Photos and Review by Paul McAlpine
Show photos HERE
For those of you who ventured out on this warm night September night, KT Tunstall was the artist not to be messed. After more than a decade of studio albums, EPs, and touring this Scottish songwriter, who began her career as a street busker, is now standing on a catalog of songs to be proud of.
Reading the press materials you learn of her life, awards, music, family, marriage, divorce, and move to LA to compose movie soundtracks. She returned with a head full of music for her seventh studio album KIN.
The Boston gig began with “If Only” from Drastic Fantastic (2007) followed by “Fade Like a Shadow” from Tiger Suit (2010). After shouts from the audience she laughed “two songs into the night and I’m taking requests…”, leaning into the crowd and asking the name before singing “Happy Birthday”.
KT on stage throughout the night was relaxed and confident; rightly so as her song writing and story telling is faultless. She played the audience requesting everyone turn on their iPhone flashlights to create the background for “Other Side of the World” (2005). A beautiful highlight of the night was her solo guitar performance on “Invisible Empire” (2013). As the band came back onstage she launched into “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” (2005) followed by “It Took Me So Long” and “On My Star”. Both the latter songs taken from her new release KIN. A funny moment for me was finding a t-shirt with “KT Tunstall, 1975 St. Andrews, Scotland” at the merch table. Hmm and important gig? No, her birth year – I laughed to myself having photographed The Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart & The Faces in ’75. The set ended with a kickass rendition of “The Healer” off the Golden State EP (2016). After a short pause, she returned minutes later for an encore with “Everything Has It’s Shape” (2016) and “Suddenly I See” (2005). The support artist was Conner Youngblood, bringing his unique Texas sound.
Set list:
- If Only
- Fade Like a Shadow
- Happy Birthday
- Funny Man
- Under the Weather
- Evil Eye
- Maybe It’s a Good Thing
- Other Side of the World
- Hold On / Walk like an Egyptian
- Invisible Empire
- Black Horse and the Cherry Tree
- It Took Me So Long
- On My Star
- Made me Trudeaux
- Saving My Face
- Little Favours
- The Healer
- Everything Has It’s Shape
- Suddenly I See