The Newly Mrs. Drastic Fantastic to release Tiger Suit in September!

I saw KT Tunstall in concert this past Tuesday at the Hiro Ballroom. I've been following the Scottish Singer/Songwriter Pop sensation since her first album, Eye to the Telescope, released in 2006. This was around the same time I got my first guitar, free albeit, and began tooling around with my own songwriting. My high school self loved that Carlo Robelli piece of wood, and it still accompanies me on trips to the beach frequently. (Though for most gigs, it's since been replaced by my Larrivee, my Ibanez or my Mini Martin--but more on these later.)

Anyway...

After the 2006 release of Eye to the Telescope, with hits like "Suddenly I See" and "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree", which were omnipresent in the TV/Radio world, Drastic Fantastic came along in 2007. The album was definitely a move away from folksy, simpler guitar stuff and into more gritty Pop, with songs like "Hold On" and "Funnyman". Now, after a few years off to marry her drummer, Luke Bullen, and get herself sorted out again she's set to release a New Album called Tiger Suit, in September.

Seeing her perform at Hiro was an absolute delight because it was a remarkably intimate venue and she played some new songs off of what will be her third album! With just a loop pedal, some light reverb, some 4 guitars and a roadie or two, Tunstall gave an awesome solo performance and a glimpse of her process as she played and sang in the raw.

Tunstall admitted that this was her first real gig since her last album, aside from a few bar gigs in Scotland. Overall, her performance was very real and it felt like she was really bringing the audience in as she cracked a joke or two. Upon having to start a loop over, she begrudgingly said, "Ugh my mother is going to see this up on Youtube tomorrow and ask 'what are you doing messing up?' " I have a feeling the stuff off of her new album will move further into the realm of electronic and pop than her old stuff, but I'm excited to see what she does nonetheless!

Check out "Push that Knot Away"! --a vid KT dropped, previewing a single!

Kara's New Headphones

RIP sleak Bose headphones that I've worn practically to death. You were really amazing while you lasted.

I got my Bose headphones around my Junior year in High School when I started to become really interested in all things musical, and did some basic recordings on my iMac G5 (Which I paid for myself in 2005). I felt so proud! I was recording my own songs, making music, and pumping tunes into my ears nearly every day.

Now, I'm about to be a Junior at Northwestern University. As a native to the east coast, I am living in NY for a while and working at Recorded Books for the second summer. To listen to audiobooks, I use headphones EVERY DAY. Once those Bose babies broke on me this past Wednesday, I knew an immediate replacement was necessary.

I visited my friends over at Sam Ash and decided to go with an awesome pair of Sony MDR-7506 over the ear headphones. An industry standard, and a pretty popular pick at around $100, and definitely a good investment for me, as a music collector, audiophile and sound design minor.

Plus, if I were to buy the more consumer Bose model as a replacement to my old Bose headphones, they would've been around $125, a noticeable markup from about 3 years ago.

I'm excited!

Keep Listening...

KG