Well I just returned from Cat Power's Melbourne show. Great show, with a few buts.
They took to the stage about 10-15 minutes late (but played Pavement's Here, "Heroes" and Shelter from the Storm over the PA). Well the band did, just sort of casually jamming for a few minutes until Chan joined them on stage, wearing this crappy black t-shirt that and sporting short peroxide white hair. After the opening song they played what I guess was The Greatest, which I obviously need to obtain immediately, it was frigging awesome. Cherokee ruled. At one point she started singing in Spanish or Italian or something. Nothin But Time was great, as was Ruin. The highlight for me was the song they played after Nothin But Time, I guess it was the first or second song after the encore started... another guitarist joined the band on stage, and it was this awesome, cathartic guitar track. She sang "we all have wings but some of us don't know why", but I'm pretty sure it wasn't a cover of Never Tear Us Apart, because I didn't recognise any other lyrics. Setlist FM is not being helpful at all, if anyone can help me out on that I'd be very grateful.
But man oh man she really is pretty unstable. Her voice sounds amazing but I felt on edge the entire show because she's so... visibly affected by whatever it is that's affecting her. She coughs and sniffs and makes weird movements the entire show. She lit two cigarettes but didn't smoke either of them, just held them until the song finished then gave them to the crowd. She talked to herself at several points, and introduced Peace and Love by saying "this song... was co-written by... well... was inspired by... fuck whatever..." It all looks like it could fall apart at any time. The band kept playing after Nothin But Time for a good 10 or so minutes while Chan was off the stage, and the crowd got pretty restless. She flubbed lyrics at times. You can't help but think she wouldn't re-emerge. It was quite disconcerting to watch at times.
But then as Ruin drew to a close she picked up a bouquet of flowers and went up to each band member, pretending to pass them off to each one, with a huge smile on her face, laughing. Then she walked along the stage, throwing each one into the crowd, at one point toying with a girl who was on someone's shoulders near me. It was hilarious to watch. Then once Ruin finished New God Flow (censored) came blaring over the speakers as she stood there for a minute or two, beaming, waving to the crowd. She walked off, then on again, then kept waving from near the sound decks before finally heading off stage.
She also didn't really do the "fuck meeeee" bit in 3,6,9, which was a bit disappointing.
Certainly one of the more unique shows I've ever seen. I'd love to hear what other people have thought, and if anyone can tell me the name of that song I'd love to know.