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Cat Power + Brer Mouse The Governor Hindmarsh, Thurs 17 June 
Brer Mouse are one of the tightest bands in Adelaide. Their effortless changeovers and sweeping melodies are what drive them. When bass turns to viola, drums to glockenspiel, guitar to piano and keyboard to clarinet, the sextet carry on with cool. Melancholy is usually chucked around when speaking of these young gentlemen (and lady). But tonight they were bright and bold as well as characteristically big and beautiful. Their Brian Eno cover was astounding. They are a rock band of the most elegant variety. A lot of people had waited a long time for Chan Marshall to come back to Adelaide and (bold claim) I think most of them went home happy Thursday night. Yes, she played a lot of songs. Yes she finished most of them. No she wasn't blind drunk. No, she didn't flip out. Yes, her voice is as amazing live as it is on record. Yes, she looks a million bucks. After hearing reports from her Sydney fans and seeing/hearing her twice in Melbourne after her Adelaide show, I can just about say we got the best Cat Power show of the lot. People in Adelaide cheered as she lovingly thumbed and tinkered her way through Names, Good Woman and I Don't Blame You. We cheered for Satisfaction. She didn't finish it. Still we cheered. We heard little from her first four records. She played a cover of her own In This Hole with different lyrics. She played Will Oldham's Wolf Among Wolves beautifully. She talked about Jack White, about River Phoenix. She played a White Stripes song and one by John Lee Hooker. She laughed and swore and strode into the audience while a mesmerising new song full of multi-layered guitars and vocals filled the space. Her new songs were amazing. She's still playing the same chords. Her triad-only style on the piano is achingly simple, achingly heart-wrenching. It's slow and deliberate. It sends chills. Thunderous sparks of applause coerced her back on stage. She mimed along to Rap by Smoosh (nine and eleven year-old indie super sisters from the States). She walked away. Jimmy Cliff started playing on the radio. She came back out and mimed/sang/danced/grooved to seven, maybe eight of his songs while she waved goodnight to her audience. Those that stuck around with Chan played board games, hugged, kissed, drank, got autographs. Somebody or something made Marshall sound much more professional than her last tour. I'm not complaining. I had a ball. I think Chan did too.  |
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