Project Description
CHAN MARSHALL
20th anniversary of
CAT POWER’S “MOON PIX”
@ Sydney Opera House
31/05/18 (Live review)
Reviewer: Rodrigo Llauro
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A crowd fills a theatre. A colosseum built only for The Greatest.
Chan Marshall’s vocal cords tremble softly in melancholic cries. Yet, she is here to celebrate. And we are here to pay homage to 20 years of “Moon Pix” one of Cat Power’s most unforgettable and deeply personal albums. There is a reason why she has chosen Sydney. Why she has chosen Australia. She has confessed that her time spent in Byron Bay at the age of 26 was life changing and inspiring. She is now a self-proclaimed Aussie.
But enough trying to claim her brilliance. The truth is that no matter whether from here, there, or anywhere, her brilliance lies in her talent, her beautiful soul. A fact she effortlessly proved true last Thursday at the Sydney Opera House.
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Photo: Daniel Boud
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Envision this; she walks on stage after being introduced by comforting sounds of a small orchestra. She retreats. Her silhouette disappears for a few moments. Silence reigns. She resurges from the darkest corner and the crowd pays its respect in awe.
She claims her sacred space. Classy as ever. Long black dress and matching boots. Cigarette-in-hand. She is one of the very few people to have earned the right to smoke on the stage of one of the most upscale opera houses in the world. Her body sways like a graceful sea anemone… such grace, such poise.
She holds on to two microphones that resonate generating that somber sound distinctive to her voice. In this moment, I wish there were countless microphones to pick up the delicate and frail sound waves set free by the precise movement of her lips.
Her voice and charisma fill the space. A few deeply personal tracks bring us closer to her creative space as she shows her human vulnerability from behind a grand piano. It is only us and her. Nothing in between. Nothing to set us apart.
Although “The Greatest” will always be my favourite album, Thursday’s performance sent chills up my spine, goosebumps through the entirety of my skin. I will most certainly be revisiting “Moon Pix” this week as I allow myself to indulge in a little self-pity and heartbreak. If you haven’t heard Cat Power yet, do yourself a favor. Grab your most-beloved bottle of beast, roll yourself a few cigs and toast to the joy of being on your own without ever feeling lonely.
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Photo: Daniel Boud
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