I went to The Sage to see Nick Cave solo, I was determined to hate the venue, it is one of the most ugly buildings you may have the missfortune to view. It deserves its nickname of 'The Slug' This isnt some media nickname, its just that as soon as you first see it you kind of pull a face and say, it looks like a bloody great glass slug, coz it does.

So up the steps and in we went

Wow!

It was great inside, roomy and shapely, it looked wonderfull in its simplicity with the curved concrete and glass creating its own style.

In to the hall itself this one was 3000 seater hall (there are many halls of different size and composition) with the most perfect accoustics I have ever heard.

Much has been made of the fact that the building was purpose built with perfect accoustics but lets face it, every venue claims good accoustics. This was something else though.

Nick opened with a cacophony of demonic/angelic sound that hit you like a wave and bowled you over, the loudness was suprising (and I have been to some 'loud' gigs) and the fullness of sound was astonishing the clarity of sound was phenominal but the most suprising thing was the lack of damage to my ears after the event. I have never been to a gig that loud and not had my ears ringing before. (Friends who saw Lemon Jelly the following night commented the same)

The Sage
well done
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