NICK CAVE RAP

Rip It Up, Issue 87, 1 October 1984, Page 8

NICK CAVE RAP

YFC bassist Johnny

Ogilvie flew off to investigate America earlier this year. While he was in LA he caught Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds live and even begged a few words from the godlike one’s mouth afterwards ...

King Ink comes to town, LA, LA, LA, and the black veils and lace, tits and tattoos, skulls and skeletons come out of the closet. The band performed songs off the From Her To Eternity album plus some rare gems.

'A Box for Black Paul' opened featuring predominantly, Bad Seed pianist, Hugo Race, (formerly of Australian band Marionettes) junky ivory juggled with Mr Cave’s roar. ‘From Her To Eternity' is an update of ‘Knock Three Times’, but with such incredible passion the highlight of the evening. Problems with Barry Adamson’s bass gear killed the magic in their rendition of ’I Put A Spell On You’ but ‘Well of Misery’ with sparse snare beat and harmonica was devastating. ‘Mutiny In Heaven' IS a Birthday Party song the Bad Seeds can’t quite capture it. Even Nick Cave seemed to lack conviction.

Like a true cabaret act the music is totally dominated by the singer; all cues are taken from the VOICE the spotlight concentrates on it throughout, while the Bad Seeds remain silhouettes who alternate in combat with the vocal. Nick Cave was in fine epileptic form the lepers crawled over each others’ backs; hands strain to

touch the demented, contorted, cripple. “Feel it (skin) it’s the same as yours." r And he offered his hand to a hundred others.

The frenzy waned somewhat with the more subdued 'Saint Huck' but erupted with 'Avalanche' Leonard Cohen never sounded better. Out

comes the wooden chair and the band ooze 'ln the Ghetto’; he sings it straight and makes me wonder whether he actually thinks he has more credibility to sing it than a fat, white king. A great version but no one could ever improve on the Elvis original. The Bad Seeds opened for the Cramps and the comparisons between Nick Cave and Lux Interior were obvious. Both are maniacal in both their actions and their delivery; both are tongue in cheek performances but Cave's is straightforward and Interior’s is a downright pisstake. As for the Cramps, that’s a new kind of kick altogether.

Do you remember playing in New Zealand? Yes I have constant nightmares about it. It couldn’t have been much worse than L.A. L.A. is alright you can get drugs here. Can I talk to you about music? I thought you were going to talk to me about drugs. No drugs where I come from as you know. What was last night’s show like? It was okay. Except for all the fuckups with the amps. I don't remember. Where did we play last night?

L.A., Pasadena. I remember, I remember, I remem ber.

Remember all those people trying to touch you? Oh, they were just joking I think. No I don’t think so, is it always like that in America? America is more subdued than most places. Who are your favourite country and western singers? Elvis, Hank Williams, George Jones. Not Johnny Cash? Oh yeah, Johnny Cash. Have you ever heard the song by Johnny Cash ‘The Long Black Veil*? Yes I certainly have (sings) "She walks these hills in a long black veil” that one?

Yeah. Have you ever read any William Faulkner?

Yes. Gee you’re on the ba11... go on ... yes I have. Am I talking a load of shit? No you are not. When I heard ‘Jennifer’s Veil’ it reminded me of Faulkner’s ‘As I Lay Dying’ and Johnny Cash’s ‘The Long Black Veil’.

Oh it’s a good song but I didn’t really take anything from it. I’m not saying you ripped it off. It’s only got the word veil in it, it’s only about a ... she wears a veil in mourning, my one wears a veil because she has been disfigured by a fire.

AMERICAN BYSTANDER: Just a use of symbolism huh, the veil? No nothing like that, don’t get existential with me mate.

Do you find Americans fucked? No, I think Americans are the best. Because they are nice people, I don’t know, I just like them. So you didn’t like going to New Zealand?

No. I think it is the worst place I’ve ever been to. Because of the reception, audiences or what? Because you couldn’t get any drugs. What did you think of the shows? I don’t remember. Where do you live? Huh? Where do you come from? I don’t come from anywhere. I was born in a stable in Jerusalem. Are you living in New York? No, I’m living in L.A. Have you ever been to Memphis? No. Have you ever been down South? No, I have never made it. Do you want to? Yes I do. That’s what you sing about isn’t it, that basic Southern mentality? Yeah, but I don’t need to go down South to be able to write about that. But don’t you want to know to what extent that redneck mentality is true? I don’t call it a redneck mentality.