Monday, September 11, 2006

Cat Power & The Memphis Rhythm Band (Irving Plaza 9/10/06)

She was dancing around, talking nonsense, a cigarette in one hand and a beer in the other. She was telling jokes that made no sense, even to her band, but they smiled anyway. She was a Louisiana matriarch, with a wall of Southern sound marching up behind her, but then the band left.

And here's where your imagination comes in: download these two songs, and listen to them back to back. Close your eyes. Imagine that Chan Marshall stands alone on a dark stage. The house is silent (pin drop and all that), and she sits down at the piano. Her smokey voice takes over, and she sings you "Wild Is The Wind" (you're thinking, "who the fuck is Nina Simone, anyway?") and then she turns on her chair and sings you "House of the Rising Sun." Now, mind you, no sound has been heard from the audience this entire time. As the last notes of "House of the Rising Sun" fade into silence, some guy goes, "Wow.", and you agree wholeheartedly.

Cat Power - Wild Is The Wind (mp3)
Cat Power - House of the Rising Sun (mp3)

Then Chan Marshall grunts and sort of wanders offstage for a few minutes.