Shameless self-promotion: Before the encore to her first show on Saturday night at New York’s Town Hall, Chan Marshall of Cat Power made an announcement: “I wanted to ask if you could all read that article that Robert Kennedy wrote in Rolling Stone,” she said, giving a shout-out to “Was the 2004 Election Stolen?” from our June 15th issue, copies of which she even requested be available at her merch tables. Then Chan launched into her anti-fame ballad, “I Don’t Blame You,” singing provocatively and playing the piano in her bare feet.

Earlier that night, Marshall had taken the stage in thick black eyeliner and yoga pants. Behind her was her Memphis Rhythm Band, a 12-person R&B-ish outfit complete with buxom backup singers, a string section and a sunglass-wearing, beer-swigging piano player. The two-hour, soulful set — performed for an adoring audience that included Interpol’s Daniel Kessler and a silver-haired David Byrne — included “The Greatest” and “Living Proof,” as well as “Islands.”

[photo: Steph Goralnick]