On the Road with... Cat Power

The latest on Cat Power from Pitchfork...

Marshall returns January 24 with The Greatest, her Matador-stamped seventh long-player (if you count that covers disc), and has announced a nine-date jaunt to further assert her sublime superlative-ness. In her corner, a backing ensemble known as the Memphis Rhythm Band, featuring such heavy hitters as guitarist Mabon "Teenie" Hodges and bassist Leroy "Flick" Hodges from the legendary Hi Rhythm band, drummer Steve Potts from the MGs, and guitarist Doug Easley, producer/engineer for everybody from Sonic Youth and Guided by Voices to the Gories and the Box Tops. In the other corner? That dread spectre of stage fright which has notoriously plagued the singer/songwriter. And rumble they shall!

Of course, self-aggrandizement has never been Chan Marshall's game, and let's not forget the aforementioned title track opens with a wistful "Once I was...". So somewhere down in Georgia, a tongue is fondling a cheek, but that's no reason not to catch Chan and her spirited retinue as they aspire to some degree of greatness on these American stages and beyond. And for crissakes, sit down this time around. This means you, Chicago.

Get KO'd:

02-14 New York, NY - Town Hall *
02-18 Boston, MA - Berklee Performance Hall *
02-20 Seattle, WA - Moore Theatre *
02-22 Los Angeles, CA - Wilshire Ebell *
02-23 San Francisco, CA - Palace of Fine Arts *
02-24 San Francisco, CA - Palace of Fine Arts *
02-26 Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre *
03-04 London, England - The Barbican *
03-08 Paris, France - Grand Rex *
* with the Memphis Rhythm Band