The legendary Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds delivered a commanding two-and-a-half-hour performance at Plateia Nerou in Athens on Wednesday as part of the Release Festival, drawing on a catalog that spans 48 years.
Backed by a four-member gospel choir and six Bad Seeds, including Radiohead bassist Colin Greenwood, the group maintained a polished, technically precise sound that left the 68-year-old Australian songwriter free to focus on his rapport with the some 12,000-strong crowd.
The band selected 22 songs, including “From Her to Eternity” (1984); “Wild God” (2024); the harrowing masterpiece, “The Mercy Seat”; the haunting “The Weeping Song”; the sinister blues-noir track “Red Right Hand”; and the gritty, blues-driven narrative “Jubilee Street.”
On “Henry Lee,” the chilling tale of a scorned woman, British singer Janet Ramus took the parts originally sung by PJ Harvey, adding a soul inflection. Cave’s appearance marked his return to Greece four years after his last performance in the country, underscoring the enduring bond between the artist and his Greek audience.
