Nick Cave, The Sage, Gateshead

AT times music lovers in the North-East bemoan the tours that pass us by in favour of Manchester and Glasgow. Yet within the past seven days we've had artists as diverse as Seasick Steve, George Clinton, heavy rockers UFO, not to mention a showcase performance by Sting. Not bad for a week`s entertainment.

With Nick Cave bringing his Antipodean brand of dark and at times bleak Gothic infused storytelling to The Sage, for one of five solo shows across the country we should celebrate what we do have.

Cave`s latest release Push The Sky Away, his first with his band The Bad Seeds in half a decade, sees a move away from the fierce garage Rock of his Grinderman project to a more minimalist, reflective singer songwriter approach.

Although billed as a solo show Cave was joined on stage by The Bad Seeds, the band he formed in Australia back in the early 1980s. Original keyboardist Barry Adamson and longstanding drummer Thomas Wydler were joined by relative newcomers bassist Martin Casey and the multi-instrumentalist Warren Ellis. Opening with the bubbling bassline of Water`s Edge from the new album, Cave wasted no time getting into his stride. His dark humour and dry, playful banter between songs kept the crowd engaged.

After one over enthusiastic fan jumped on stage during the final song The Lyre of Orpheus, Cave cleverly incorporated him into the show inviting him to add some backing vocals before ending with a warm embrace in what was a rather nice, light-hearted touch to an intense evening.

Mick Burgess