Current Release
The Greatest
(Slipcase Edition, 3 Covers)
ole-743 CD
Sept 12, 2006
Buy (new low price)
iTunes Session
New video
New MP3s
Tour Dates
photo by Michael Clawson
Chan Marshall stops time. She sits at a piano or lays her guitar across her lap, and whether it’s a noisy club overflowing with drunks or a coffee house full of laptoppers, Chan Marshall draws all the attention in the room and makes the world stop spinning. As Cat Power, Marshall’s music seems to rise from nowhere, envelop the room, then vanish; listeners know they’ve been hit by something but they’re not sure what. [biography]
News
11/29/06 —Cat Power & The Dirty Delta Blues Band
We loved the Memphis Rhythm Band, and the fact that that period of Cat Power history is winding down has left us disconsolate. We'd say unconsolable, but the truth is we're so thrilled with her new group, The Dirty Delta Blues Band, that we've taken an emotional round trip right back to the blissfull Chan-loving state we began in. The new group is a four piece combo made up of Jim White on drums, Judah Bauer guitar, Greg Foreman on keys, and Eric Papparozzi on bass.
Jim White, from The Dirty Three, goes way back with Chan--he recorded Moon Pix with her back in 1998. Judah Bauer you should know from his long service in the line of rock & roll with The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. (We've heard it said that he plays guitar with such firey passion that it makes grown men weep, and, in some cases, makes their hair fall out) Greg Foreman is from The Delta '72, and you may have heard of Eric Papparozzi, but I haven't.
In any case, this is a group that looks great on paper, and starting this December you can check them out in person. They'll be playing a few festival dates in Europe before ending the year with a one-two punch in San Francisco and LA on the 30th and 31st. They'll be joined on the California dates by the Flaming Lips and Gnarls Barkley.
In further Cat Power news: Chan was just booked for the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Minehead, UK. The festival takes place over the weekend of 27th-29th April 2007, and the event is being curated by The Dirty Three - other acts confirmed to play are Nick Cave, Low, Bill Callaghan, Spritualized, A Silver Mt Zion..... basically it's going to be awesome. Details on this and any future show can be found on the TOUR PAGE
And yes, that is Chan you hear singing the Cat Stevens song "How Can I Tell You" in the new DeBeers ad. No plans to release it as far as we know, so quit asking.
11/20/06 —NPR is broadcasting an entire Cat Power concert tonight!
Cat Power's recent performance at Washington, DC's 9:30 Club will be aired in it's entirety tonight at 7 PM by NPR.org. Listen online at THIS LINK.
11/17/06 —Cat Power in Memphis
(old Philly flyer art by The Heads of State)
Cat Power played a very special show in Memphis earlier this week and our buddies at Loudersoft were there. It's an exceptionally well written piece …thanks guys! Read: Loudersoft in Memphis.
10/30/06 —Cat Power & The Memphis Rhythm Band on Conan O'Brien
Cat Power and the Memphis Rhythm Band are visiting NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien tonight (or is it tomorrow morning?) along with fellow guests Charles Barkley and Kristin Chenowith. Catch it beginning at 12:35 on your local NBC affiliate.
10/27/06 — Cat Power 'The Greatest: Slipcase Edition' still available at low price with 3 different covers; performing on Conan O'Brien
Cat Power's new album with the Memphis Rhythm Band, 'The Greatest,' is still available in the special Slipcase Edition at a very low price from your favorite store or from the Matador Store here on the website. Or get it from iTunes (that's a direct link), also at a special price.
NEW 10/29: Spin.com reviews Cat Power's performance at the Vegoose Festival in Las Vegas yesterday.
Also, don't miss Chan Marshall when she performs with members of the Memphis Rhythm Band and members of the Max Weinberg 7 on 'Late Night With Conan O'Brien' this coming Monday, October 30, on NBC.
After that, catch Cat Power with the full Memphis Rhythm Band in England, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and Switzerland from November 1 through November 7, Cat Power solo at the Dylan tribute show at Lincoln Center in New York on November 9 with an all-star cast, or touring through the South, Canada, the Northwest and the West Coast with the full Memphis Rhythm Band from November 16 through November 29.
In early December Cat Power returns to Europe with a stripped-down band to play festivals -- keep your eye on the tours page for confirmed dates.
10/03/06 — Last chance to catch the Memphis Rhythm Band in the USA
Cat Power and the Memphis Rhythm Band are taking one last swing through the US this November. If you're the kind of procrastinator who always puts off until tomorrow the show they could see today, well, tomorrow is here! This will be the last US tour Chan does with the Memphis Rhythm Band. Get your travel agent on the phone and check out the full details on the tour page.
09/27/06 — eMusic exclusive EP coming soon
Proving Cat Power is not a partisan in the digital download wars, a new ep will be released exclusively through eMusic. Featuring 4 songs from Chan's recent KCRW session, the "street date" is October 3. But really, who downloads in the street?
09/25/06 — New video posted
The video for "Lived In Bars," directed by Robert Gordon, and featuring members of the Memphis Rhythm Band, is now posted on Cat Power's music and video page
09/05/06 — Relaunch Edition next Tuesday; iTunes Session live now
Dear Friends,
On September 12, Matador is re-releasing the most recent Cat Power album, 'The Greatest'. The reissued version of the album, which you might've already learned via our print advertisements, feature 3 different slipcase covers. The album also carries a reduced list price of $9.98. We'd like to stress the following points:
a) there are no additional songs on this version of the album
b) though we will not try to stop you from purchasing the new slipcase edition if you already own 'The Greatest', this endeavor is really directed at persons who've not checked out the album yet.
c) said scheme and accompanying fancy art were prepared with the full cooperation of Chan Marshall.
If you're of the opinion that dropping the list price on 'The Greatest' is a curious way to reward the serious Cat Power fans that bought the album the day it came out, well, you're right. Except we did acknowledge that portion of the audience with a bonus track on release. And they got to hear this terrific album for months and months, which isn't a bad deal, either.
Anyhow, we know this is a sensitive subject for some of you. We're not intent on gouging Cat Power fans, but we are trying to be creative and competitive in a marketplace where it is becoming increasing hard to maintain the shelf life of a title for more than a couple of months. We really believe in Chan and are of the opinion that 'The Greatest' is one of those life affirming records that we have to get into the hands and heads of as many people as possible.
For those of you already down with the program, thank you. Seriously. We hope you'll be as excited as we are by the contents of the new Cat Power Live Session, an iTunes Music Store exclusive, available today.
track listing:
1. Love and Communication (Acoustic Version)
2. House Of The Rising Sun
3. Wild Is The Wind
4. Who Knows Where The Time Goes
08/22/06 —iTunes Session Coming Soon
All the cool kids were doing it. Interpol, The New Pornographers, Laura Cantrell, and now Pretty Girls Make Graves too. "Come on," they said. "Anybody who's anybody is recording exlusive iTunes EPs."
But Cat Power wasn't just anybody. Cat Power had the strength and confidence to think for herself and make her own decisions. Cat Power was also really ******* cool, so September 5th, iTunes will post a Cat Power exclusive live session. It's going to knock your socks off.
07/26/06 —Mass demonstrations of Cat Power leave all agog
Chan's recent shows in the US and UK with the Memphis Rhythm Band have left audiences agog. And we don't use the word "agog" very often, mostly because we're accused of making it up. Along with blowing away a largish crowd at Bonnaroo (other participants: Radiohead, Sonic Youth, Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks, J.D. & The Straight Shot), Cat Power has recently Made The Scene On The Small Screen with knockout performances on "The Late Show With David Letterman" () and the BBC's "Later With Jools Holland." If you move fast, you can see Chan playing solo tomorrow night:
McCabe's Guitar Shop this Thursday (July 27):
1st show: 8pm doors, 9pm set
2nd show: 10:30 doors, 11pm set
An exclusive Cat Power session for the iTunes Music Store will be available on September 5. Following that, Cat Power & The Memphis Rhythm Band are playing the Austin City Limits Festival on September 15, with a studio taping for PBS' ACL TV program a few days later. Along with further US dates with and without the Band, Chan is amongst the participants in a Bob Dylan tribute at Avery Fisher Hall on November 9, taking part along with Patti Smith and Phillip Glass.
The new video for 'The Greatest's "Lived In Bars" (directed by Robert Gordon) is available here.
06/01/06 —Letterman; London; Lived In Bars
After Chan and the Memphis Rhythm Band's series of triumphant gigs at Coachella and the rest of the West Coast, the all-new-super-fine Cat Power revue hits the East Coast next week for a series of sold out shows. Chan and Teenie Hodges will be performing on CBS' "Late Night With David Letterman" on Tuesday, June 13.
UK residents should be thrilled to learn that Chan Marshall and the Memphis Rhythm Band will be performing at London's luxurious Barbican on June 21, followed by a television broadcast of two songs during BBC2's "Later With Jools Holland" on June 23. A download-only single of the "Lived In Bars" will be released on June 26.
05/26/06 — UK show; 2 upcoming TV appearances; Detroit, Montreal
Tons of Cat Power activity: Chan will be playing the Barbican in London (with full band) on Wednesday, June 21st; she will also be appearing on TV in the US on June 13th (The Late Show With David Letterman) and in the UK (airing) on June 23rd (Later With Jools Holland); the former date with the Paul Shaffer Orchestra, and the latter with the Memphis Rhythm Band.
She will also be playing festival dates in Detroit (with full band) and Montreal (solo) in early July.
For all this, see the tours page.
03/27/06 — New Shows Announced
New late-April / early-May dates have been announced for Cat Power with The Memphis Rhythm Band. Visit our tours page for all the details and stay tuned as more shows may be announced.
02/06/06 — US tour canceled
We regret to announce that Cat Power's entire US tour has been canceled due to health reasons. Out of respect for Chan's privacy, we can't give more detailed information, but we hope and assume that you'll respect her privacy during this time as well.
There will be information about refunds available imminently, and the tour will be rescheduled as soon as possible.
Chan is a good friend and a dear member of the Matador family, and when we have news about future performances, we'll be certain to share it with you here.
01/31/06 — New video directed by Harmony Korine posted; new tour dates
The dreamy, sizzuppy multi-faith video to Cat Power's "Living Proof," directed by Harmony Korine (who wrote 'Kids' and directed 'Gummo' and 'julien donkey-boy') is up on Cat Power's music and video page.
Furthermore, Memphis and Austin have been added to the tour:
Feb 11 - Memphis TN - Gibson Lounge
On sale
Mar 15 - Austin TX - Stubbs BBQ - Matador SXSW show
The latter show also features Belle and Sebastian, The New Pornographers, Mogwai, Brightblack Morning Light, plus special guest Jennifer O'Connor.
12/19/05 — Tour with the Memphis Rhythm Band
Confirmed dates with the Memphis Rhythm Band, including Teenie and Flick Hodges, Steve Potts and others from the new album, plus ticket info where available:
Feb 14 - NYC - Town Hall
On sale
Feb 18 - Boston - Berklee Performance Center
On sale
Feb 20 - Seattle - Moore Theatre
On sale
Feb 22- Los Angeles - Wilshire Ebell
On sale
Feb 23 - San Francisco- Palace of Fine Arts
On sale
Feb 24 - San Francisco- Palace of Fine Arts
On sale
Feb 26 - Chicago - The Vic
On sale
Mar 04 - London - The Barbican
Mar 08 - Paris - Grand Rex
11/13/05 — New biography
The new bio is up.
11/12/05 — Istanbul, MP3, 7" single, Cingular commercial
Though we don't have much news to share other than last month's major announcement about the January release of 'The Greatest', Chan did make her Instanbul debut this past week, in addition to sorting out some of the requisite promo stuff for the forthcoming album. An MP3 of "The Greatest" is still available for your previewing pleasure.
Additionally, on December 6, we will be releasing a 7" vinyl single of "The Greatest" b/w "Hate", available at good retailers everywhere for only 99 cents. Or preorder it on the Matador Store.
....and yes, that is the unique sound of Ms. Marshall's voice, covering the Nerves' "Hanging On The Telephone" is a widely seen television advertisement for Cingular Wireless. Though people keep asking us how they can obtain their own copy of this cover, at present, the only thing we can suggest is that you purchase a very large TV set, a digital video recorder...and check out "The Colbert Report". It won't help you with the Nerves cover, but at least you'll be entertained.
10/11/05 — New (accurate!) album details revealed
On January 24, 2006, Matador will be releasing the long-awaited new studio album from Cat Power, 'The Greatest' on CD and LP in most major industrial countries.
Recorded at Memphis, TN's Ardent Studios over the summer by Stuart Sikes, 'The Greatest' while the most confident and life-affirming work of Chan Marshall's career, is as intensely personal, haunting and provocative as any of its predecessors. The album's players are a bona fide All-Star team of Memphis musicians, including Al Green sideman Teenie Hodges on guitar, Leroy "Flick" Hodges and David Smith on bass, Rick Steff on keys, Jim Spake on sax and trumpteer Scott Thompson amongst others.
The album's sequence is as follows:
The Greatest
Could We
Lived In Bars
Islands
After It All
The Moon
Living Proof
Empty Shell
Willie
Where Is My Love
Hate
Love & Communication
An MP3 of "The Greatest" is available now for your consideration.