Cat Power, in concert at La Cigale in Paris during Festival les Inrocks on November 4, 2005 and recorded for The Black Sessions by RFI.
She apologized between just about every song – her voice was a little hoarse and the sound was dodgy in places, but Cat Power still delivered a mesmerizing concert at La Cigale that November evening.
Chan Marshall, who adopted the name after her band (of the same name) dissolved – seemed too good to abandon, she took the name and is using it ever since.
Marshall’s releases as Cat Power have frequently been noted by critics for their somber, blues-influenced instrumentation and melancholy lyrics, leading LA Weekly to dub her the “queen of sadcore“. Marshall, however, claims that her music is often misinterpreted, and that many of her songs are “not sad, [but] triumphant”.[95] She has claimed blues, soul music, British rock ‘n’ roll, as well as hymns and gospel music as integral influences on her.
Cat Power’s early releases have been described as blending elements of punk, folk, and blues, while her later releases (post-2000) began to incorporate more sophisticated arrangements and production. The Greatest (2006), Marshall’s seventh release, was heavily soul-influenced and incorporated R&B elements; the Memphis Rhythm Band provided backing instrumentation on the album.[100] Unlike her previous releases, which featured sparse guitar and piano arrangements, The Greatest was described by Marshall biographer Sarah Goodman as her first “full-blown studio record with sophisticated production and senior players backing [Marshall] up”.
Marshall’s live shows have been known for their unpolished and often erratic nature, with songs beginning and ending abruptly or blending into one another without clear transitions. She has also cut short performances without explanation. On some occasions this has been attributed to stage fright and the influence of alcohol. Marshall has spoken openly about suffering from severe bouts of stage fright, specifically in her early career, and admitted that her stage fright stemmed from issues regarding depression, alcoholism, and substance abuse.
By 2006, she had found new collaborators and had stopped drinking. Marshall’s performance style became more enthusiastic and professional a review in Salon noted that she was “delivering onstage”, and called The Greatest “polished and sweetly upbeat”.
For a glimpse at what she was up to in 2005, have a sit-down and relax with Cat Power at La Cigale in 2005 (announcements and some chat are in French, but you get the gist if you don’t know the language.
Enjoy.
