Cat Power may not ever conquer her on stage awkwardness but at least she’s found ways to defeat a majority of her fears. Saying barely a word to an overflowing early evening crowd, and backed by a four-piece band that included drum wizard Jim White, the singer focused on maximizing muted minimalism. Largely sticking to recent material and cover songs, the vocalist channeled more desperation (”Woman Left Lonely”), faith (”Metal Heart”) and melancholy (”Tracks of My Tears”) than one encounters in a self-help book — and certainly more than raucous festival-goers are used to. Yet her greatest moment came during a slow-crawling rendition of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son,” which proved protest needn’t always be shouted.

[Photo: Rory O'Connor for Rolling Stone]

More Lollapalooza Coverage: Rock ‘N’ Roll Diary