Casually taking to the stage, Cat Power’s band start this evening’s gig with a low key jam that evolves into a cover of Sea Of Love when Cat Power aka Chan Marshall finally arrives to weigh in on vocals.
Marshall has changed a lot since she last visited our shores. She’s skinnier and has dramatically changed her haircut. Tonight she looks a little on edge. There’s a tentativeness about her presence and she’s clearly sick, coughing away from the microphone in between many songs and talking to the crowd in a barely audible whisper.
Her voice is sexy-husky and on this tour she’s using two microphones, amplifying her exquisite vocals to beautiful effect. The Greatest is stripped down to a spare rock arrangement that eliminates the delicate country vibes we’re used on record, but nonetheless conjures one of bittersweet melancholy moments that weave their way across much of tonight’s set.
From here her set mainly showcases her latest album, Sun, which despite five years in the making has clearly divided fans. Cherokee‘s themes of death and rebirth come wrapped in an optimistic pop mood. Tunes like Silent Machine, 3,6,9, Nothing But Time and Peace And Love capably juggle between pop hooks and seriously heartfelt lyrics that strike strong emotional chords with her fans. Angelitos Negros and Metal Heart remain mesmerizing back catalogue highlights.
A strange cover of Shivers sees Marshall revising the anthem’s lyrics, slipping in some INXS lyrics while she’s at it. It’s not long before she makes up for this blemish on an otherwise flawless set with the building funk of Ruin. Perhaps imperfect, but certainly raw, honest and emotional, it’s so very hard not to fall for the charm of Cat Powers music. Throwing white flowers into the audience at the end of the night with a smile simply drew her fans closer. (
By The Sideman
