Cat Power at Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow (Gig review)

‘What’s going on in the sky out there? Y’all love blowing shit up’ announces Chan Marshall, aka Cat Power, as she takes to the stage. ‘Happy Guy Fawkes night’ she continued.

Album anniversary tours are ten-a-penny these days but are also a welcome excuse to hear groundbreaking records in their entirety. The Greatest, is arguably Cat Power’s most revered output to date, released in January 2006, it was at the time her highest charting album and received overwhelming critical acclaim.

‘This album is not about being the greatest, it’s about being better in yourself’ states Power as she breaks into the self-titled opener ‘The Greatest’. Over the years she has built up a reputation for her unique cover versions, whereby songs are almost completely re-interpreted, to the point you would struggle to link some to the original. There is an element of that throughout tonight’s performance with her own tracks being stripped back and more reserved. While the recorded version of ‘The Greatest’ featured a gospel choir on backing vocals the removal of that tonight means it doesn’t pack the same punch.

In-between the first few tracks, Power sips on a cup of tea and is coughing heavily, thankfully this doesn’t affect her stunning vocals. ‘The Moon’ is another track that is given a bit of a makeover as Power utilises autotune for her vocals. It works to an extent, but the original version was such a melancholic ballad that the shift in style feels like a disservice.

The final four tracks from the album are nailed on and beautifully delivered, the country tinged ‘Islands’ merges seamlessly into the bluesy, piano led ‘After It All’. Power bobs and weaves from one side of the stage to the other, waving to the audience and looking like a performer that is in her element.

A prolonged instrumental interlude is provided by the backing band, perhaps to give Power some respite from her lurgy symptoms and on her return, we are treated to a mix of covers and oldies. 2012’s ‘Manhattan’ features some ad-libbed lyrics to address aspects of modern-day America, while covers of ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ (dedicated to Sinead O’Connor) and the Pogues ‘A Pair of Brown Eyes’ are both unconventional yet hypnotic.

Those expecting fireworks should have stayed outside, however as a whole it was a gig of musical masterclass. Power’s soulful and intimate vocals are something you need to experience at least once in a live setting and the Barras was the perfect place to do so.

Cat Power Tour