestures and blessings before signaling to kick off the first song, “Spinning Song”. A Bad Seeds track from (2019) ‘Ghosteen’. The show was technically filled with mostly covers, if you can say that as an artist created the songs, but with different incarnations. The songs that were truly Nick Cave and Warren Ellis were the one’s they’ve created under the pair’s moniker and highlighted ‘Carnage’. We even heard a T-Rex cover with the team doing, “Cosmic Dancer”.

The show was a more laid back Cave and Ellis set. They peppered tracks from ‘Carnage’ throughout the set covering nearly the entire album before all was said and done. The only songs not performed off their 2021 release were, “Old Time” & “Albuquerque”. It leaves me wondering why they just didn’t perform the album in its entirety and then ended the set with hits or rarities from the two, as that seems to be a fan favorite thing to experience.

The 1889 Auditorium Theatre is a big, big venue. Nearly 4,000 seats that are stacked to the sky. The sound from that stage is loud and clear with little effort. Original architects, Adler and Sullivan, figured out sound waves in their design and the acoustics were done right. In looking around, I could hardly see an empty seat, even in the obstructed view areas.

At times, you could see eyes swelling with emotion as Cave can still bring out the warmth and feels brought on by the lyrics for sure, but can’t help but think the times we live in paid some part as so many have been looking for an escape to the days of yore when going to an epic show was the norm vs a risk. This venue was made for a Nick Cave & Warren Ellis performance.

For more on Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, click here

For photos from the show at Auditorium Theatre, click here

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Setlist for Nick Cave & Warren Ellis live in Chicago at The Auditorium Theatre – 03-20-22

1. Spinning Song
2. Bright Horses
3. Night Raid
4. Carnage
5. White Elephant
6. Ghosteen
7. Lavender Fields
8. Waiting For You
9. I Need You
10. Cosmic Dancer
11. God Is In The House
12. Hand of God
13. Shattered Ground
14. Galleon Ship
15. Leviathan
16. Balcony Man

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