NON-COMM Recap: K.T. Tunstall fills World Cafe Live with pure acoustic energy

K.T. Tunstall | photo by Rachel Del Sordo for WXPN

As the last night at NON-COMM was winding down, K.T. Tunstall was able to give the crowd one last hoorah. She closed down the night alone, only with the help of her guitar, keyboard, a looper, and a tambourine. Tunstall’s set mixed the old and the new nicely, playing anything from covers and mashups to her most recognizable hits.

Tunstall started the set with “Little Red Thread,” the opener to her most recent release Wax. The tune was carried by Tunstall’s percussive guitar tapping and tambourine playing, and it sure got the crowd going. She then transitioned into the long-distance-relationship jam “Other Side of the World” off of her 2004 debut Eye to the Telescope. Seeing the crowd’s reaction, Tunstall took the time to acknowledge them and express gratitude towards those who still support her musical journey. She recalled memories of performing her first shows inside Barnes & Noble stores and stumbling into karaoke bars to sing her own songs.

Of course, a K.T. Tunstall set would not be complete without her massive hit “Black Horse and a Cherry Tree.” She playfully dubbed the hit her “jazzercise single,” after hearing numerous Barnes and Noble listeners explain that the song went over extremely well in fitness classes. Mixing in the melody to White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army,” she jammed endlessly as the tune seemed to keep going on. Tunstall banged away as she sang a fantastic cover of Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down,” mixing in percussive elements with her thrilling vocals once again.

Tunstall closed her set with “Suddenly I See,” dedicating it to all women impacted by the reproductive rights debate in the United States at the moment. The tune was a great send off to another great NON-COMM.

If you missed K.T., you can catch her again at World Cafe Live tonight. Check out photos from the performance below.

Setlist
Little Red Thread
Other Side of the World
Backlash & Vinegar
Black Horse And A Cherry Tree/Seven Nation Army
The River
Feel It All
Won’t Back Down (Tom Petty Cover)
Suddenly I See