Austin City Limits Web Exclusive: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds “Stagger Lee” (EXPLICIT)

Keypoints

  • Space : Big stage, where he moves around
  • Acoustics : Roomy, well mixed, big sound and loud
  • Visuals : Purple, dark and moody, mysterious, ominous
  • Emotional Engagement : Tale telling, direct eye contact with audience members, hand and arm gestures. Brings the audience in.
  • Context of performance : Murder ballad written in a folk tale style
  • Cultural context : Nick cave is a post punk legendary goth lord
  • How does it affect the audience? : Engages them and intrigues them
  • Genre : Goth Ballad noise rock
  • Who does it communicate to and how? : Talks to the audience directly
  • How does this create new audiences? By making them feel connected to the performance, it becomes more memorable
  • Culturally relevant now? He isn’t part of mainstream “pop” culture but music fans and artists draw upon him as an influence, as a singer-songwriter type character.

David Bowie – Ziggy Stardust, taken from ‘Ziggy Stardust The Motion Picture’

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq8gG3pzMrU
  • Space: A big stadium environment, he stays static by the microphone for the verses, during the chorus, he moves creating more energy in the performance.
  • Acoustics: Big sound, raucous
  • Visuals: Big floodlight aimed at the singer, making him stand out. The singer is wearing sexually ambiguous clothing styled after japan, with a flashy glittery twist. Makes the visuals sit against the lyrical themes as he looks like a spaceman.
  • Emotional Engagement: He’s there to create a lot of energy but also to be the centre of attention. Tries to initiate a reaction of awe from the audience.
  • Context of performance: Big rock star, using a character driven narrative. Space fantasy in nature.
  • Cultural Context : One of the pioneers of glam rock, this performance is a huge example of the genre
  • How does it affect the audience?: Creates a sense of wonderment and idolisation
  • Genre: Glam rock / Space Rock
  • Who does it communicate to and how?: Fans of rock guitar, and Sci-fi, as well as sexually ambiguous people, by combining visual elements of the two latter, with the sound of the former.
  • How does this create new audiences?: Inspires other aspiring rock artists to be more daring with their clothing and style.
  • Culturally relevant now?: The David Bowie “brand” has become part of mainstream culture with T-shirts being made of his logo and face, particularly his Aladdin Sane and Ziggy Stardust characters.

Jimi Hendrix- Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock

  • Space: Big open field.
  • Acoustics: The sound has nowhere to reflect so audience members at the back might not hear the performance as well as others.
  • Visuals: Hendrix appears on stage with natural light pouring onto him. As a result whilst he is put on a pedestal relating to the Audience, no particular focus is being put on him in regards to the rest of the band visually (audibly he is the only person playing so this is negated.) He is dressed in pseudo Native American dress.
  • Emotional engagement: He is playing the American National anthem, stirring feelings of national pride…. or is he? He plays it in a manner that might disturb patriots, or resonate with hippies who see a political side to his performance. He is making a statement with his chaotic playing that says that America itself is chaotic due to war.
  • Context of performance : Hendrix is playing at Woodstock festival as the final act.
  • Cultural context: America is at war with Vietnam, and a counter culture hippie movement is taking place. This performance resonates with both of these things
  • How does it affect the audience? It might make them feel patriotic, anti-patriotic, riled up, confused. In a general sense it divides the Audience depending on how they feel and think about the performance.
  • Genre: Psychedelic noise rock
  • Who does it communicate to and how? Patriots and hippies. The national anthem stirs patriotic emotions in people whilst at the same time the way it is played might resonate with the ethos of the hippies more.
  • How does it create new audiences? Creates controversy, which promotes the band/ act. Very innovative sound for its time, which others try to imitate laters on.
  • Culturally relevant now? America is still a warmongering shit of a country, so I’d say yes. If it was played now, it would still be contemporary.