Somewhat Disappointed

[thescabsman]

Is it fair to say that Chan is bi-polar? I'm quite new to the whole Cat Power movement, so please forgive me if I'm overreacting. I was intrigued after reading some very good reviews in the Dallas Morning News recently. I got the new album "You Are Free." I think it's great. It makes me want to do heavy drugs, get naked and have sex with a beautiful woman. It's very sensual despite being somber. But I saw the show in Fort Worth last night, and although it was a decent show, I was not that impressed.

First of all, she did not seem to be very into the performance. She didn't like the venue (The Ridglea is a transformed movie theater with a very large high-ceiling main room), probably not the best place for someone with a sensitive ear for accoustics. I would imagine her shows have more of an impact in a more intimate environment. There were the usual breaks for sound checks, mic adjustments etc. She "hated her new amp." It seems almost cliche, like she's doing it just to do it now. I didn't get the feeling that it is a stage-fright quirk, almost that it's her "calling card" so to speak. She kept apologizing for the show. Even Chan thought that it wasn't a good performance. Self-doubt, self-pity, self-loathing came out all night long. Perhaps she was in a depressive valley at the time.

I read a review of SXSW which was the previous night in Austin, and the reviewer said the same things. Chan was "sorry", the sound was off, etc. I guess I don't understand. After 6 albums I would think one would know how to perform a live show. Especially when you have paying customers.

I'm happy that tickets were only $10. If it had been any more, I would be more disappointed. I will continue to be a fan, but I will probably refrain from another live show.

Just my two cents.

[J_fancher]

maybe you should have yelled some encouragement.

[thescabsman]

Yeah you're right, that would of helped the show.

Besides, there is this thing called clapping. It's what you do when you enjoy the songs.

[bitterfruit]

Originally posted by thescabsman
Is it fair to say that Chan is bi-polar? Just my two cents.

No insult intended, but after reading the Pitchfork interview I wonder if she is manic.

She wouldn't be half as interesting if she were normal, but some of her comments make me think that she is either on speed or has some potential issues.

Her comments about being brain dead are right on.

[ezHiker]

I have to say that I disagree with your opinion of the show Sat night in Fort Worth. I was there, and although it was also my first Cat Power show, it was better than I expected. Yeah, the sound was kind of messed up if you were close to the stage like I was... the sound (especially the vocals) are rigged to favor the back of the room. I've read enough reviews of her shows to know that Chan is not your "normal" performer (if there is such a thing). She has always been very shy and introverted on stage. Stopping and starting songs, fooling around with the sound people, apologizing, etc is normal for her. It's just her way. It's all worth it to me to hear her sing. In a way it makes things more intimate to me.

Another thing I liked was that the audience was quiet and attentive. It seemed like the people at this show were mostly true fans. And it seemed to me that Chan was having a relatively good time in spite of the fact that she generally does not like performing on stage. I've heard of other shows where there are inconsiderate people talking, and yelling stupid things at her, which can completely derail her.

I think that all of this stuff about her being crazy and whatnot is a bunch of crap. We all have our own personal demons and our own way of excorsizing them (or not). It turns out Chan's way results in a beautiful gift that she gives to all of us.

[bitterfruit]

I actually got up in the middle of the night because I was still thinking about this.

Maybe she is actually not a little off kilter. Maybe she is just super fucking normal and everyone else is a little nuts-oid.

It's late.

[johansen smith]

maybe she's just a little more "peppermint" than we're all used to.

[bitterfruit]

I can really relate with the braindead part though. I feel that way occasionally myself when doing something for work that seems so fucking rote and repetitive.

Doing covers is one way to change things up a bit.

Was she taking jabs at the Matador crew when talking about name dropping?

Now I can't fucking go back to sleep. Here's to a productive day at work tomorrow.

[thescabsman]

I just think that it would have been a much better experience if I had gotten some positive energy from her. It's not a knock, just a commentary. I know that she is an incredible individual, extremely talented.

[J_fancher]

oh some of her energy huh?

i see.

vampires all around.

hehehe

they abound abound.

i dropped a name and it broke.

[TheSadDebaser]

She's crazy! Lock her up! Witch, I say!

Gorgeous, though.

[J_fancher]

bipolar manic wtf?

she strikes me kinda omnipolar, if anything.

[thescabsman]

You're exactly right TheSadDebaser, she is beautiful. In fact, that's one of the reasons why she gets so much attention, myself included. Now, so that J_fancher and bitterfruit will not get defensive, notice that I said one of the reasons. There are plenty of others I know.

Dude, you guys need to lighten up and lay off the caffeine and amphetamines.

By the way, I did see a bunch of kids in front of the theater after the show rolling around on the ground, stretching and whatever else. I assume they were coming down from their trips, or perhaps just enjoying their trips. They seemed to be feeling pretty good at the time.

[bitterfruit]

I think she's hot. No bones about it. If that attracts people to her art, so be it.

[J_fancher]

i dont think so.

some people just have energy and are spazzes like me. I want to kill your amphetamine because it calms me down far too much. i want to put a few methoxy groups on your amphetmaine, maybe then, and only then, but still only maybe, will i eat said amphetamine.

so chan marshall is gorgeous and hot?

gee i never noticed.

[J_fancher]

"i dont think so" was reference to amphetamines not the other stuff.

personally, i prefer good old fashioned phenethylamines, but i still stay away. It would give too many people something to say was a "reason" i am the way i am. i hate that crap surrounding products like that.

[thescabsman]

Let's try some relaxation techniques.

Ohm, Ohm...
Mellow, Mellow...

There, you feel better now man? How about a big fat doobie?

[J_fancher]

um... okay brother.

[Throwmymuse]

Wait, Scabsman...it takes you Cat Power's new album to want to do drugs, get naked, and have sex with beautiful women...call me crazy but I want to do all those things when I'm forced to listen to Nelly pounding through my roomates' bedroom...come to think of it...I want to do all those things right now...

[ezHiker]

Originally posted by bitterfruit
I think she's hot. No bones about it. If that attracts people to her art, so be it.

Well, I would be lying if if I didn't agree.

Beautiful indeed. Visually as well as aurally.

[J_fancher]

my response is not spellable here it s beyond words and it is mean and growling scnerzhat growwwwschnaggart finery.

[thescabsman]

Are you "tweaking" J_fancher?

And no, I don't need Cat Power to want to get naked, do heavy drugs, and have sex with a beautiful woman, but that's what I want to do when I hear it.

Speaking of, if you look closely on the black & white insert to the CD, you can see the boob of some chick. It's not very erotic, but it's a boob nonetheless.

[J_fancher]

shit im always tweaking.

no M though, thanks.

whoah a boob.

what am i going to do with that boob over there?

i dunno johnson, you should fire that boob, good fer nuthin drunk ass boob.

[swanlee]

You really should have done a little reading before you went to one of her shows to know what to expect. Imagine your normal girl off the streets being put on stage and playing music. That's pretty much how she acts on stage, nervous, apologetic if she screws up, non rehearsed feel, each show is completely different.

Now she's not an average girl off the streets at least not anymore and she has the most amazing voice you could hear and plays decent guitar and piano. But she still gets nervous and her shows reflect how her day has been and how she has performed up to that point. Her shows will not be ultra professional carbon copies of each other and that is a huge part of the appeal to seeing her live. You get to see an actual human on stage dealing with the fact she wants to play her music but doesn't like being on stage to much. she seems to know she's at odds with herself but gets through it even if every night isn't perfect.

And yes I'm pretty sure she has a slight bi-polar or schizophrenic disorder but nothing to severe that would even require medication as I do not think she is on any medication or really needs to be. I've known and gone out with a few girls like her and they may be a little weird to some but are very unique thinking people and I think that is part of what makes her a good song writer.

[thescabsman]

You are absolutely right, 100%. All I am saying is that I would have had a better time if she were a better live performer. If I'd wanted to be depressed, I would have stayed home and listened to the stereo. It would have saved me $20. Are all of the shows like the one I saw? I don't know.

What more can I say? I love the music. I love the artist. I just didn't like the show too much.

Side Bar: I am certainly not perfect, but this drives me crazy. Notice in my last sentence, the phrase:

"...didn't like the show too much."

In more than one occasion in your post, you should be using the word "too" instead of "to".

PII: "...but doesn't like being on stage to much."
PIII: "...but nothing to severe..."

Sorry, I know it's very nitpicky, but it's a pet-peave of mine. Perhaps it's a typo, but I don't think so. No apologies necessary, just so long as you are aware of it now.

[swanlee]

I don't have to much time to go back and correct grammatical errors so my posts will always be riddled with them to some extent I'll try and catch the spelling mistakes but the proper use of to and too I don't even worry about.

Also yes all of her shows are somewhat like what you saw. I enjoy her non professionalism when it comes to her live shows. I've seen so many stadium rock shows that were polished to the point of being exact replica's of the album. You say if you wanted to be depressed you's stay at home, I say if I wanted to listen to something that sounds like the album I'd stay at home.

You must not be to familiar with her earlier work if the depression thing bothers you. No offense is intended in this post, if it is implied, unfortunately you can't read vocal tone.

[thescabsman]

As a "performer", Chan's timidness is just too foreign for me . I like the CD because there is a definite energy, and it was not present at the show. Therefore I was somewhat disappointed. I was well aware of the starts and stops, sound checks, and general quirkiness that encompass a Cat Power show. And there is always the remote possibility of her running off stage crying. I knew all of this. What I didn't know was that she was going to be "sorry", and hate her equipment, and hate the venue etc. It was fucking depressing. This ultimately led to me feeling kind of ripped off. Not a big deal, I saw a show that was different. Not my cup o' tea, but not terrible either. I still love the music itself.

Actually I like the starts and stops, and sound check stuff. And I too think that it makes the show feel real and personal. In fact, many of my favorite musicians perform in such a way. It's probably why we all like them. But they're not dumpy on stage.

Like an asshole, it's just an opinion.

[youarefree]

I found at the Toronto show, Chan seemed very friendly with thr crowd. She was taking stuff the fans were throwing at her, one person threw a tape at her that they made, and pussy willows (what was the point of that??). She was waving at the audience. She seemed to have enjoyed herself.

[zekeboy22]

I had the same experience last night in Newport, KY. I have been a huge Catpower fan, since hearing the Moonpix album when it came out. Last night was the first night I got to see Chan live and I was kinda freaked out. She didn't apologize, she didn't even really say much, it seemed the lead axe man was talking for her. It was like she was wasted or something, very bizarre. Granted, the crowd was rude, with people in the back chatting incesently, but most of the crowd was up close staining to hear.

Anyway, not how I imagined my first Catpower show. I will still buy the albums, and will give another show a try if they come close.

Mark Pruitt
Louisville, KY