Cat Power is weird, don’t you think? First of all, her music is hard to describe (Aggro-easy-listening? Minimalist-throaty-pop? Girl-band?). Second, there’s a bit of a mystery surrounding Chan Marshall a.k.a. Cat Power. Like, what’s the deal with all those cover albums she releases? Why has she zeroed in on felines as the ideal source of energy? And who exactly is she kidding when she says that her astrological sign has any effect whatsoever on how/when her new album got recorded. These questions and more (so many more) were bubbling around in my brain on the Wednesday night that I went to see Cat Power in concert.
Consider the following at a Cat Power show:
1. I’m apparently an oddball when judging Cat Power because I think her recent stuff is so much better than the boring old stuff. And her newest album Sun doesn’t disappoint. Look for a review of the deluxe version of that album right here on Ground Control in the very (very) near future. But, suffice it to say that it’s a beautiful complex, progression from the love letter that was The Greatest. Sun will probably be one of my favorite records out this year, and it should be yours as well. However, one thing I found unpleasant in her latest effort is how constricting, thin, and electronic it sounds. Blame it on my organic tendencies. So, hearing the songs come alive in a concert setting with such a large sound truly lets you hear the Sun tracks in a new way. They are so big, so solid and so tight, in fact, that one could easily assume that from the live stage in the way they were meant to be heard. Let’s be honest, we all want a band to be better live than in the studio, and it’s great to see Cat Power truly excel in this department.
2. Yep, I’ll say it again. Cat Power is a bit of an oddball isn’t she? And live, it shows as well. The fact that the set list consisted mostly of Sun tracks suited me just fine, but the little details – the incense on the stage, the orchid throwing into the crowd, the constant bowing and simulating casting of her mohawk to the audience, and Chan’s attire (punk-chic?) – very much bring the show out of the conventional territory. And really, why was I so surprised about this?
3. When’s the last time you saw Cat Power? The answer: never. An extensive tour is the least familiar thing she’s done in the last six years or so, and from her recent statement declaring bankruptcy yet again, it might not happen again for a really long time. You’d be doing yourself a favor carrying your little booty over to the nearest show.
Photos:
Cat Power – House Of Blues – Boston, MA – [Photos]
Artist:
www.catpowermusic.com/
www.facebook.com/CatPowerSun
www.twitter.com/catpower
Tour:
Cat Power recently confirmed new shows happening in 2013. Click here for an updated list of shows.
Further Reading:
Ground Control – Cat Power – Sun – [Album review]
Album:
Sun is out now. Buy it here on Amazon .
