Nick Cave: Wild God Tour in Seattle

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA
05.12.25

Nick Cave knows pain. Nick Cave knows despair. Nick Cave knows grief on a level so profoundly cellular that thousands of strangers write to him monthly, via his Red Hand Files, in hopes of gleaning some of his hard-won, heart-wrenching, world-weary wisdom. So it’s really no surprise that seeing him live, and witnessing the undeniable impact he so deeply has on the audience, may best be described as a religious experience delivered through song. Without hyperbole, it’s one of the most transcendent concerts you’re likely to ever witness.

“Wild God”, the recent Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds album which shares the same name as this tour, is described by many as the album where Nick allowed, invited, and found joy. Truth be told, the 2 hour, 45 minute nonstop set sees that description come to fruition. Joy, energy, wonder, and reverence set against a career spanning highlight reel and pulling from 14 different albums in the Nick Cave, Nick Cave + Warren Ellis, Nick Cave + the Bad Seeds album? Words simply cannot and will not suffice.

“Frogs” and “Wild God” from the aforementioned recent release kicked off the show on a raucous note, the audience looking on in a mixture of awe, bliss, and reverie. To be clear, that same energy was mirrored back by Nick, Warren, and everyone on stage, evidenced by Nick’s many “I love you, too” in response to adoring shouts from the audience, or proclaiming to the audience “You’re beautiful!” over an extended chorus of “Conversion.” It’s a joy to witness joy, especially when that joy is truly genuine and delivered with gratitude and deep appreciation.

Every single performer on stage was at their pinnacle. Warren Ellis? Wild as ever, playing his violin and guitar with aplomb and gusto, pausing only to blow kisses to the audience or toss his violin bow into the crowd. The Bad Seeds? From the four piece choir, to the keys, drums, guitars, not one note, expression, or movement was out of place; the dictionary definition of cohesion.

The high-flying energy of the Elvis tribute “Tupelo” and the aptly titled “Joy” transformed the Paramount into a sea of thousands of dancers. Equally powerful were the quiet introspective moments of “I Need You”, which Nick played solo, “Bright Horses” and “Carnage”, resulting in cathartic tears cascading down cheeks.

The five song encore, culminating with the Young Charlatans cover of “Shivers” and Nick’s solo piano version of “Into My Arms” commanded unwavering attention. Phones? Conversation? Non-existent. Anyone who has attended any concert in the last decade knows how much of a rare feat that is.

Nick Cave knows pain, despair, and grief, yes. But his live performance transmutes these emotions in such a profoundly sacred, life-affirming, energetic way that one can’t help but marvel at how intricately, viscerally, and poetically he knows joy, release, and catharsis. A marvel.

Setlist:

Frogs
Wild God
Song of the Lake
O Children
Jubilee Street
From Her to Eternity
Long Dark Knight
Cinnamon Horses
Tupelo
Conversion
Bright Horses
Joy
I Need You
Carnage
Final Rescue Attempt
Red Right Hand
The Mercy Seat
White Elephant
Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry
The Weeping Song
Henry Lee
Shivers
Into My Arms