Band Member Profile: Cathy Power

First time I saw Cathy, she was burning her marriage license on stage and smearing blood on her wedding dress. Next time I saw Cathy, she was crawling around on the floor in a circle with a bunch of other women while the musicians played a Brecht/Weill song. Next time I saw Cathy, she was living in that warehouse they called Zocalo or Templo—I don't remember which now—with the artists and hippies, and taking her baths in a tin washtub.

Maybe you didn't know that stuff about Cathy. Probably you just know she plays the marimba, and the xylophone, and the piano, and the ukulele, and the flute, and the drums. Probably you saw her acting, or singing, or playing music in one of her bands. Cathy's singing and playing keyboards and xylophone in Apocalypse Town. This is about the thirtieth thing like this that we've done together. When I write songs in my head, sometimes I can tell that they're OK songs if I can imagine Cathy singing them: putting those high harmonies on top, in her tone clear, and pure, and beautiful.

Cathy is one of my favorite singers ever, from a list that includes Mavis Staples and Dolly Parton, and Cathy’s in my show.

- t

p.s. I love you, Kosovo music. Here's Hosenfefer on the subject of KM. Our adaptation of this song kicks off Apocalypse Town.

p.p.s. I love you too, Houston.