What Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds performed on their US tour opener – including song last played in 2017

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A kick-off show for the US leg of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds’ Wild God tour saw the band perform a song which has not been played live since 2017.

Cave and The Bad Seeds kicked off their American leg with a performance at the Agganis Arena in Boston on April 15, where fans were treated to two encores and two cover songs. The band played twenty-two songs in total and left room for a surprise song which had not been played on any of the tours up to this date. The UK leg of the tour, which saw support from Black Country, New Road, featured most of the songs from Cave’s latest album, Wild God, as well as classic tracks from albums From Her to Eternity, Push the Sky Away and The Boatman’s Call.

Their April 15 performance featured a surprise encore addition, with the band performing Skeleton Tree live for the first time since 2017. Also in the tracklist were Nick Cave and Warren Ellis covers, Carnage and White Elephant. A full setlist from the Boston date can be found below.

• Frogs
• Wild God
• Song of the Lake
• O Children
• Jubilee Street
• From Her to Eternity
• Long Dark Night
• 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
• Skeleton Tree
• Into My Arms

Cave and The Bad Seeds’ tour of the UK received a glowing review from Cult Following, with the veteran songwriter’s performance at Leeds’ First Direct Arena praised. The blur of Wild God material and classics was praised as “newer pieces slot into the earlier hits well, and it makes for a welcome and consistent set.”

“Cave is keen to dart around with the energies of a rabid performer, like a primal animal who has smelled blood for the first time and is keen to feel it again. Such is the effortlessness of Cave.”

Fans have since praised the performance from Cave and The Bad Seeds, with one user calling it “one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.” Another attendee wrote: “Agree! Great job. Nick genuinely seemed moved when he sang I believe in love in his final encore, Into My Arms. I saw him twenty-seven years ago in London, and he has aged like a fine wine.”

A third added: “Amazing show – I got totally swept up in the music. I haven’t seen Nick play with the Bad Seeds since 2014 and this was worth the wait.”