Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - Sydney - December 16 2022

I was very constrained. I only recorded three of the 22 songs performed on the night. Mind you, one of them was the longest, but of all the songs, “Hollywood” (00:43), was the one I most wanted. “Jubilee Street” (15:38) has always been a bit of a favourite, and who could resist a singalong with “Into My Arms”(20:32). It was a novel experience sitting up, over the side of the stage, and while I would have welcomed a few more views of Nick’s face, I was pleased to be that close. The position also gave me an interesting view of his interactions with the audience. As for the performance itself, it had been getting rave reviews all around Australia, and Sydney was no different. This is what live music should be about, a deeply emotional experience, and for some, bordering on the religious. If you have to worship something, you couldn’t do much better than choosing music. Nick, Warren and everyone on stage were superb. Such a shame that it had to end and we all had to return to the real world.

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

‘AUSTRALIAN CARNAGE - NICK CAVE & WARREN ELLIS LIVE AT SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE’ The album has been released on digital and streaming, with a limited 8 track vinyl to follow soon: www.nickcave.com/news/new-live-album-australian-carnage-nick-cave-warren-ellis-live-at-sydney-opera-house/ Nick Cave Website - news, gigs, music, merch, newsletter and so much more: www.nickcave.com

[@gazc7684]

Warren and Nick just keep coming up with great songs

[@ninoshka73]

I cried during this song, I was third row in front directly. An incredible experience

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

Thanks for sharing your memories of the night. You weren't the only person crying. The person I was with quietly cried throughout the performance. Yes, a fabulous concert.

[@vincepie]

We cried in Gateshead and Stockton as well, seems like ages ago.

[@Mahia965]

Not sure, but I think I've cried at one song or another everytime. All 12 or so gigs. [ Insert streaming tear emoji here, Lol ]

[@aglaia-gloryrozakis4809]

There’s nobody like Nick. His voice is absolutely unique. His songs are amazing poetry💐💐🌹🌹

[@aglaia-gloryrozakis4809]

And Warren is incredibly wonderful

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

@@aglaia-gloryrozakis4809 Two brilliant musicians.

[@tinahorkan]

And we all sang along on the Saturday to Into my arms! The joy.

[@pabloalfredobrasca6661]

Peter... thanks... many thanks! I have never seen Nick Cave... and this video is so close, awesome, warming... it is a bit or a way to be there... cheers from Argentina

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

I just rewatched this video myself this morning, remembering how good the night was. I'm happy that my video gave you at least a tiny sense of being there. Hoping for you that he visits Argentina one day soon. Thanks for commenting.

[@elainejlawrence7931]

Thanks for shsring❤

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

I would have loved to have recorded a little more but the SOH isn't big on photography (understandably). There were some truly great numbers. I am very glad that I these couple of songs as 'keepsakes'. Thanks for commenting.

[@George-td1dr]

Que ganas de haber estado ahi !!!... Ya en algun momento nos vamos a cruzar chicos... Que Dios los bendiga y cuidense

[@larrywhipper1787]

Absolutely brilliant concert🙏

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

Yes, what a great night.

[@michellewatson5954]

He is absolutely brilliant.

[@tinahorkan]

Thanks so much Peter, we were row D , very lucky. What an amazing concert it was. We were the Saturday night, this is the best one I’ve been at ,Nick was so relaxed and yet gave us his all. I’ll never forget a moment of it.

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

Yes, an unforgettable performance. Such a beautiful night. Nick and everyone on stage gave it their all. Thanks for commenting.

[@mattiasgerard7679]

GREAT RECORDING THanks to you I just love it.

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

It was a terrific concert and I'm very pleased I managed to record this tiny part of it. I've rewatched it many times since. Thanks for commenting.

[@stellajayne]

I saw Nick play with the Bad Seeds in Manchester a few years ago - it was an awe-inspiring and as Peter observes, almost religious experience. Epic. Beautiful.

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

No matter what form his performances take, Nick knows how to connect with his audience and give an outstanding performance. Thanks for commenting.

[@juliepanebianco846]

This fantastic I love this angle

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

Thanks for commenting. Yes, it was an interesting angle. I had a few doubts when I got the tickets (they were selling very fast) but I'd definitely consider sitting there again.

[@truefunksoul8638]

@@Peter_LiveMusic Mate you were practically sitting on the stage, it's magnificent! How many rows deep were you and how much were you zooming in, and was it just a good phone camera or a proper camera? You've obviously got some skills with filming and even the titles, etc. This reminds me of those first recorded performances of Skeleton Tree songs from Hobart in 2017. They are historically important recordings in my book, just being the first time those great songs were ever played live anywhere in the world, and some random punter with a decent camera got 3 or 4 full songs in full. So glad Nick is not precious about having any of these pulled from KZbin like Prince would, I mean he has the full beautiful lyric video of the Ghosteen album still up in all its glory, no ads! Not many great artists of his stature (if there even are any) would allow that. He has basically given a masterwork away for free since the day it came out. Sometimes I just play it quietly on my phone when I'm going to bed, and there are never any ads. Too easy, thanks Nick, what a guy :)

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

@@truefunksoul8638 Thanks very much for this comment. Yes, I must admit I was worried that I might be told to remove this video. I've had a couple of such demands recently. Some musicians embrace fans sharing, while others won't tolerate a bar of it. It's their prerogative of course, but surely they are fighting a losing battle. I'd forgotten that Nick uploaded all of "Ghosteen" to KZbin when it was first released. You are right, not many great artists would do that. To answer your questions, I was in the front row. You can see the railing getting into the bottom of some of my shots. It actually stuck out quite some distance and I was very tempted to sit very forward so I could shoot over it. However, I didn't think the guy sitting next to me would appreciate that. As it was, I was very conscious of my videoing. I would have loved to have captured one or two other songs but wasn't game. I use a small point and shoot camera because I find it easier to control. It used to be regarded as a 'good' camera but these days the cameras in many smartphones are better. And yes, I like to video a couple of songs from most of the gigs I go to as a reminder for myself, but also as a bit of an historical record. With so many people filming bits and pieces of gigs it's no longer as difficult to revisit live performances but I think it's still worthwhile doing a good job of it. Thanks again for your appreciation.

[@johnarundell7951]

Hollywood is the greatest song of the last 10 years at least, by anyone in the world of music, not just Nick or The Bad Seeds .. I was privileged to experience this 3 times live in a week earlier on the tour in Victoria, at Hanging Rock and in St Kilda, Nick's old stomping ground from so many years earlier which he memorably described as "this fucked up suburb". Wish I had your position and view though, the Opera House would have been an amazing way for them to finish the tour and the year, did you go to all 3 nights? This is incredible thanks, the interplay between Nick and Warren is awesome and the faces of the people in the front rows are absolutely transfixed, this is some of the best performance footage I've ever seen of Nick Cave .. great to see Colin Greenwood getting right into it as well, he was very understated in Melbourne lurking up the back, hardly noticed him but he just seemed happy to be there, and it was a great treat to have him on board for the tour, so unexpected .. has his day job band ever played at the Opera House? I think all the band members would have been very honoured to perform there, and would have enjoyed this particular tour very much especially taking Nick and Warren back to their roots in country Victoria and other places like Tamworth where Radiohead would never play. Thanks again for this, great job capturing it so well in just a few songs, you wouldn't want to film all night!

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

Yes, I love Hollywood and that's why I just had to record it. I wasn't sure if I'd ever get to see it live again. It's not the kind of song that easily slips into most performances. Nick likes playing the Opera House. All his most recent tours have taken him there. It is a lovely venue to see him in, although some would argue a non-seated gig would be better. Sadly, I couldn't afford to see any more than this one show. I hear that the final night was even more intense. Thanks for your very kind words regarding my recording. I try to do my very best, not only for my own sake, but also to do justice to the artist and their performance.

[@mamenperez-medrano6456]

this is m... sublime....!!!!&@❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

It was a sublime night.

[@gallolocoparisien]

Live Nick Cave is always God Tier

[@echo8350]

i sore the Show in Qld It was amazing.

[@charliefarnsbarn3577]

Yep, I was there too man. Still soaring. Knew it was going to be the full religious experience and I was not disappointed. great to relive this song. Thank you

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

Nick and Warren certainly didn't disappoint. What a night. Thanks for commenting.

[@ncukers]

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing.

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

Glad you liked it. It was a wonderful night.

[@javigomez1697]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@stephenholloway9395]

Brilliant, Hollywood is amazing

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

Yes, I loved Hollywood from the moment I first heard it.

[@achtung001]

merci

[@DanielHernandez-hs7rl]

Capos totales Nick Cave y Warren Ellis. Esto es música. Basta de trap, reaggetton y toda esa berretada de cuarta

[@ireneclaro5538]

🖤🖤🖤....

[@nonsatiata_]

He says: “everyone is losing someone” and I lose myself 💔

[@Mahia965]

It sucks when you hit the "Thumbs up", 3 seconds in and you just wanna give a little bit more. Was a great Sydney gig. Even from Row X. Thank you for posting. Liked and Subbed 3 seconds in...

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

Yes, a terrific show. Tickets certainly sold fast. I nearly ended up towards the back myself, then by luck I found a couple of seats on the side. I'll certainly think of sitting there again. Glad you liked the video. It's always a little risky filming at the SOH but I just had to have a little something to remember the night by.

[@truefunksoul8638]

You can always open another KZbin account and like it again, surely the full epic Hollywood live at the Sydney Opera House deserves that effort from you? Email addresses are free and you can use alternative silly names and pictures, it's a win-win situation :) but seriously this is amazing, the pandemic caused this to be the first live performances of Ghosteen songs more than 3 years after the album first came out, and because it was played and refined for more than 12 months live in Europe and America this is probably the finest recorded example of it anywhere ever. As the uploader said in another comment reply they won't just be dropping this into their sets willy nilly in the years to come, every performance of it is special, and obviously the gospel singers are essential but they won't always be on tour. Nick didn't even play any rendition of it alone at Alexandra Palace, it's too much!

[@vivianvergal9618]

Wish I was there so thank you!

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

I'm very glad I was able to see this performance. Truly wonderful. And I'm happy I could share this little glimpse of it with you. Thanks for commenting.

[@vivianvergal9618]

@@Peter_LiveMusic It sounds as if it was really special. Nick talked about it a bit on the latest Red Hand Files, you could feel the energy from the words alone (:

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

@@vivianvergal9618 Thanks for letting me know about the Red Hands Files comments. This wasn't the night he refers to, but yes, it was a very special concert never-the-less.

[@truefunksoul8638]

@@Peter_LiveMusic Does he specifically mention the last night? I haven't heard anything about it but knew they were playing on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday run at the Opera House to finish their tour one week before Christmas, it was very well planned in that regard for them to go out in style obviously and all the band members to be able to return to their families. I assumed it was a truly memorable mini residency and I was surprised there were only reviews and fan footage like this from the first night pretty much, I haven't seen or heard anything else and I've never really looked at Red Hand Files so I should probably get over there now! Nick likely returned to Melbourne to see his mum again as he apparently does most years around this time of year which is a reason why he often tours in our summer I heard years ago, it still holds true.

[@tinahorkan]

Sadly Nick’s beloved Mum passed away last year

[@francissreckofabian01]

Must have been a good show. A long way from "Big-Jesus-Trash-Can' or "Zoo Music Girl'. But I'm a fan of all his directions. I last saw him, I think, was at All Tomorrow's Parties in 2009 (?) at Cockatoo Island. He was the curator. Not the best venue. Still I got to also see a reformed Saints AND Laughing Clowns. Thanks, Peter.

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

It was a terrific night. Yes, Nick's music has taken many forms over the years. I like that in an artist. Seeing The Saints and Laughing Clowns the same night must have been great. It's been decades since I've seen The Saints, and sadly, I never saw Laughing Clowns. Thanks for commenting.

[@gutless1108]

The look of rapture

[@shawnadeus]

Colin greenwood on bass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

They were special concerts in many ways.

[@mamenperez-medrano6456]

haber si te

[@user-vl1ox4gy4r]

Какой концерт... А в России он больше никогда не выступит, это понятно... Раньше приезжал, я была на его концерте в 2003-м году. Боже, что с моей страной происходит... Как стыдно и страшно.

[@Peter_LiveMusic]

Да, сейчас там все плохо, но когда-нибудь все изменится к лучшему. Когда это время придет, Ник Кейв, возможно, даже снова поедет туда. Будем надеяться, что эта ужасная война скоро закончится.