7/16/14 – Dublin, Ireland, Olympia Theatre

7/16/14 – Dublin, Ireland, Olympia Theatre

Setlist (incomplete):
Hate
Wolf Among Wolves
Satisfaction
What The World Needs Now Is Love
The Greatest
Colors And The Kids
Brave Liar
I Dont Blame You
Names
3, 6, 9
Maybe Not
Can I Get A Witness
Monster
In This Hole
Naked, If I Want To
Fool
Good Woman
Werewolf
Say
The Moon
Metal Heart 
Bully
Back Of Your Head
Framboise Je'taime
Sea Of Love
Great Expectations

This is the 31st performance of the year and 28th solo performance of the year. Chan played from 9-10pm to 11-40pm. 

Pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/strangelove1981/sets/72157645719935811/

and a few thoughts: http://doublea-blog.tumblr.com/post/92034726209/cat-power-olympia-theatre-a-set-on-flickr-i-had

Comments:
http://iconosquare.com/p/766489746188669210_173755899

Front row for my gal Chan Marshalls fully seated performance at the Olympia last night, and my god was it good. With a setlist of just under 3 hours, beginning at 9:00 and ending at 11:45, she performed old songs, new songs, a few covers, old songs rearranged and interacted with her modest, witty, shy banter. She even played one of my faves off 'Moon Pix', which I thought I'd never hear live, 'Colors And The Kids'. And she was so so sweet, 30 seconds into that song she stopped, realising that people couldn't see her playing piano at the far end of the audience, so she got up and dragged the PA/monitors out of their way, so EVERYONE could see her play. There was no heckling or talking, everyone was glued to her, everyone loved her. Chan modestly whispered that she was "trying her best tonight" and "sorry if I messed up a little", she was and she didn't, she's just meticulous, in a good way. Chan also commented on how beautiful The Olympia Theatre is, I agree, always my fave venue in Dublin. I've seen her a lot live, but not like this. Stripped down, raw and bare, with no backing band, nothing to hide behind, just Chan, a guitar, a piano and her raw beautiful voice and lyrics. She hasn't done a performance like this in a VERY long time. She could of played all night, in her Southern accent "maybe I'll keep playing until you have all left and gone home". She took requests for her last song, the most amusing reply was 'I Have A Bus To Catch'. I asked her to play 'I Found A Reason' her Velvet Underground cover, she played the first few notes and began to sing, but stopped, she apologized because she couldn't remember it. I don't blame her. Chan has had to memorize A LOT of songs to play for these couple of one off gigs. I'll let her off with it, this time! She finished by throwing white roses into the standing ovation she received, but it should of been US showering her with flowers. Cat Power loves Ireland, and we love her.

Pictures
http://www.goldenplec.com/cat-power-olympia-photos/

Pictures
http://www.dublinconcerts.ie/cat-power-at-the-olympia-theatre-review-and-photos/

A conversation about these concerts: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057214002

Review and photos: http://aphroditelion.tumblr.com/post/92170537622/feline-flower-frenzy-cat-power-live-in-the

Review
http://www.hotpress.com/Cat-Power/music/reviews/live/LIVE-REVIEW-Cat-Power-in-The-Olympia-Theatre/11949478.html

Review
http://www.goldenplec.com/cat-power-olympia-review/

Review
http://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsfilmtv/live-music--cat-power-276298.html

Review
http://www.indublin.ie/news/review-cat-power-the-olympia#.U9ClaONdWSo

Review + Pictures
http://aphroditelion.tumblr.com/tagged/Cat-Power

Cat Power has a fairly questionable reputation when it comes to live performance. I experienced this first hand  at her June 2000 gig in Whelan’s which was one of the cringe-worthy shows I’ve ever been to. However I understand her return in 2003 was even more of a meltdown. That being said, after some indifference about her covers album ’Jukebox’ from 2008, I fell in love with her all over again when ’Sun’ came out in 2012. So it was with an open mind I took my seat in the circle in the Olympia the other night (interestingly no one look for or at my ticket all the way in!).

From the sparse stage set up: 2 guitars in stands, 2 amps, 2 mic-stands and a piano, it was obvious it was going to be a solo show. She kicked the evening off on the guitar with a run of covers including ‘Wolf Among Wolves’ from Bonnie Prince Billy and the Stones 'Satisfaction.’ Although her guitar plucking was basic, and occasionally stumbling, as soon she opened her mouth and those raspy vocals flowed out all was forgiven. That being said it didn’t take long for her to start acting odd: from messing with the amps and making the sound much worse to mumbling about the powers that be.

Just when it looked like things might breakdown altogether she switched to the piano for a sweat version of Bacharach & David’s 'What The World Needs Now.’ Still not happy she insisted on moving some of the monitors out of the way so the front row in the stalls could see her properly. Things really picked though when she started on her old material with a double shot of 'Colors And The Kids’ and 'The Greatest’. After learning how to pronounce the word sláinte things got ever better with a version of 'I Don’t Blame You’ from 2003’ ’You Are Free’.

However after finishing the song she ran off stage for a bit before returning for some fidgeting and mic-stand mangling. Back to the songs and we got great versions of 'Names’ & '3,6,9’ and a cover of Marvin Gaye’s 'Can I Get A Witness’.  She then proceeded to tell us that her brain was occupied with through of Palestine & Israel before rambling on about the venue reverb for a bit. Thankfully when she was signing it was fantastic. See: 'Maybe Not’ and 'In This Hole’. It was so captivating at times that you could her foot tapping along under the piano and the hand-driers for the ladies toilets.

It was then back to guitar for a mixture of covers like 'Naked if I want To, some seemingly improvised songs, and great versions of 'Fool’ & 'Werewolf’. After some toweling of her sweating hair she went all the way back to 1998’s ’Moon Pix’ for an amazing take on 'Say’ which unfortunately she cut short to dash off-stage again. On returning she stuck with 'Moon Pix’ for 'Metal Heart’ and the niggling niff of 'Back Of Your Head’. She also did a cooky little French song before describing herself as a “Mexican French Guerrilla.” Despite some more mic-wrangling there were a few more guitars songs to come in the form of 'Sea Of Love’, 'Bully’ and 'Great Expectations’.

Despite returning to the piano and listening to requests shouted from the crowd she didn’t manage to play any more songs. Instead after a few more awkward minutes she decided to end the evening by throwing a bunch of flowers into the crowd one by one. By the time she left stage for good it has almost been two and half hours of a show. And while her obvious internal demons escaping made for many uncomfortable moments for the audience, while she performing the songs, especially her own songs, she was absolutely stunning.