Manchester Academy 1,  29 September 2010

Nick Cave - vocals, guitar, organ, piano, percussion
Warren Ellis - Mandocaster, tenor guitar, guitar, violin, flute, percussion, backing vocals
Martyn Casey - bass
Jim Sclavunos - drums, percussion, drum synth, backing vocals

A simple stage set including a huge backdrop showing the four faces that make up Grinderman, and every inch of space at the 2,400 capacity Manchester Academy 1 filled with Grinderman/Cave-lovin’ humanity, armed to the teeth with Aussie amber - it all added up to something really special threatening tonight.

Cave can do no wrong for me, save for one little transgression with Kylie that made no sense at all, and I’ve seem him perform in all guises with the exception his early Birthday Party persona. I’ve seen him perform in Ireland at the Irish Liss Ard festival, backed by the Dirty Three. I’ve seen him perform with the Bad Seeds in Manchester and then for me his finest performance before tonight at the Liverpool Philharmonic, again with the Dirty Three supplying instrumental support. Then came ‘No Pussy Blues’ and Grinderman and a hint of past Birthday Party rock glories, albeit it bluer and more disciplined. The response to Grinderman’s music has been fantastic and I suspect has entrapped new followers as well as reminding us older fans that sex and rock ‘n’ roll fit well together, if you can find them…

Jim Sclavunos on drums and percussion, Martyn Casey on bass, Warren Elllis on just about everything including a variety of guitars, violin and wind-operated gismos - Bad Seeds one and all. On the TV show Later Cave was seen sporting a guitar in addition to his keyboard weapons of choice, and that distinctive voice that gets me every bloody time…

The band arrived on stage and without delay launch into the opener to Grinderman 2, ‘Mickey Mouse And The Goodbye Man’. The song is one of my favourites from the new album and pretty well sums up what Grinderman is all about, however, I wanted more madness, more chaos and while the record didn’t quite deliver for me, this live performance did - BIG-TIME! Cave was gloriously wild as he spat out lyrics, pointed at the audience and prowled the stage, kicking air in the best chorus line tradition. The crowd went wild - wilder than almost every crowd I have seen in hundreds of gigs.

Just one song in and off come the sharp, shiny thread jackets replaced by white shirts already showing signs of performance perspiration. ‘Worm Tamer’ arrives with its powerful rhythmic soul and overt sexual overtones. Caves vocal is supplemented by far-flung backing vocals from the rest of the gang producing one of my favourite moments of the show. This openings salvo was one of the most startling and intense I’ve witnessed - most bands would be warming up at this point but it seemed such niceties were lost on Grinderman.

Then it was time to delve into recent history with the rampant ‘Get It On’ followed by the throbbing rhythmic narrative ‘Heathen Child’. Everything about this show was wild including mega-hairy Warren Ellis who looked like he’d been hiding from the enemy in a forest for the last fifty years. According to reports wildman Ellis has already busted two amps on this tour and on the strength of tonight’s performance is likely to destroy a few more. This was an explosive, exciting and memorable show which really brought the two albums to life in no uncertain way, with a set list consisting of virtually all the band’s songs in a show whose ninety minutes seemed to fly by.

This was a great show, one of the greatest in my experience, with each of the players bringing something quite special to the party - they shone individually but glowed blindingly as a whole.
Set-List

Mickey Mouse And The Goodbye man
Worm Tamer
Get It On
Heathern Child
Palaces Of Montezuma
Evil
When My Baby Comes
What I Know
Honey Bee (Let’s Fly To Mars)
Kitchinette
No Pussy Blues
Bellringer Blues
—————-
Man In THe Moon
When My Love Comes Down
Love Bomb
Grinderman
I Don’t Need You To Set Me Free
Go Tell The Woman
Depth Charge Ethel
Electric Alice