Cat Power at Ogden Theatre, 01/24/13

By Mark Sanders Fri., Jan. 25 2013 at 8:30 AM

Last night's show would feature none of those blog-worthy freakouts, though. She played it safe, even if that meant for a mediocre concert. "King Rides By," a 1996 Cat Power song re-released in 2011, fit squarely with the newer material. It was upbeat for the notably downbeat singer -- try to make it all the way through Myra Lee without having your happy mood deflated -- and it set the audience up for a very unexpected turn in the night's agenda.

About thirty minutes into the set, just when I began thinking, "Dear God, even the Wallflowers show was better than this," came a flurry of songs that reminded us doubters in the room why Marshall was indeed The Greatest. "3, 6, 9," from Sun, was played with passion and conviction, filling the room with all the soul that had previously been sorely lacking from the set. "Nothing But Time" did the same trick, swinging like hell and causing instant amnesia for those who'd thought Marshall had lost her way.

"Peace and Love" and "Sitting on a Ruin" ended the set, which, like the few previous songs, showed the band with a glut of energy unseen for the first half of the concert. Marshall banged on a snare drum, did some breakdance moves, laughed and waved good-bye.

And then -- it was over. Marshall re-emerged alone onstage, house lights now on, to toss T-shirts into the crowd. Hip-hop blared through the house speakers. Anyone hoping for an encore, however, would've been disappointed.

CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK

Personal Bias: Cat Power falls into a long line of bands I once loved (see: My Morning Jacket, Magnetic Fields) whose recent output has me reassessing our relationship. Sun has been off my iPod since a week after I got the album.

Random Detail: There was a girl in a crushed-velvet onesie dancing around with her baby. RANDOM.

By the Way: Chan Marshall's drummer looked like a younger Chan Marshall. Chan Marshall, meanwhile, looked like a young Annie Lennox. What's this all mean?

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Location Info

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Ogden Theatre

935 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO

Category: Music

9 user reviews	Write A Review
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Tags:

1/24/13, Cat Power, Chan Marshall, Ogden Theatre, Sun

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Cyrus

The show was bizarre and caught me by surprise at times but I was completely entertained. This is only my second time seeing her live though I have followed her and the music for about a decade. I was not sure what to expect. I really dig her latest effort "Sun" and the way she went about producing it. I thought her show reflected that. Dancing around to rap music, addressing everyone personnaly, playing with the dogs and throwing t-shirst is what I considered an encore and it was very much appreciated.

For those of you who do not understands drugs, addiction, and life in general. I am pretty sure I understood some words during the show that indicated how great she felt about being sober. It appears that has been the case for her for quite some time. Just saying...

Charles Cranston

Last time I saw her in Boulder, she was main vained to the moon. I hope she gets herself well soon. I'm sending good thoughts and feelings her way.

ssanderson23

she seemed really high last night, and her dog pooped on the floor in front of the downstairs stage bar.

Joey Buhrer

2 Like

Dear sour twit that wrote this review: I'm sorry that your life sucks so bad that you can't enjoy an awesome concert. That must really blow. Not sure why you feel the need to share your pathetic depressive mumbling with normal human beings who are still capable of enjoyment. I, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoyed the show and had more fun than I've had at a concert in ages. Seemed like everyone around me did too. Cat Power 1, Whiny Critics 0.

markrussellsanders

@Joey Buhrer seems I wasn't the only one who felt that way about the show.