Concert Review: Cat Power Is Powerfully Unique At Brooklyn Steel
Before ASMR and the current Ambient music scene, there was Cat Power. Not many artists can set up a mood quite like this queen, which makes her concerts one of the most unique experiences you will ever have. She is CAT POWER; somehow, bringing a felinity to femininity, and captivating her Brooklyn Steel audience.
With TWO MICS and a lit, incense stick in her hand, Cat Power appears like the center of the universe. With dim, strobe lighting, her face remains darkly lit; making her smoky, thoughtful voice appear from the shadows. The atmosphere feels like a cafe lounge in limbo, and Cat Power has come to sing all her delusions, dreams, and desires through melodies of her hits and covers of artists similar to her legend. Nico, Janis Joplin, and Frank Ocean have enraptured followings for their ability to connect people through the solitude of living; something Cat Power does very well. She feels simultaneously lonesome and universal, which is why she has achieved deity status to the many diehard fans that were there.
When you think of God, he/she appears both singular and amassing, connective and distant, powerfully dominant yet withdrawn. Cat Power summons such dichotomies; letting her music speak for her. Thus, songs flowed uninterrupted, which is why the audience felt an visual calm set over them; as if serenity lied in strobe lighting hitting us. Moreover, there is so much imagination sparked by her stillness, she turns human movement, like the crack of a smile, into an epic sign of sentiment. Certain artists do not need much to alter an atmosphere, and Cat Power’s presence is powerful enough to transfix the setting and make it feel intimately confessional.
As she bounced, shimmied, and contorted her body through tracks like, “Me Voy,” “Woman,” and “Wanderer,” it was surreal to see people so hushed and focused on one woman’s every move. We wanted to not only absorb her voice but also her emotional intentions. It was as if she was a movie you have to rewatch a thousand times to capture every detail, but the crowd knew this film was only playing once. Thus, they honed in so as to recall the beauty of an artist/show that celebrate observance. With very few “instagrammers” and no photography, perhaps, Cat Power’s show was so distinct because all you had to do was watch and listen. For More Information On Cat Power Click Here.
