London Show last night(31st May)

[DIPPER]

Went to see Chan at Shepherd's Bush last night, first time I've seen her live & I've gotta say it was great.

She wasn't as 'quirky' as I've read on here that she can sometimes be, which disappointed me a bit but maybe it was a good thing.

Anyway I enjoyed myself, got a bit drunk met a few new people & managed to make it home, so a successful night.

Dunno if she ever comes on here for a look but if so then thanks for the show & don't shy about coming over a bit more often.


Oh & also someone on another thread said that they saw her at the weekend & had to leave because people were talking & she couldn't be heard, well there was no problem last night, an almost reverential silence was there puntuated by the odd enthusiastic burst of applause & laughter at her funnies.


Only downer is that I was stuck on the top deck, next time I'll have to make sure I'm at the front.

[daveg]

I also saw Cat Power at Shepherds bush and was so disappointed. This is the third time I have seen her, and I probably won't bother to go again.

Don't get me wrong, Chan has a beautiful voice and writes some truly great songs, but seeing her perform is so infuriating. I think she only managed to finish about half of the songs she started, she spouted rubbish throughout her set and at the end was getting the lighting guy to p**s about with the lights for about 15minutes. Does she have any respect for an audience that obviously respect her??

[DarkEyes]

dude you are exagerating so much its not even funny. she played over 10 full songs . if you've heard anything about her other perfomances this is a pretty "good" amount..

so i take it you dont like "sitting in the ruin"? i thought that was the highlight of the show. i loved seeing someone do somthing different and thought the whole thing was amazing. i mean she did i dont blame you on guitar , a fucking amazing rendition of satisfaction (with chorus!) and metal heart.

she was being amusing when talking to the crowd , so i cant see how that amounts to "spouting rubbish", maybe you just want every artist you see walk on stage , shut up , play 10 songs , go off , come back do two more then get lost.

what was the matter with her moving the lights about? i cant see why that could possibley affect you. if the soundguys hadnt put the music on it probably would have lasted a bit longer...

i really do laugh at the people who were complaining about last nights gig , bottom line is she played a load of songs , brilliantly it must be said , and made things somewhat amusing by messing about with the lights and actually being talkative unlike most bands/singers...


personally i could have sat there enjoying singing in the ruin for the rest of the night. bring on ATP!

plus i dont know if it was me , but like half the crowd seemed like they belonged at a fuckin' norah jones gig...

[JRL]

Originally posted by daveg
I also saw Cat Power at Shepherds bush and was so disappointed. This is the third time I have seen her, and I probably won't bother to go again.

Don't get me wrong, Chan has a beautiful voice and writes some truly great songs, but seeing her perform is so infuriating. I think she only managed to finish about half of the songs she started, she spouted rubbish throughout her set and at the end was getting the lighting guy to p**s about with the lights for about 15minutes. Does she have any respect for an audience that obviously respect her??

Sadly I agree with you. I acctually found it embarrasing in the end, she was obviously too drunk to really know what she was doing, and right at the end she didn't know what was going on at all.
I've been told that she suffers from stage fright and has to get blind drunk to perform, but that show was a shambles. I think that someone needs to get a hold of Chan and sort this out. There are plenty of other people with cronic stage fright who cope with it with out getting to the point of behaving like someone on a hen night in Southend. The most relevent would be Beth Gibbons from Portishead/& Runting Man.

The whole night was a bit of a flop for me, Shepheards Bush is not really suited as a music venue (It was designed for Shakespear, Lloyd Webber pulled 'Joseph from there due to the poor accustics) . The two support acts were not that good, A Jack Osbourne look alike doing a tribute to the White Stripes (Whom I thought was a busker who'd won a Carling comp) and a faceless indi band. And then the top of the bill not being in a fit state to perform, and being egged on to make a fool of herself by what can only be the 'Big Brother' viewers in the audience.

[JRL]

Originally posted by DarkEyes
what was the matter with her moving the lights about? i cant see why that could possibley affect you. if the soundguys hadnt put the music on it probably would have lasted a bit longer...

Unfortunatly unless you have a differnt licence you cant have a performance go on beyond 11pm in London. Had they let her carry on they could have been hit with £100 000 fine from the GLA. Of course it could be worse if we get a Green Mayor the'll be no live music past 9pm!

plus i dont know if it was me , but like half the crowd seemed like they belonged at a fuckin' norah jones gig...

I didn't think that. I think that Nora has followed (well been advised to follow) the same fasion trend as most of the people there. Take a look at Noras outfit on her new album ad's it's not that far away from whar Chan was wearing last night.

[Bright Eyes]

Your grammar/punctuation is terrible.

[daveg]

"if the soundguys hadnt put the music on it probably would have lasted a bit longer..."

I dont think so. She finished by saying "it's over now. It's been over for a while." And yes, I do expect performers to go on stage and actually play their songs. That's their job

[DarkEyes]

"Your grammar/punctuation is terrible."

I am drunk.

[Sean]

Cat Power, Crap Power, Kack Power, Shat Power.

I saw her play that chapel in Islington last year and it was a special gig, gorgeous, extraordinary. It bore no relation to the shambolic, self indulgent, careless mess that I saw last night. I'd recommend Dipper to see Cat Power when she gives a damn.

She can only play the "cripplingly shy" card so many times before you have to ask why she insists on playing live. Nobody makes her. Last night she cared more about herself than the audience. She was happy to take the money from those people but she couldn't be arsed putting on a show.

Maybe she's a tortured artist, struggling with her personal demons while being driven on by a monstrous and cynical record label / management / agent. Maybe she left the stage and collapsed sobbing, broken, dreading the next date.

Or maybe she just couldn't be arsed putting on a show.

[Gerard]

Sean,

while you're entitled to your opinion about the quality of Chan's performances, let me assure you that Matador plays no role whatsoever in scheduling or booking her gigs. Whether or not Ms. Marshall chooses to perform is entirely up to her.

I wouldn't characterize her agent, Carlos, as cynical by any stretch. Promoters want to book Chan --- he lets her know.

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy the evening.

[ginsberg]

Gerard, I think Sean was using the mighty power of UK sarcasm...I don't actually think he was accusing her manager of being cynical et al.

He was simply insinuating that the only factor in it being a sh*te show was the fact that Chan couldn't be bothered.

[daveg]

Sean, I couldnt agree with your comments more. If Chan doesnt want to be on stage and play, then she shouldnt. We'd all still buy her albums!!

[Sean]

Thanks Ginsberg, Daveg, sorry to Gerard if you thought I was critisizing Matador/Carlos - Ginsberg hit the nail on the head. Matador Records remain a pillar of integrity in a monstrous and cynical recording industry.

[JRL]

Originally posted by daveg
Sean, I couldnt agree with your comments more. If Chan doesnt want to be on stage and play, then she shouldnt. We'd all still buy her albums!!

We would, but I would guess her reason for playing is the huge pressure that she is put under in the US. While Matador do release and support artist's who don't perform, in the states an artist who dosen't perform isn't given air play. It is the cynical way that US radio works. If you are alive and you have a record out you have to play live or you'll not get any air play.
One of Chans neighbours in Brooklyn (I belive they went to the same high school) is the equily shy and retiering Peter Steele of Type O Negative (A gloomy rock band who have there moments, some of there more Avant stuff is remenicant of Sonic Youth) he constantly complanes of the same thing, if you don't play live you don't get airplay ergo you don't get the sales.

[Siouxsie]

Hello to all,

I was at the gig at Shepherd's bush and it was awful ! I confirm what many people said here about Chan. Although I love her songs on CD and I think she is the one who gives me such joy when I listen to them, she is such a mess on stage and she has no respect to her public ! What happened on wednesday night is simply unbearable and it's the second time she is doing that fucking improvisation that leads to nowhere except people thinking she is making fun of the audience especially when she laughed at the price we have paid to see her disaster gig.
Many people shout to her to play "nudes as the news" or at least one song we know from her CD and she didn't care at all playing materials nobody has heard before or not finishing half of the songs she began...

If this girl has any decency, she should reimburse the price of these tickets because it was a JOKE last night, a very bad joke and most of the silence people were gutted and pissed off !!!

It is just the last time I go to see this joker, sorry for that !

Siouxsie

[Gerard]

JRL,

Chan didn't go to High School in Brooklyn. Did Peter Steele? I think Chan can get by with or without airplay. As the vast majority of her US airplay comes from college radio, I don't think such exposure is largely dependent on her playing live.

Siouxsie,

wouldn't playing "I Don't Blame You" constitute playing at least one song some of the audience had heard before? I'm not arguing with your right to complain or anything, but the set wasn't 100% unfamiliar material.

[Siouxsie]

Gerard,

The only song I recognized to be honest is "free" and maybe a cover song, the rest was a total impro.
I will be quite surprise to see what you have managed to put on a DVD if all her performances are at this ground level...
Is she performing with a proper band sometimes ? I am sure it is much better as at least she needs to be consistent with the other band players...Chan should be banned to perform alone, for me it is the solution i propose ! And next time, please ask the tour manager to mention that she is alone on stage so everybody will understand what they can face if they book...

Anyway this morning it was good to hear on CD such classics as "nude as the news", "bathysphere", "free", "good woman", "Fool", "He war", "Shaking paper" and "names" which are my favourites.

When you hear what Chan can deliver on CD which is simply outstanding, you can understand how disappointing it was to see such a talent burning her wings on stage and alcohol...

I felt really heart-broken after that show to be honest.

Siouxsie

[Gerard]

Dear Siouxsie,

Once again, I'm not challenging your right to complain about a performance you disliked. But Chan did play material people have heard before, contrary to your original claim. I've given you one example, you've given me another (thus contradicting yourself).

In addition, though I think there is nothing fundamentally wrong with improvisation, when Chan performs a song that is thus far unrecorded/unreleased, that in itself does not constitute improvisation.

Once upon a time before she made records for Runt, Smells Like, Making Of Americans or Matador, all of Chan's gigs consisted of songs no one had heard before (save for covers). That wasn't improvisation, either.

In answer to your question, Chan has played many shows over the years with a full band, including several in London. I can't say for sure if you would've enjoyed those gigs more or less.

As far as informing the public is concerned, I do agree that it might be useful if ticket holders were aware whether or not a gig was a solo performance or a full-band show. That said, the Cat Power lineup has ranged wildly over the years with Chan being the sole constant. I'm assuming that the promoter, Foundation, were well aware that Chan was doing this gig solo -- much like her ATP appearances. I don't think there's been any attempt on the part of the artist to deceive anyone.

GC

[DIPPER]

Oooh didn't expect that so many people hadn't enjoyed the gig.


I kinda assumed this was one of the more together shows, maybe it's just my taste or expectations or whatever but I like the improvs & the meandering & the chat & the jokes, the only time there seemed a fuck up to me was over the lighting but that was at the end anyway.


It's funny how different people can come away from the same event & have had a completely difference experience, the people I was talking to seemed to enjoy it but there were a pair of knobs next to me who started getting uppity over the lights thing & I must admit I was getting pretty close to telling them to piss off when they stormed out in disgust anyway.

I suppose it's a case of whether your glass is half full or half empty.

Personally though if I want a perfect rendition of an artists latest album or stadn out songs then I'll just bung on the CD or the greatest hits or whatever, live I like to get a sense of the performer's personality & quirks-good or bad.

[Siouxsie]

Dipper, you did mention that your glass was full that night.
And you are the only one to say it was great...
I admit that I don't like gigs without drums and bass and when I saw her arriving alone, I was already on the low side but you can have a little bit of criticism spirit and not thinking that everything is great in life and forgive everything to a lost girl because it sounds arty to say that...

What counts is the respect you give to your audience that has made a gesture towards the artist by coming to see her and her feedback this night was nothing but amateurism, lazyness and boredom. It was like a little girl talking to herself in her bedroom
without noticing we were watching !

I would have accepted that she cancelled the gig, it would have been much better than to reflect this image of herself that was disgraceful.

Siouxsie

[Simanenyee]

Meh, I thought it was great. And so did everyone I'd spoken to about it prior to reading this thread.

[daveg]

For me it's not that I want a perfect rendition of an artists album when I go and see someone perform, nor do I mind listening to new material being tried out. In fact I don't even mind watching a shit gig every now and again, but to not finish songs and to hold the audience with such contempt was what really pissed me off last Wednesday.

[john77]

I also went to the Shepherds Bush gig and got a horrible seat at the top, at the back, made worse by being on my own cos noone could come with me at short notice. In case you're thinking "who the hell is this?", I've just joined.
I can't believe how many negative comments have been made about her performance that night. She has a long record of such implosions, and I was fully expecting such a glorious shambles.
Ok, so she rambled about sittin on some kind of ruin to more and more exasperated polite laughter, blew bubbles into the microphone, played 'Knock Knock' with a perplexed audience, and messed around interminably with the house lights, but that was fine!
I read somewhere that she stops her songs halfway if she feels she isn't performing them well enough. So I don't think she does it just to annoy us. Those people shouting for 'Nude As The News' and 'Rockets' are the same people who used to see the Doors only for 'Light My Fire' or Black Sabbath only for 'Paranoid', etc, etc. I had been listening to a lot of her latest album as preparation, cos I sort of assumed she wouldn't do her old stuff, however great. I was disappointed she didn't play 'Good Woman', 'Names' or 'Keep On Runnin'-my faves on the album-but her 'Maybe Not' was excellent, and she did a decent 'Moonshiner' and a great 'Metal Heart'.

The thing is that her voice is so great, and so damn sexy (probably enhanced by the fags-slang for cigarettes in Britain, Chan!) that I enjoyed every second; once or twice I got goosebumps. She's also VERY funny, which was a definite bonus-I wasn't expecting. I recall one woman-American I think-who would not stop heckling, which I thought very unfair. I felt very sorry for her when it finally disintegrated and she said "It's over. Let's face it, it's been over for a while."
It was a rude audience who ignored totally the opening acts. She was by no means perfect, but she deserved more respect, and if you felt cheated, then do your research next time!
I'm sorry for such a long piece, but I'm a very bored insomniac.
john

[cherryburp]

Originally posted by daveg
For me it's not that I want a perfect rendition of an artists album when I go and see someone perform, nor do I mind listening to new material being tried out. In fact I don't even mind watching a shit gig every now and again, but to not finish songs and to hold the audience with such contempt was what really pissed me off last Wednesday.

How did she hold the audience with contempt?

[mswaxalot]

The only song I recognized to be honest is "free" and maybe a cover song, the rest was a total impro.

-with respect, you must have been in the bathroom for most of the set. i saw the set list, and while she did not play the songs in order of the written list, she played at least twelve of the songs. AND she DID NOT PLAY FREE. what gig were you at?

ciao

[penelec]

This is an interesting thread! Even grammatical posts!

I wonder at the implied guarantee when people buy tickets. If ever there were an artist who hints at caveat emptor, it's Chan. I can't imagine enjoying a Cat Power record and getting pissed at a weak performance, insofar as a lot of the lyrical content and the musical performance tends to evoke understanding for a more descriptive way of digging some tunes. My impression is that disappointed folks are actually disappointed because they misunderstood what the fuck they were going to see.

That's your problem, not a message board's. Definitely not Chan's.

Chalk it up to your fault for being the wrong type of person to be at the gig. Grousing about it doesn't really change much. Excuse the pedestrian simile (and infer no connotations regarding Chan personally -- I'm about to use hyperbole that's gonna offend the hypersensitive or opaque)*, but isn't it kinda like hiring a hooker and getting your knickers twisted 'cause there was no candlelight dinner? A lot of people support Chan because, well, she's done it. She's written great songs, toured at personal expense, and given more to us than we've given to her. Paying to see her play should not be all about getting my personal setlist played as prescribed by the album I've memorized note for note. It should be about giving her some cash so she can keep playing, and if I have to blush at an embarrassing moment or two, that's OK by me.






*The absolute worst thing about the Internet is I have to make such statements because we can't discuss it over a beer.

[cherryburp]

But what does this have to do with sheep herding?

[penelec]

Oh, snap.

I dunno. I was drunk when I posted and thought somehow that a flock of folk goin' into a Cat Power show related to a place called Shepherd was kinda cool.

But that was misguided, I know. Points for trying?

[Siouxsie]

It seems the pro Chan's messing on scene are back...Effectively, you look like a flock of sheeps following your icon whatever she does. At least, we could have expected from you a little bit of criticism, your "flower power" hippy philosophy makes me wanna puke, you are just followers, I don't see any outstanding point of view in your replies, just some bland, wishy-washy, vanilla arguments...
I have seen more than 100 gigs and never one like Miss Marshall's, you have not counted apparently the people leaving the show before the end ? Wasn't it a flagrant sign for you ? It seems you are too blind to see that...

[Gerard]

Siouxsie,

far be it for me to take issue with someone who has seen over 100 gigs. But isn't the plural for sheep, "sheep"?

I think we've done our best to respect your point of view, and admittedly, you're not alone. But to characterize others as "followers" merely because they aren't giving in to a lynch mob is kind of ironic, I think.

GC

[Siouxsie]

Gerard,

I'm nor american nor english so pardon my french ! Ok the plural of sheep is sheep, at least I have learnt something from you, thanks for that ! But that's not a reason to patronize me, i have no lesson to receive from you, young man and on top of that by an american, let me laugh...

Siouxsie

A cool missile, yes it's in his smile
with open arms to welcome you
beware the masked pretender
He always lies, this candyman
those lips conspire in treachery
to strike in cloak and dagger, see !

[Gerard]

I'm hardly patronizing you. I've tried to take your points seriously, despite the fractured syntax and hostility. But to reiterate, for someone to defend Chan amidst a flurry of negative commentary isn't an example of being a follower.

You've not explained what your hangup is with Americans, but given that Ms. Marshall is an American artist and we are an American record label, your comment is puzzling. You may or may not have something to learn from me, that isn't for me to say. But my nationality has nothing to do with it.

[john77]

God, this is getting hostile, xenophobic even. Why can't everyone just chill (NOT flower power talk). Her performance was bad at times, but had moments of inspired genius (not talking about sittin on a ruin). She didn't lack percussion-the sound of slamming doors ruined a lot of the concert for me, far more than her performance-but while those baying for blood have some validity, they should also be a little more indulgent (the sheep-flock analogy is wearing a little thin). merci beaucoup.

[Siouxsie]

Ok let's cool down.
I have nothing against americans except when they begin to teach the world what is good, what is bad and especially what is ugly. You should be more humble, let me remember you your history is only 228 years old. Concerning english people it is strange to see they support their american cousins when you see how they talk with utter contempt about americans here in London...
Concerning my syntax, I would like you to show your french grammatical skills so we can compare with my so-called poor english...
To close the debate, the only thing I would like you to acknowledge is being the Catpower's label doesn't prevent you from telling the truth about her when she is not at the level of our expectations...and accepting telling she has not been good that day. Chan is not God and she is doing some mistakes...She could have apologized for that instead of joking on our poor pounds left on the counter....

[Siouxsie]

Hey, by the way, Gerard, you seem to feel less attacked by the Edinburgh thread where a comrade-in-arms is saying exactly the same things as I am so consider throwing your weapons of mess destruction to the scots as well...

All is not well that ends well, Scots and froggies do understand that...

[Gerard]

Siouxise,

I've not tried to teach you what is good, bad or ugly. I've merely pointed out that "sheep" is the plural form of "sheep". I'm sure your command of the English language is far superior to mine, however you're the one who is posting to an board where the language being used is not that of your native tongue. If that's not a problem for you, it isn't a problem for me.

My history is a lot younger than 228, thanks, but I've heard I look mature for my age.

Not every English person speaks with contempt about Americans, or vice versa.

As far as Cat Power is concerned, I'll acknowledge for the zillionth time that those who find Chan's performances to be substandard have a right to their opinion, and we at Matador are willing to give you and others a forum in which to air your grievances. That doesn't mean, however, that your comments will go unanswered, nor does it mean that the same point being repeated over and over again is particularly interesting to read.

If you're gonna persist in calling other board contributors "sheep" or "sheeps" merely because their sentiments don't echo your own, I'd respectfully suggest you find somewhere else to post. I'd hate to stifle your free expression.

[Gerard]

thanks for the tip, but I have a harder time commenting on a gig I didn't attend than one I did.

I really think "froggies" is a pejorative term that shouldn't be used, unless you are refering to the Brothers Flemion.

Either way, I don't feel attacked.

GC

[Siouxsie]

Thank you for that sensible reply, Gerard. We have finally found a common ground...
I love Matador and recently Pretty Girls Make Graves gave me a huge impression both on cd and on stage, they are great ! I saw Liz on stage as well, she is really kind with her audience. After the show, she signed all the stuff the fans have brought, it was very family-style ! Maybe you should introduce Liz to Chan, she has a lot to learn from her chicagoan mate...

have a nice day !

[Gerard]

Dear Siouxsie,

if by Liz you mean Ms. Phair, no introduction should be necessary. Chan has supported Liz on two occasions, once at the Academy in New York (April 1994) and again at Town Hall, NYC in 1995.

thank you
Gerard

[hootowl]

i think you all need to lighten up - it's her music, her performance and she gives what she's got. i saw her at ATP weekend two and thought it was lovely, she may manage less songs than other acts but her personality was there. People need to stop being demanding and except a performance for what it is. Live is live and a CD is a CD, if i saw a band who played exactly the whole CD exactly the same i would be dissapointed. There is no other performer like chan so i think you can all stop being so stereotypically whiny and british - as chan said last weekend 'If your not laughing, your not happening'! so chill the bleep out ok!

[hootowl]

PS if you lot keep moaning she won't carry on playing over here and you're giving other English people like me a bad name, I don't wont Chan to think we as a whole are ungrateful to her performances and that is the vibe you are all sending off

[bohemian_1]

Hello all. I am new not only to Matador forums but this kinda thing in general. I haphazzared here during a Cat Power search. I am amazed what I have found. Not only here, but on several sites. I see so much bickering and critique...and praise for Chan's obscure career. I am going to put forth some observations and facts that I hope quell the hostility here.
If you all look closely at the main list on this site, you will see that Cat Power has more post and threads than any other. Why? You know why. Because Chan Marshall is a curiosity, full of mystique, different, a bohemian, a human being (notta superstar with trainers and millions pumped into concerts and promotion)...yet we are here and many are over there complaining about her 'live' demeanor. Sure she is quirky...sometimes she isn't...when she isn't some complain...the very ones who love to hate her. When she does wig out, some understand that THIS is Cat Power...others rush to their computers to post critique. I wonder how these people would 'come off' onstage...if they were in her shoes...if they had her history. My suggestion is that they stop taking valuable seats at her concerts and let those who want to see her be who she is.
I personally think Chan Marshall is pure...able to mesmorize alone...just her...looking at her guitar like she is wondering how it works...not fazed if her voice crackles...a person who knows what it is like to be normal...stumbled into the public eye by fate....frightfully real...like you and me. Imagine being her and having to real what is said about her...just a sonic youth from Georgia. If you or I were her would we be better?
I think Chan Marshall is a great american artist...time will tell. I saw things in this thread that developed into a UK/US war of opinions. I won't get into parodies such as Oasis (as big as the Beatles...brothers feuding) (sic) Nope. Cat Power is from the back porch...not to be compared to that last awesome concert you saw...in your concert-filled life.
I will see Chan in Portland and again at the Sasquatch fest. I KNOW what I am going to see. If she is less than perfect my arms are there to protect her from the wolves.
I salute Matador for holding her contract and I wave to fellow fans. To the critics.
I say..."have you heard Janet Jackson's new CD? Wow...she is so good in concert...and her video is so...so...hmmm....get my drift?

[mojo]

I just thought I'd add my 2p in here too... it was my third time seeing Chan live, and you know, even though I can safely say it wasn't the best I've seen her, it certainly wasn't the worst.

My husband wasn't so happy though, but that was his second time (the first being the second Bush Hall gig from just before 'You Are Free' which was an incredible show) and he'd never seen one of these shows, just heard about them. (were those shows recorded in any way, Gerard?)

I could have lived without the lights in my face, it stopped me thinking about the music, but hey, in the end, she played songs, she played older songs as well as new, and it was quite nice to be at a gig where everyone was quiet, so you could actually hear her play (I can think of plenty of gigs where I've had to tell someone to shut up cause I want to hear the band!).

so I just wanted to add a semi-positive note to this thread...

[DIPPER]

Originally posted by Siouxsie

I have seen more than 100 gigs and never one like Miss Marshall's,


Well to me that's gotta be a good sign, at the very least you've got something to bitch about for the next 10 years.

For me a strong reaction like this,even a negative one, has got to be better than seeing a performance that just provokes a feeling of inertia in you.

[DIPPER]

Originally posted by Siouxsie
Ok let's cool down.
I have nothing against americans except when they begin to teach the world what is good, what is bad and especially what is ugly. You should be more humble, let me remember you your history is only 228 years old. Concerning english people it is strange to see they support their american cousins when you see how they talk with utter contempt about americans here in London...



What is wrong with you? firstly don't try to categorise all Londoners as having contempt for Americans, that's just bullshit.In fact there's a much larger contempt for the French.

Secondly all this crap about Americans having only 228 years of history & to be more humble is such a load of arrogant nonsense, do you really believe that coming from a country with a longer documented history gives you as an individual a greater sense of understanding of the world than somebody from America?

You don't like Cat Power, so why go to her shows? really it's like you want to give yourself an excuse to let rip, it's almost sado masochism.

You don't seem to care much for American or English people, perhaps you have that Gallic indifference to the Anglo-Saxon world, well that's your trip baby, but if that's the case then what are you doing living in London, is it more of that S & M self inflicted pain thing?

Me, I like Americans, I like Fench people, in fact I have a big thing for French women, & I love Cat Power, am I a hippy?I don't think so, am I sheep?no way.

But I enjoyed the show in the same way that I enjoy a lot of things & people in life & you know what? the things that I don't enjoy............................I just don't do them.

Would it be arrogant of me to suggest that you adopt the same approach.

[penelec]

I regret my sheep pun more every day.

[justin_S]

I feel the need to agree with dipper here. If you don't really like a particular artist, why go to one of their shows, especially when, in this case, she has a well documented history of giving somewhat shaky performances?

[Charlotte]

I went to the Shepherd's Bush show and I must say it was a hell of a lot better than I expected!

It was my first time seeing Chan and immediately after booking tickets wished I hadn't after then hearing such bad things about her live performance. I think if I hadn't prepared myself for a bit of a bizarre show however, I would have been a bit disappointed, but from what I saw she seemed witty and stable enough. I had to leave 3/4 of the way through the set but overall it was a good evening out, I thought the support bands were pretty good. I was a bit suprised to see Chan come on stage alone I must admit and was slightly gutted as the possibility of songs like He War were therefore thrown out of the window.

Enjoyable!

[gravitywinz]

I saw Chan Marshall at ATP and it was what it was...which to me was fantastic. She doesn't "do" shows in a way that most people are used to and because of this she is often written off. I personally think that is total horseshit. She's an artist, you can take no more than what she gives, you can expect no more than what she personally has to offer. Just because she doesn't match up to your expectations on what defines a "show" doesn't neccessarily mean it's crap...all it means is that it doesn't fit with what you want. So much shit is said about her, on this site, during the show...i think you can all fuck right off. Chan Marshall is a fantastic albeit non-conventional performer, don't like it? Don't go to her fucking shows 3 times in a row!

On a side note, I think the person who said something like, "it's their job" or whatever needs seriously re-think what going to a show is. This isn't going to see the fucking Ice Capades. Chan Marshall doesn't have any "job" to do other than what she does...which is create beauty mixed with her own unique pesonality. She's not there to be your fucking dog just because you shelled out £15 at Shep's Bush. Get a life.

[gravitywinz]

"I have nothing against americans except when they begin to teach the world what is good, what is bad and especially what is ugly. You should be more humble, let me remember you your history is only 228 years old..."

That's some funny shit.

[Futureman]

Originally posted by Siouxsie
Ok let's cool down.
I have nothing against americans except when they begin to teach the world what is good, what is bad and especially what is ugly. You should be more humble, let me remember you your history is only 228 years old.

Funny. Siouxsie prides himself/herself on being less arrogant than Americans. But does that make him/her less or more arrogant? Thanks for teaching us not to teach others. Let us know if we are to follow your example.

Or not.

[gravitywinz]

This actually pissed me off enough to return to it today, either I'm incredibly bored or my button's been pushed.

"It seems the pro Chan's messing on scene are back...Effectively, you look like a flock of sheeps following your icon whatever she does. At least, we could have expected from you a little bit of criticism, your "flower power" hippy philosophy makes me wanna puke, you are just followers, I don't see any outstanding point of view in your replies, just some bland, wishy-washy, vanilla arguments..."

1. Disagreeing with you doesn't equal being sheep.

2. Disagreeing with you doesn't mean we don't have the ability to criticize.

3. Disagreeing with you doesn't mean we are "hippies".

Disagreeing with you means that we don't share the same opinion about something.

It's clear this has had to be spelled out for you.

Anyone making such cutting declarations while claiming they are "reasoning", simultaneaously dropping lame anecdotes about the U.S. that has nothing to do with the discussion is obviously a confused individual.

Admittedly, at least one redeeming quality about you is that you actually listen to good music. Yes even you have the priveledge of listening to great bands, a lot of whom are from America.

God it's hard...being not only a super power, but a super-duper power!


Rokk

[silver_glider]

Yah, particularly hard on all those innocent civilians that keep getting in the way. When you're a super power without a conscience the best thing to do is use cluster bombs or depleted uranium, and go for the infrastructure. :)

Kick ass and take names later :):):)






HE HE

<3<3<3

[einzack]

I thought the shepherds bush gig was actually pretty good.
I had not seen chan before and thought up until the point when she started fucking round it was amazing.
if she had ended the gig 15minutes early, it would have been a truly amazing gig - unfortunately, the crap at the end ruined it somewhat.....

i loved the older songs she played - they were a real highlight.

This one guy sitting next to me was a total asshole though...he screamed throughout the entire gig for metal heart, and then when she played it for him he fucking complained that she only sang 2 verses......some people....
what a cock.