08 June 2008 (gig)
22 June 2008
Cat Power's gig started with Beach House, the Baltimore duo with gentle songs. I quite liked Devotion, though thought it was a bit wet and worried that they wouldn't be able to fill the cavernous walls of the Hammersmith Apollo. They came on the stage and took up less than a fifth of the space. My sense of worry increased.
But I needn't have worried at all. Victoria Legrand has a sonic voice and filled the space with ease. Filled it with even a little bit left over. I felt flushed and surrounded by their washing whirling sound, it felt cleansing and good.
Cat Power came on with a band. Previous reports of her performances were mixed. Some great and heart wrenching, some performances half-arsed and cut short.
Tonight, Cat Power was great. She performed all over the stage, from one corner to the other, picking single members of the audience and focusing all her words on them. The first half of her set was a bit wobbly and all her songs seemed to meld together, but the second half were a lot better. She even got off the stage and sang some of songs in the audience.
Most interesting was how she finished the gig, with flowers handed to the clapping crowds. And when she ran out of flowers, she started giving people bottles of water. And when she ran out of water, she started screwing up bits of paper. And when she ran out of paper, she applauded us before bowing and left us not really wanting much more, but perfectly satisfied.
(Photo by Steve Asenjo)
