Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds play The Cure at Way Out West

The air in Gothenburg crackled with familiar, beautiful melancholy on August 14th when Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds took the stage, sharing a night with their musical counterparts, The Cure. It was a performance that felt less like two separate acts and more like a deep dive into a shared history of gothic romance and enduring artistry.

The festival evening saw Cave and his band deliver a powerful two-hour set on the Azalea stage, just before The Cure rounded out the night with a massive, career-spanning performance on the Flamingo stage. It was a collision of sounds that celebrated decades of musical evolution while honouring a shared aesthetic.

Warren Ellis, the multi-instrumentalist for The Bad Seeds, later captured moments from the event, including footage of his band watching The Cure together. Ellis reflected on the experience, expressing profound admiration for the band and their legacy. “What a band. What songs. Smithy you’re the best,” he wrote, reminiscing about seeing The Cure even back in 1984, cementing a lifelong bond with the group.

The connection between Cave and The Cure extends beyond the stage lights; it delves into the fascinating world of goth culture and the complexities of being an old rockstar. In a reflection on his own journey, Cave explored the unique place that being a musician in this genre occupies. He discussed the endurance of the goth movement, noting that it had survived as a powerful, enduring force.

Cave offered a wry perspective on the experience of aging in the spotlight, sharing an anecdote about meeting an elderly couple who struggled with modern technology while trying to get a selfie with him. This interaction highlighted the generational gap, yet also the universal appeal of their shared artistic world. He joked that the only difference between himself and these older fans was simply dyeing his hair black.

This playful reflection speaks volumes about the deep-seated romance Cave holds for The Cure, a bond that feels as timeless as their music. Later in his reflections on goth culture, he touched upon the notion that the ‘goths’ have endured in a way that defines their existence. It is a relationship built not just on notes and lyrics, but on a shared cultural resilience.

Meanwhile, The Cure continues to chart their course following the release of their 2024 album Songs Of A Lost World, which earned them their first Grammys. Robert Smith has since confirmed that follow-up material is in progress, continuing their journey with new, poppy sounds.

The Bad Seeds, meanwhile, have continued to make waves, recently staging an incredible event in Brighton’s Preston Park for nearly 50,000 people, which included a massive appearance by Kylie Minogue. Their tour remains dynamic, moving from Helsinki to Paris and continuing to explore new sonic territories.