Tunstall’s ‘Drastic’ goes for new vibe

By John Benson

The singer/songwriter said she’s received some great compliments from fans young and old.

Mixing it up is what singer-songwriter KT Tunstall has in mind for her upcoming “Vintage Electric Tour,” which rolls into Cleveland for a Tuesday show at the House of Blues.

The outing, which is in support of her latest effort “Drastic Fantastic,” is a direct result of the Scottish singer/songwriter’s recent spring tour, which featured Tunstall reworking her material in an unplugged setting with acoustic instruments such as double bass, xylophone, glockenspiel, mandolin and guitars.

For her current run, Tunstall is playing both electrically and acoustically. It’s the latter sound that she said really works.

“It certainly isn’t diminishing the energy level,” said Tunstall, calling from Lille, France. “It’s desperately still banging because my gigs are always important to me that they have that kind of spark and energy. So it definitely still rocks along nicely, but it’s just a much more blues-country influence than contemporary indie band rock influence.”

While the latter vibe describes “Drastic Fantastic,” it’s Tunstall’s acoustic roots sound that defined her debut effort, “Eye to the Telescope,” which includes hit singles “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” and “Suddenly I See.” Citing a love for the more intimate and personal setting, Tunstall said the spring acoustic experience led to an increase in vocal harmonies that she believes hark back to old records by The Band and Crosby, Stills, Nash Young.

Now with the “Vintage Electric Tour,” fans will see and hear not only both sides of Tunstall but also her future direction, which includes unreleased new song “Turn Into You.” The Bob Dylan-inspired song is folkish in nature and features more vocal harmonies than past studio efforts.

Already thinking ahead to her next album, Tunstall said she’s cognizant of her precarious situation involving pushing her musical boundaries while at the same time not losing her faithful audience.

“It’s just keeping an open mind, but I don’t want to get stuck in a hole, either,” Tunstall said. “There’s lots of different things I’d like to try and some people will like it, some people won’t. And some people if you don’t like the old stuff, you might like the new stuff and vice versa. So it’s all about just making sure you’re doing what you think is good and exciting.”

Speaking of her fans, Tunstall is happy to talk about the fact that her American audience continues to grow with a noticeable amount of inspired youth and disenfranchised adults.

“I constantly have little kids coming up saying, ‘I started playing the guitar because of you,’” Tunstall said. “Also, I’ll have old people coming up saying, ‘I had given up on music thinking all new stuff was [expletive] and I love your gig.’”

“So the stateside audiences have been absolutely wicked, dancing on the tables types. Our gregarious delivery must be infectious, but it’s a real riot when we play a show. I love it. I’d say get ready to have a party in my living room.”

We’re guessing that’s BYOB?

“Yeah, if you like,” Tunstall laughed. “Just in a paper bag in the back pocket.”

XNote: Despite Tunstall’s liberal alcohol policy, do yourself a favor and refrain from bringing alcohol — which will be confiscated — into the venue.