Kari Cadenhead, who moved to Tucson from Germany two years ago, worked as a tattoo artist for 10 years and now works as a sewing instructor. While getting ready to go to design school, Cadenhead runs Crafting Forward, a new organization that offers sewing lessons and supplies to low-income folks. Her favorite thing to do in Tucson is use her sewing skills to help with the All Soul Procession's Procession of Little Angels with costuming workshops. For more info on this annual Tucson tradition, visit allsoulsprocession.org/projects/little-angels.
What was the first concert you attended?
It was either Jug-or-Not, an Orange Park, Florida punk band, in a tiny place called the Loins Club; or Matchbox 20, with tickets I won on the radio, at a cool place in Norfolk, Virginia called the Boat House (which has since burned down) and accompanied by my dad, of course! They were the same summer, I know one or the other was first!
What are you listening to these days?
Lots of David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed. I'm always listening to Jack White, I bought "Lazaretto" this summer, along with Blondie's "Panic of Girls" and they have been in constant rotation. Alarmingly, I'm starting to fall back in love with what I just discovered is called "glam metal."
What was the first album you owned?
Christmas of 1987 I unwrapped Tiffany's debut album. Happiest five-year-old ever. I still have it, we keep it next to my five-year-old's Katy Perry CD.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone seem to love, but you just don't get?
Contemporary country music. Well, most country music, but ... I think I heard a guy rapping in a country song recently (What?!) and that just about broke my brain.
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?
Jimi. Hendrix.
What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
I have just one CD in my car, just in case I'm not digging the radio and my iPod is MIA. It's the Scorpions, live. I bought it at a gas station six months ago and it's utterly amazing.
What song would you like to have played at your funeral?
Led Zeppelin's "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" ... Hopefully this will happen in the summertime.
What artist changed your life and how?
Dada. At 11 years old, while mowing the lawn and scanning stations on my Walkman, I heard "Dizz Knee Land" on a new station. It was the first alternative song I had ever heard and it stopped me dead in my tracks. I had never heard anything like it. It made me insanely curious, and totally opened the flood gates to all things alternative, grunge and punk.
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
The White Stripes "De Stijl." Such a sweet little love-filled album.
