photo : valerie@fremin.net

Chan Marshall aka Cat Power, returned to Austin on Saturday night to make good on the show that had to be rescheduled from earlier in the summer due to her ailing vocal chords. My first experience with Cat Power at last year’s Fun Fun Fun Fest was a sour one, to say the least, so I was a bit hesitant to give her another shot. Hesitant, I may have been, but after Saturday night, I believe that I have experienced the better side of Chan Marshall, and my feelings about Cat Power are back in the black.

Taking the stage seemingly in good spirits, smiling and waving to the crowd, Marshall began with an apology to Austin, as if to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. Whether the apology was for the bitter, cranky, trouble riddled performance that took place just less than a year ago, or for having to reschedule the Stubb’s performance, one can only speculate.

Marshall and band worked through an hour and 45 minute set at a slow, sexy pace, spending a majority of the first half of the set on material from the Jukebox release. Marshall displayed her affinity for the artists that she pays tribute to on the album, passionately working her way through each song, taking time to acknowledge the band and reach out to the audience consistently throughout the set. Multiply the physical attractiveness of Marshall tenfold while watching her perform on stage, dancing and belting out the soulful sounds of legends past as well as her own works. Cat Power wrapped up the evening spending time with audience favorites off of The Greatest , taking a moment to toss flowers into the crowd, and dedicating tracks to friends in attendance. The performance leaves me mindless of any adverse feelings I may have harbored for the last year, content and won over by Marshall once again. No apology necessary next time.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 13th, 2008 at 10:26 am and is filed under live shots.