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Cat Power (Friday, 5:30 p.m. AT&T Blue Room)
Chan Marshall, aka Cat Power, either knows her fan base, reads her press or figured out something about old-school showmanship. Known for onstage meltdowns, disturbingly introspective performances and the occasional no-show, she seems determined to mess with her audience, knowing that they know all this.
She had her large backup group, the Memphis Rhythm Band, play not one, but two full instrumental tunes before she came out. One song seems like a Vegas intro. But two songs? That seems like she’s flaked. Again.
But no, there she is, acting and sounding every inch the reborn chanteuse. No more flakiness, no more staring at her feet, no more weeping and begging the audience for forgiveness. She shadowboxed, she chicken danced, she played the baritone guitar now and then. Opening with the gauzy “The Greatest” and moving right into the gutbucket grooves of “Living Proof” and “Could We,” she mugged for cameras and sang with breathy confidence.
Was there a piece of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” in there? Was that the Stones’ “Satisfaction?” Marshall kept the audience intrigued, and not in that unfortunate, car-crash way of the past. “Islands” and “Willie,” with their strings, organ and backup singers, sounded like perfect Southern soul in the dying light of day. Not too bad for someone we thought might not show up.
(photo by Brian K. Diggs AMERICAN-STATESMAN)
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