Back to Chan's Performances

[iamdavea]

Gerard, Why the thin skin, and overly protective attitude? Chan's a big girl right? Or perhaps you realized you were damning her with faint praise when you--out of desperation?--stated that you "had seen plenty of shows where Chan played more than three songs". Wow, what a testimonial. I also admired your comment about "selling a line of footwear and soup cans"--Boy, don't you hate it when you go to a Tom Waits concert and he keeps directing you to the Souvenir Tea Cozy stand? I can't TELL you how often THAT happens! The bottom line is, Chan's performances can either stand on their own merit, or not; if the odds are that Chan is going to do an approximation of Ronee Blakely in the movie Nashville, then people are wise to stay away, and justified in feeling gypped. And let's make one thing clear: on stage catatonia or extreme, bizarre behavior is NOT a sign of artistic integrity. Reaching deep down and trying to push a song to new heights; recasting a song into uncharted musical territory--THOSE are the signs that an artist is taking risks, risks that an audience is indeed fortunate to witness. On the other hand, chronic distraction, incoherence, and stupor amount to a psychiatric freak-show, and if Chan feels susceptible to those maladies on a particular night (and odds suggest that she will), then she should have the courtesy and dignity to cancel her own show. That, by the way, is also what an ARTIST would do.

[Futureman]

Now *this* poster I *like*!

iamdavea, please join us on the 'general' board. I enjoy your trenchant prose, and I am curious about your musical tastes as well.

[iamdavea]

Futuremaaaaaan! Thanks for the nice words F.M., and ditto back to you! I kind of stumbled on this site, as I have been reading about Chan recently; I saw Moonpix at the Goodwill store for $3.99, so I bought it despite being somewhat put off by Chan's recent pictoral exhibitionism (most notoriously in Vanity Fair--we might ask ourselves how Chan can be so often stage frightened and overwhelmed in concert, then pose willingly/joyfully as if auditioning for Vulva Magazine). Anyway, most of my listening is to heavy fusion guitar players, chiefly the wonderful Greg Howe. That said, I am completely besotted with Neko Case, and have spent the last couple of months occupied with a compilation tape I made from Neko's three primary releases (I don't yet have Canadian Amp, but hope to soon). I'm 42 years old, live in the SF Bay Area, and have had the good fortune to attend many, many extraordinary concerts over the years. I love artists who go for broke live (Eric Johnson, to name one), will stay home rather than watch a band replicate the album (INXS, to name one). Will walk out on bands that flat out suck (The Jesus and Mary Chain, Sonic Youth, to name two). That's why I was--and am--willing to bet that Posey Rorer is a relative youngster; you reach an age where you know too much and have seen too much great stuff to accept--or even more incomprehensibly, PRAISE--stuff that just obviously sucks. Heck, even Grateful Dead fans were more than willing to fess up when the Dead were having a crappy night; there was no defensiveness, just a hope of better luck next time. And here's one from me: I'm a big Chris Whitley fan, have seen him live a half dozen times; not ONCE have I ever seen him perform a song live that measured up to the version on the record. So I don't go see him anymore. See how simple?

[Gerard]

Yes, indeed, Chan doesn't need anyone at Matador to speak on her behalf. But as she's generally got more interesting things to do than troll the board replying to trolls, label staff will pop in every now and then to express their own opinions.

My point about Chan playing more than 3 songs is as follows --- substandard concert performances by Ms. Marshall are not a universal experience, far from it. Though the tone of the prior thread might give someone a different impression.

as far as footwear and soup cans are concerned, my point is simply that Chan's performances aren't merely a commodity or something off a production line. If you think she's lacking in basic professionalism, fine, but the point has been made. Again and again.

"And let's make one thing clear: on stage catatonia or extreme, bizarre behavior is NOT a sign of artistic integrity."

I fully agree. And no one at this label would argue with that point, I imagine. Though once again, what you might classify as "catatonia or extreme bizarre behavior" is not a hallmark of every Cat Power show.

"Reaching deep down and trying to push a song to new heights; recasting a song into uncharted musical territory--THOSE are the signs that an artist is taking risks, risks that an audience is indeed fortunate to witness."

Very well put. And those of us who have been watching Chan Marshall hone her craft over the last ten years can recall innumerable occasions when she has done exactly that. Admittedly, she's no Eric Johnson. But I think we can live with that.

GC

[iamdavea]

Gerard, Watch who you call a "troll"; I'm a guy who buys a lot of music--why just the other day I took delivery on both of the New Pornographers CDs. And just because I would be dubious about attending a Cat Power concert is not to say I would hesitate to own her albums. Personally, I think that most any debate/discussion about your precious Matador roster-mates is a boon for you, as long as it is intelligent and, I agree, NOT mean-spirited. I'm by nature a generous spirit: I hope that every album I buy will enrich my life; I don't go out of my way to trash things; and I don't hang around KISS forums to agitate the faithful. Every artist worth paying attention to is also going to engender argument and debate: tell me that Eric Johnson is too old to keep singing about missing his girlfriend; or that the only time he looks really invested is when it's time for the solo--that would could us occupied for a couple hours, perhaps profittably. I've already said everything I wanted to say about Chan's performances, and the artist/audience relationship. What should be nettlesome to you is not my tone, or my opinion, but that dozens of people read the posts by Futureman and myself, and no one else cared enough to argue about it.

[Gerard]

Dear Sir Or Madam,

I've not called you a troll and I mean no disresepct to those who are trolls as many of them frequent this bulletin board, and indeed, purchase our fine musical produkts.

"Personally, I think that most any debate/discussion about your precious Matador roster-mates is a boon for you, as long as it is intelligent and, I agree, NOT mean-spirited. "

I would add to that, as long as the points being raised not already been covered in countless prior posts. The debate about Chan's gigs being a ripoff and/or subpar has achieved mythic (ie. boring) status on this board, much like earlier "debates" about Matador's non-affiliation with the RIAA or why I (don't) hate Teenage Fanclub.

"Every artist worth paying attention to is also going to engender argument and debate: tell me that Eric Johnson is too old to keep singing about missing his girlfriend; or that the only time he looks really invested is when it's time for the solo--that would could us occupied for a couple hours, perhaps profitably."

With the interests of the greater community firmly in mind, I promise I shall not tell you that Eric Johnson is too old to keep singing about missing his girlfriend, nor that the only time he looks really invested in its time for the solo.

"What should be nettlesome to you is not my tone, or my opinion, but that dozens of people read the posts by Futureman and myself, and no one else cared enough to argue about it."

We can draw all sort of conclusions from this. Perhaps many readers agreed with you. Possibly, others thought you were so spectacularly full of shit, offering an opposing viewpoint would be a collosal waste of time. And maybe others still thought they had already read the same discussion when Chan played Australia last autumn. In any instance, I'd prefer not to play mind reader.

What's really nettlesome to me are these "Everwood" reruns on UK TV. Are we supposed to believe that Treat Williams is jewish?

[iamdavea]

Gerard, I'm sorry to hurt you like this, but at this point, based on your smarts and essential good-humor, I now consider you a friend, and someone I could buy a beer for. Keep up your fine work. Matador is lucky to have your services. Dave Alexander

[yardleyone]

did anyobdy see that Catpower show in chicago like 3 or 4 years ago? It was right after the covers thing came out. She played solo at the oldtown folk school with supperbell as an opener. It was really really good. No shit!

[skfan]

I came back to see if there was anyting new with Cat power, and after a month or so...the same damn topic. There are those of you who think Chan's live shows are bad. Fine, its been said 20 million different ways, it really is time to move on. I think the moderators are super tolerant, not so much for tolerating the bashing of their artists, but for hearing the same comments over and over again. Maybe some of you are musicians so you're just jealous that Chan is successful and you're not. Or maybe you dont play music so you really have no idea how difficult it is. who cares how many cds you buy. Chan doesn't owe you anything. She'd probably rather not have hostile fans who view her art as a commodity to be consumed.

[iamdavea]

"Just when I think I'm OUT, they pull me back in again!!" SKFAN, read the posts, will you. Didn't I SAY I had finished commenting on this issue? Didn't I pledge my love and allegiance to music, stating, "I hope every album I buy will enrich my life"? You Chan apologists would really rankle me if you weren't so pathetic and juvenile in your reactions--it's like someone hit you with a flurry of "Your Mama's so fat" jokes, not knowing that your Mom did indeed weigh 275 in her underwear. Oops. "Maybe some of you are musicians so you're just jealous...", blah, blah, blah. SKFAN, maybe some of us ARE musicians--not idle (and idol) worshippers, so we have a hard time condoning/rationalizing unprofessional, amateurish behavior. And then, of course, SKFAN, you flip it around to cover both of your asses...I mean, bases: "Or maybe you don't play music so you really have no idea how difficult it is." Wow, clever. Actually, FAN, all anyone would have to do to learn the tough truth about "how difficult it is" is to go see a Cat Power show--certainly, watching Chan struggle to play even three coherent songs will drive home the point that, for some unfortunates, it is depressingly hard to play music. "Chan doesn't owe you anything"--very true, UNLESS I pay MONEY that I WORK for to go see her AT HER JOB, and instead of PLAYING SONGS, LIKE SHE'S SUPPOSED TO, she jibbers and jabbers, dillies and dallies, and ACTS LIKE A BASKET CASE. As far as "viewing her art as a commodity to be consumed", I can safely say that I don't do that; it's clear, however, that CHAN sees it that way, since she has decided to sign a record contract, and have a record company sell her music in the hope that she, and the company, may profit from it. If she felt otherwise, she would still be in the beautiful meadow that adorns the cover of Are You Free (gee, maybe that title is meant ironically?), singing her songs to the air, and the birds, and the few people lucky enough to share her company on that day. And yes, I would be thrilled to be one of them. Now leave me alone, and move on, for crying out loud!

[mackt_knife]

ekh. i haven't been to someone elses show in a while, i've been more focused on my own musical efforts, but what i know of the cp concerts that i have been to is this -- .................... oh forget it whats the point?? ill never hear the end of this sheezy.

the jesus and mary chain dont suck. whereas i can't say the same for eric johnson.

no doubt your views expressed on the bulletin board i agree with, i don't think any cat power fan is in anyway apologetic just loyal to her album tracks.

i've actually taken a liking to bonnie 'prince' billy!

[cherryburp]

hey ho, give it up ya'll...

I can't say the same either for eric johnson, I only scantly know his material. what ratings system are you using btb?

"if it's not iso 9000/14000 it's not safe."