I was lucky enough to catch Cat Power’s sold out set in D.C. last week, and I was not disappointed. I’ve never had the chance to catch her live (her shows always sell out quite early) and I was stoked to experience it. When I arrived at 9:30 club, it was pretty packed, so I knew I was in for a good night. The crowd seemed enthusiastic and the openers hadn’t even taken the stage yet. Anticipation seemed to be in the air – Cat Power has a repertoire that makes it extremely hard to know what to expect, and I had heard her live shows are always unpredictable in the best way.

The Dex Romweber Duo took the stage and caught me a little off guard with their rockabilly-esque sound. The sibling duo (sister Sara’s on the drums) went from bluesy to soul-inspired tunes to straight up rock, and the crowd was definitely into it. Dex commanded the stage like the vet that he is – having fronted rockabilly outfit Flat Duo Jets back in the day (he is also noted as Jack White’s idol, if that helps to elaborate). The duo worked together effortlessly and left nothing to be desired, which I consider a big feat for a band that consists of a guitar, drums and one voice. Unlike other duos, Dex’s voice was so versatile that it almost functioned as another instrument (now I see why they’re on tour with Cat Power) and were able to rock just as hard as a full band.

Cat Power’s the type of artist whose repertoire makes it hard to anticipate her next move. She released the Dark End of The Street EP in December, which continues in the vein of bluesy covers with the help of the Dirty Delta Blues. I assumed this was the direction she’d be taking the live show, so I was pretty excited when she came out with the boys in tow. I really enjoy it when solo artists bring a full band on tour; it adds a whole new layer and intensity to songs that didn’t have that aspect before.

I must note that capturing Cat Power on film is no easy feat; she is notorious for her aversion to photos and twirls around the stage like a little dervish, steadily avoiding the middle. Add to this the fact that it was almost completely dark (it did fit the ambiance), I found myself distracted for most of the first 3 songs just trying to get a shot of her.

Cat Power’s voice is just as good live as on any record; “Fortunate Son” showcased her versatility and really let the band get into the show as well. The set featured more covers than originals, but the crowd seemed to love every selection. I was keeping my fingers crossed for an encore with “The Greatest”, but true to form, no encore appeared. I walked away with a new appreciation for the bluesy direction that Cat Power’s taken on the last few records and was left with one question – what can Cat Power possibly do next?

We’d like to thank the 9:30 Club in D.C. for working with us and graciously helping us to get this review done. Check out www.930.com for more information on upcoming shows, and let me tell you I had a look at their upcoming concerts and they’re definitely bringing in some of the top acts out there.