Well, i will tell you about how chan did

[MyMetalHeart<3]

So last night, chan played for us in seattle.

The show was at a showbox, a local venue that most of the cool bands in the area go to. It all began in line, when i realized that me and my friend were probably her biggest fans out of all of them. we said something to the effect of "you know chan is going to mess up, but you just got to expect the worst you know" and we got some looks. people obviously dont know shit about her. and then i later asked around to see who these people were there to see, well sleater-kinney fans no doubt.

so anyway, inside the venue. the opening band was smoosh, they were a 2 girl band composed of 12 years olds. the lead singer, she had a gorgeous voice, and she had the prebuescent potential that anyone would crave. the drummer and her had the kind of talent that made you feel inadequate. they will be big someday, they are both good looking, have good music, and discovered their talent rather young.

after smoosh, everyone felt the kiddie parade was over and people were getting restless. the bar was stirring a good one. and 25 min had passed, and chan had yet to come out. me and my friend were talking about how she should jsut come out and make her little embaressing stunt, and get over with it.

lone and behold, here comes chan. she is carrying her guitar, a cup of whiskey and a post it note. she sits on the piano stool, holding the guitar and sets down her items. beligerently drunk, she begins to play her first songs off you are free. all the while, rocking back and forth on the stool and tapping her feet so much that you could not help but be entraced by them.

she was gorgeous, good hair, very tall, nice features. admirable. so she played her first song and then went to i dont blame you which she slowed down so much. then to in this hole, on to satisfaction and then to dead leaves on the dirty ground. the people in back at the bar were all talking so loud, i almost felt embaressed for poor chan.

so the tickets we purchased, they were cat power with sleater-kinney and smoosh, but it became apparent that somewhere along the lines they decided to make chan the opening band rather then the main attraction. to much of my dismay mind you. so she went on to something else, i dont recall because we had to move and avoid some high chick who was getting roudy with us. a guy walked on to the stage, whispered into her ear as she was playing the piano.

she leaned into the microphone, stopped playing. she yelled KNOCK-KNOCK! the crowd retorted back, WHO'S THERE! and off she went with her guitar, leaving the whiskey. now me and my friend were lucky enough to be right there, right on the side she walked off at. she walked right next to us, 2 feet away, no people were between us, no guards, no walls, empty space, and then chan. if i was feeling ballsy enough, i could have touched her, or offered some words to such a great musician. but i was taken aback, i watched her hug a dark figure and disappear through the door.

so chan played a few songs. and it was money well spent. she didnt do anything to embaress herself, she made no scene, she did no harm. she stopped in the middle of one of her early songs, yelled HEY DO YOU EVER MESS UP? spewed some drunken sounds, and played a new song. the crowd loved it, unphased by the fact that they escaped the downward slope chan is accustomed to. they had no idea they were getting a good show considering her reputation.

all in all, it was worth it. so i offer up these words to others who havent seen her or who have a sour taste for when they did: there is hope. chan did a fine job, i would even say entertaining.


ps this is long, but i didnt intend for that. oh well.

[Futureman]

So Chan engaged in bizarre behavior, yelled at the audience, and left early. What a surprise. And you thought this grand performance was a good buy?

My you have such high standards.

[MyMetalHeart<3]

oh quiet.

you missed the point entirely.

she did not yell at the audience, she yelled, something, obviously to bridge the gap that her embaressment had created at having messed up, and the audience suported her.

she was drunk yes, very very drunk, but it didnt effect her performance.

bizarre behavior? tapping your foot is bizarre? well it wasnt. it was fine, and entertaining.

leaving early, i told you that she was the opening band. they guy who went up there was just telling her that she had to stop playing. opening bands dont get a lot of leway.

god, i love it how people can twist anything around. i would have expected more from suposed fans.

[Futureman]

her foot-tapping was entertaining?

[mackt_knife]

i am familiar with smoosh, and the uncanny absence of guitar in their music. i think matador should sign them and get me as their guitarist because i hate to say it, that keyboard isn't working on all of the songs dearies!(oh and the vocalist/keyboardist is 9, and the drummer - who is very skillful - is 11. or perhaps it's the other way around. ekh.)

about the raging fan here who finds it entertaining to see a drunk girl playing bad chords with a bottle of whiskey and to feel the wind as she walks off stage. DON'T TAKE ME WRONG, i love cat power, and would pay big bucks to see her live(even if she's drunk) IF SHE EVER COMES TO KANSAS CITY!! *winks at who ever schedules her concerts* but i wouldn't act like a crazy nsync fan who faints if justin winks. snap, don't try to make yourself feel better because you paid over fifty dollars to see a show which deep in your mind, regret. of course it's an experience, but i know you wanted more even if, from the beginning didn't expect more. but perhaps you're just easily amused, but it takes more than a couple of incomplete songs and yelling and incoherent drunk mumbling to entertain me.

[Futureman]

ahhh, but what if she managed to kick out some wild, frenzied foot tapping? You'd be screamin' for more!

[mackt_knife]

mmm, but that's only if you were feeling ballsy enough to address her.

[soot]

why don't you two leave My Metal Heart alone...she obviously a big fan & not yet all jaded like you two..and it seems to me that she gave the impression that Chan did well despite being drunk & and dealing with a noisy crowd...if you are not into that fine but someone else should be allowed to enjoy it without being ridiculed.. give it a rest and go on to some other board..

[MyMetalHeart<3]

well, i see my thread has spawned a chain reaction of hatred.

you gotta love that. you give a concert report on a band who isnt touring and you got to see a special show, and you are ridiculed like yesterdays trash.

thank you everyone. i commend you all.

in my defense, it was a good show. and seeing as all you people were not there, why dont you assert your assumptions on someone else. you dont know either way.

as for being an entranced nsync fan, well. lets consider this logically. chan is not touring, look how long it took for her to come out with you are free. think of the interviews which she expresses her deep rooted hatred for fame and has even gone so far as to say a next album is uncertain. the show i was at, well twas a rare treat. we got the closest to her out of anyone at the show disregarding staff. i think my excitement is natural.

[Futureman]

well, i see my thread has spawned a chain reaction of hatred.

good grief. what "hatred"? you're just being teased. get over it.

[MyMetalHeart<3]

well, teasing or no teasing, you all have misinterpreted.

i was just trying to defend her to all of the people who think she cannot handle herself in a live setting.

[Futureman]

So can I call you sometime?

[R.Wilder]

I still want to know how Sleater-Kinney were?

[SarahRide]

I'll never pay money to see Chan Marshall perform as a headliner again. Her flaky stage presence is beyond agravating.

[billybob]

yeah yeah *chan* yeah....

so come on... 3 times

HOW THE FUCK WERE SLEATER-KINNEY???????????

[SarahRide]

So that means she didn't stay for Sleater-Kinney. Okay, I didn't get that. It would be nice to know how they did, though; I haven't seen them play since Dig Me Out's release.

[R.Wilder]

Sleater-Kinney are awesome. I was aware that original poster had left early (shame shame) but was hoping somebody else could enlighten as to rock quality of S-K.

[MyMetalHeart<3]

fine i will tell you about sleater kinney.

fine, i will tell the truth. i left after chan did her thing. i was rather enraged that i paid for tickets for a headlining band that was made the opening at the last minute. not to mention it was a school night and the parental units get kind of faggoty about being out too late.

i already got home later then expected because she took so long to come on the stage and smoosh was taking forever as well. oh well, i saw what i came for.

are sleater-kinney good?

[skfan]

sk rocks! you shouldn't have left. They played 3 newer songs and did a jammy thing(which they have been doing lately)

what you guys be hateing on Chan so much? Dont go to the shows, stay at home listen to her records. why obsess on her message board, just to say nasty things and say she sucks. Weird.

[MyMetalHeart<3]

hey do you live in seattle?

were you at the show?

[skfan]

no I wasn't at the show. guess I should of clarified that. I got the information from the sk fan list. consequently- the people on that list thought cat power did a pretty good job, so she couldn't of been that hammered and terrible. I've seen Sk a couple of times this year, thus the description of them jamming and whatnot lately. I found it interesting them playing with cat power, both are indie rock icons from very different sides. Cat power more folksy downtempo, gets drunk before the show, screw up girl. Sleater kinney are typically very straight edge, or at least portray that image, certainly not drunk in public. But both very talented artists in their own right. If you haven't already, you should check out shannon wright. she is sort of in the same vein as Cat Power, also a very good live performer. maps of tacit is a great album. shes not afraid to use a minor chord:)

[gerglegergle]

I live way up here in Calgary and when I saw the CatPower/Sleater-Kinney bill on the boards I sadly pined for a private jet or teleportation device. Are SK any good, MetalHeart asks? Well, listening to their first Chainsaw disc and going all the way, chronologically, to One Beat(their latest) is sonic proof of how a band can grow from raw emotion to pure brilliance. If they ever point their guitars, (and drums...Janet Weiss is one of the most amazing drummers around) toward Canada, I'll be the first one in line.

[soot]

Sleater-Kinney are a little more popular than Cat Power in general...but especially in the northwest. I'm sure they were always the headliner and Cat Power was special guest...they've played together before & I think they are friends....also its not uncommon to have a solo performer play before a band... it just makes sense aesthetically.

[silver_glider]

Originally posted by skfan

what you guys be hateing on Chan so much? Dont go to the shows, stay at home listen to her records. why obsess on her message board, just to say nasty things and say she sucks. Weird.

Maybe she just attracts weird fans.

[J_fancher]

in my butt

[silver_glider]

a buttfull of laughing clowns
explodes in confetti and
two dawns: merry
christmas dancers
careen about
waiting for trumpet songs

There is a neon season
that never ends

There is a black window beneath
which seats a lonely senator
and the small skulls of children
eating stone

in the whole mess
a serpent is riding a bicycle
off the front page

I hear the murmurs of a
millineum written before
an age is gone

[tiffanychick]

okay last person if you were trying to sound like a moron you suceeded with flying colors. as for the rest of you posers, how can you create a screename for this cat power board and constantly attack chan. here is a faithful fan proclaiming the fact that she actually came through, and you all insult her for saying so. i was at the concert and i expected the worst, but i too was pleasently surprised. her antics were somewhat bizzare, but she did not truly mess up or freak out, and the music was sullen and beautiful. so you fuckers who are degrading her endlessly without reason on this thread should shut the hell up because a, you couldnt do half as well as chan if you tried, and b, your lack of respected is disgusting. gain some tact folks.

[silver_glider]

Tiffany chick what kind of makeup do you wear??

Your anger/disgust is misdirected - the last
several paragraphs are predominantly to do
with sleater kinney content and you're still
trying to defend chan against bullies?

[tiffanychick]

i didnt waste my time sorting through all of the posts on the subject, and i would still like to give my opinion on the matter

[silver_glider]

you got it

[iamdavea]

Oh, I get it: MYMETAL would have stayed to watch SK, but Chan took too long coming on stage! I guess she wanted to make sure she was "beligerently drunk" enough. Sounds like Guns & Roses behavior. Maybe the reason the bands were flip-flopped is because the promoter realized if the show proceeded as originally scheduled, Chan would have passed out in a pool of her own vomit. What a poetic description MYMETAL gives of standing there breathless, as the great one passes by; so close, yet so far out of reach ("I could have touched her...!)--it's like one of those moments-stretched-into-an eternity scenes from a DePalma movie.

[soot]

You seem to have a lot of opinions & theories & conclusions about Chan's performances but you never actually have seen Cat Power perform ??
......so its tough for them to hold a lot of weight around here.....I'm not saying you are not entitled to your opinion or that some of what you have said doesnt have some merit......but opinions should be be based on some actual experience rather than reading into what others have witnessed & felt.

[iamdavea]

Soot!! Thank you for your thoughtful and gracious tone. It's true, I have never seen Cat Power: as often happens with me, I hear about the cool people sometime after they "make it big", and so miss the opportunities to see them when they come through town (S.F.) playing the smaller places. It's happened with Sinead O'Connor, Beth Orton, Neko Case, countless others. That said, I would hesitate to see Cat Power live; based not on my own experience, but on the experiences I've read about on this very forum, and in The New Yorker, and in the S.F. Weekly, and in other publications. I have a low tolerance for frustration, particularly when I've been hoping for fun instead. And, as I've stated previously, I've been fortunate to witness dozens of shows that I'll never forget; shows that have come to serve as a benchmark for what I can hope for when I go see a show. Many of these great performances have been given by the same artists: Eric Johnson, Eric McFadden (particularly with his former band, Liar), Bonnie Hayes, Chris Poland, Buckethead, to name a few. Artists, whether they intend to or not, establish reputations. Ms. Marshall has a long way to go before I'm persuaded to risk my time, effort, and money in the hope that she'll have one of her apparently rare "good nights". And, given how vocal my response would be if she did not, perhaps it's best for everyone that I DON'T go. Nice chatting with you, Sooty!

[soot]

Would you say your musical tastes run towards artists who are concerned with or about good musicianship ? The artists you mention seem to be on the jammy side to me. I'm not a big fan of that type of music....at least not for rock music...I'm more from the Velvet Underground school as I think a lot of the people on this BB & people who listen to Matador bands in general. I'm not saying people shouldnt learn their instruments & seeing good tight band can be great thing but I stay away from people that are considered "virtuosos"... I find that pretty boring....I prefer people who have unique styles/voices even if they are not considered great musicians but their passion drives them.....so in other words give me Bob Dylan over Eric Clapton any day.

[cherryburp]

So would you consider eric johnson or eric clapton artists without passion? What makes the artist boring, that others feel they are a virtuoso? There are artists that can be "virtuoso", passionate, and interesting, like robert johnson. One must not be a mediocre musician to have passion, nor an expert to be a good artist (though it helps).

[soot]

I mean I'm not into impresso-rock & Yes Eric Clapton is boring

[iamdavea]

Soot, So you find virtuoso musicianship "boring"; guess that prevents you from ever attending a classical program/recital, or an opera, or a ballet, for that matter. If you find a tendency in my concert going towards "jammy bands", it's because I have no interest in seeing bands simply replicate the songs from their album in a live setting. Bands whose members have a superior command of their instruments are much more exciting to me, because it's much more likely that their shows will contain an element of spontaneous risk and adventure; that is, take me somewhere I haven't been--and maybe somewhere THEY haven't been, as well. That said, I have no interest in the Dead, or Phish, or Blues Traveler, or many of the other well-established "jammy bands". Though I would have no objection to seeing a band perform in their jammies.

[cherryburp]

Originally posted by soot
I mean I'm not into impresso-rock & Yes Eric Clapton is boring

But I didn't ask if he was boring, rather is he or artists like him who are good musicians without passion? I think it takes more than either passion or musicianship alone to create good music. Eric Clapton has had his share of passion. So did individuals like Mozart. What bores me are the repeated patterns on the beaten path of music (and most jam bands). But to each his own there.

[soot]

I clearly said not for Rock music....I didnt mention other forms of music
like classical, jazz, etc..... I think its a matter of my taste & the taste of the musician, because overly complex arrangements, too much gear, cheesy guitar tone & general noodling (especially rehearsed noodling) turn me off. Like I said I like seeing good musicians but I especially like those can play simple but also powerfully & tastefully. I'm not saying you don't have passion if you are good musician but if musicianship is the main focus of your performance, sometimes it can get clinical & a little "look what I can do"

[soot]

to iamdavea:
"I have no interest in seeing bands simply replicate the songs from their album in a live setting"


Then maybe you'd be interested in seeing Cat Power live !!

[cherryburp]

That could be a new genre: Clinic-Rock

;)

[notmyparty]

i just saw Chan perform last night at the Knitting Factory and was greatly dissapointed. It seems that she's notorious for having an audience leave unsatisfied, because her CD is so good...and her concerts aren't quite up to par.

I don't condemn you Metal for liking the concert, but all i can say is that many people left early, and outside of the venue i heard comments like
"after that show i need to go on antidepressants"

[Busirane]

Ah c'mon, Iamdivea, Mymetal is a mere pub, probably half your age, and you're mocking her for being "breathless" in the presence of Chan Marshall. I've seen Leonard Cohen in public twice, and both times I couldn't bring myself to speak to him.

And what's with all of this virtuoso business? I'm with Soot on this one. Virtuosic rock is an oxymoron, sort of like a genteel demolition derby. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate good musicianship. It means that the best rock 'n' roll, in my mind, has rarely, if ever, been produced by fastidious nail trimmers who confuse their art with Paganini's.


And what's with this Eric Johnson stuff? I remember him from way back when, back when I was a clueless metalhead who measured every guitar player in the world against Eddie Van Halen. Back then I thought Keith Richards was overrated on guitar. Boy was I wrong. Maybe Eric is better than Eddie. Don't know, don't care. But neither of them are half the artist our rudimentary gal Chan is -- disasterous shows or not.

I have yet to see Cat Power in concert, by the way, but I would jump at a chance to see her. My favorite performers are often uneven. I saw Pavement a few years back at the Fillmore. The Thursday show stank up the joint. It was lackluster, and Stephen Malkmus seemed openly hostile to the audience. The Sunday show, on the other hand was one I'll never forget, easily ranking among the best shows I've ever seen.

Something tells me Chan has the same potential to be either crap or brilliant.

[cherryburp]

Rudimentary, how flattering. I don't remember who brought up Eric Johnson -- soot? if you feel virtuso rock is oxymoronic you should take it up with him :]

True metal heads never change by the way!

[Busirane]

I don't think it's an insult to call Chan's musicianship rudimentary. I think she gets more music out of an open E chord than countless "sophisticated" musicians get out of an entire key.

Sorry about posting to you instead of Iamdavea, though. Too much metal at a formative age has left my brains too addled to figure out how to reply to any but the last message in a thread!

[beekeeper]

I cannot fucking believe you walked out before Sleater-Kinney.

And as someone said earlier, I doubt they would be backing Cat Power in Seattle.