Review: Pretenders

Above: Martin Chambers and Chrissie Hynde, the roots, meat and potatoes of the current edition of Pretenders. Photos by Timothy Finn/The Star

On a night when she and her fellow Pretenders confessed they were in the throes of skull-cracking hangovers, Chrissie Hynde and her band sang an ode to tequila. They also performed "The Last Ride," Hynde's tribute to Dr. Bob Smith, who co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous in her native Akron, Ohio.

Her Dr. Bob tribute was sincere; so was her repentance for the night before (Step 10, isn't it?): It wasn't very professional of us, she apologized, but don't worry; we'll get there. By "there" she meant the rock/punk frenzy her band is famous for.

 

She wasn't kidding. During a thoroughly entertaining 95 minute show at Ameristar Casino Saturday night, about 1,100 mostly middle-aged fans took a rollicking tour of the Pretenders Hall of Fame catalog, and Hynde proved emphatically that she is still the queen of rock chicks.

The 22-song setlist included seven tracks off the band's latest album, "Break Up the Concrete," Hynde's appreciation  of American roots music.  Her band these days includes pedal steel wiz Eric Heywood, who has knocked around with Son Volt and a few other alt-country bands, and guitarist James Walbourne of the Pernice Brothers. During the midtempo numbers, like "Love's a Mystery," "Nothing Maker" and "The Last Ride" (Walbourne played mandolin on that one), they sounded like a heyday No Depression band.

 

Above: Chrissie Hynde and her latest guitar hero, James Walbourne.

Most of the new stuff was recognized and well-received, but this crowd came to hear the old stuff from a revered band that many in the room were seeing for the first time, and Hynde indulged them with breakneck renditions of several Pretenders classics. This show suffered no lulls or weak moments, but some were stronger than others and nothing matched the fury of the encore, a showcase of the "Pretenders" album: "The Wait," "Precious," "Tattooed Love Boys" and "Up the Neck."

Before that, the band visited the stellar "Learning to Crawl" album, first with "Back on the Chain Gang," then "Thumbelina," which ended with a jam that erupted into a high-speed punk/bluegrass conflagration (Welbourne went a little nuts on that one).

Other highlights: "Message of Love," the title track to "Concrete," "Kid" and "Brass in Pocket." She dedicated "Day After Day" to Pete Farndon and James Honeyman Scott, long-gone original Pretenders. "We're on the way, fellows," she said, looking skyward. "Put the kettle on." (Or did she say Ketel?)

Hynde turns 58 this fall, but she neither looks nor acts it. She wore snug hip-hugging blue jeans and knee-high boots, a coat with tails and a vest and she still has that hair -- bangs to her eyes -- and when she swayed her hips and bounced during "Brass in Pocket," she looked like a teenager dancing to her favorite song. 

If Hynde was really feeling as bad as she said she was, she didn't show it. She joked and jousted with the crowd all night. She took a cell phone from a guy in the front row so she could say hello to his son. "He hung up," she deadpanned as she returned the phone. "I have that effect on men."

Actually she has the opposite effect on most of them. The crowd looked like it was 60/40 men/women and she had the room by the cajones all night, especially one guy up front. She obliged him early by mopping her face with his Pretenders shirt and tossing it back to him. He was also the guy she had the roadies hoist on stage during the encore -- shirtless, in tie-dyed overalls. Once he got on stage, he bowed at her feet. She pumped her fist and roared: "I scored!" That's exactly how I felt when this show ended: like I'd gotten some. 

| Timothy Finn, The Star

Setlist: Boots of Chinese Plastic, Don't Cut Your Hair, Kid, Message of Love, Love's a Mystery, The Nothing Maker, The Last Ride, Back on the Chain Gang, Rosalee, Tequila, Stop Your Sobbing, Talk of the Town, Day After Day, Don't Get Me Wrong, Brass In Pocket, Cuban Slide, Thumbelina, Break Up The Concrete. Encore: The Wait, Precious, Tattooed Love Boys, Up The Neck.

Comments

[Penny]

Great review of a great show. Wasn't sure what to expect, since Chrissie hasn't always sounded that good live. But was delightfully impressed with the evenings performance.

The sound was crisp and clear, Ameristar is not a bad venue. You could hear everything she said, even in the back risers where I sat.

She's my age and if she was really drinking tequila the night before, I can't imagine how she could still get out there and move like that. It would kill me. She's one tough cookie and always has been.

Very enjoyable night of killer rock and roll.

[Keith in KC]

What a great show last night. The new stuff sounded great and James Walbourne's lead guitar work was fantastic. He was truly giving 110% on stage. I love the new album and his solos on some of the new songs kept most fans interested, while some did make beer runs during the new songs. Regardless, this version of The Pretenders rocked!

I saw the original band back and '81 and have to say that I enjoyed this show equally as much. Chrissie is still everything you want in a Rock Star and Martin Chambers is still a monster on the drums. I loved the old stuff, the new stuff, and my favorite Pretenders song, "Talk Of The Town" was just sublime. Chrissie and company gave KC a great night of music that I won't soon forget.

[Penny]

ps. You got some great pictures.

[Ivy]

Last time I saw Chrissy was at Starlight. The sound was fabulous and it was a repeat last night. Some rockers are better left unrevisited. Not the case here as last nights show was spectacular! She looks awesome and I dug her purple knee high boots.(Chinese plastic)...I think not. There are bad seats in this hall. Avoid the last rows of the side sections and the first three rows of the risers. Otherwise its "back of the head" city.
"Brass in Pocket" was the best song in the evening for me. Everyone was well behaved and had a fab time.

[dc]

its james honeyMAN scott

[mankvill]

Coolies :D

[The Shawnster]

I was there last night, front row center. Chrissie looked and played as well as ever. My personal highlight was when someone threw a homemade "cigarette" on statge (I think it was from the sloshed fan she pulled on stage)and Chrissie picked up and kept it. Looks like she was going to have a little hair of the dog. Great show, an early candidate for show of the year.

[James]

I have been a Pretenders fan for several decades yet this was the first time I have ever saw them Live. Chrissie was amazing.Her voice hasn't lost a thing through the years and she is pretty sexy for a 57 year old I might add.
It is a show i will always remember.
Great review

[The Kim]

Gotta agree with all the comments...Chrissie still has the voice, hearing Tattooed Love Boys and Precious live was amazing...

Way better behaviour and security than Sevendust/Disturbed at Uptown.

I second the early nominee for concert of the year.

[Lenny Aero]

A tremendous comcert, enjoyed it from start to finish, but to hear so many uptempo songs from their debut played with fire and precision was a real surprise. The fact that the audience responded so strongly was also uunexpected-everybody rocked! I'm off to Denver to see the Fat Tuesday show at the Paramount!

[Dave DeLarge]

It looks pretty unanimous; an awesome show by one of the all-time great bands in the annals of rock. I had never seen The Pretenders live before, and boy have I missed out.
It's amazing that Chrissy can keep getting these great players to complete the lineup along with one of my favorite drummers, the original thumpmaster -Martin Chambers. The young guitar stud James Walbourne looked about 18, but he played like a grizzled vet at least twice that age. The bass player looked super cool and was right there in the pocket all night, and Eric Heywood is an absolute treasure on pedal steel.
But when you see the Pretenders live there can be no doubt who is the leader of this band. Chrissy Hynde is the quintessential "front-man" and she has rock-star charisma in spades. Her wonderful unique voice alone would secure her a place in the history of rock. Other female rockers may sing, some play an instrument, and even a few may do both. But I can't think of any others (w/the possible exception of the Wilson sisters in Heart) who do it all. She's also one of the all-time greatest songwriters of rock, something she ironically said about her ex-husband Ray Davies when introducing "Stop Your Sobbing." She has my vote for the top all-time "rock chick."
In summary, The Pretenders absolutely rocked the house Saturday night (2-21-09) at Ameristar Casino and reminded me that this iconic American rock 'n' roll band is one of my favorites and one of the best ever.

[mckcai]

The guy who ended up on stage is a friend of mine. He came in to work this morning raving about the concert and, of course, about his experience that night. Anyone have some photos of the show that they could send me? Especially ones with him in it. I would really appreciate it. You can send them to media@kcai.edu if you have any. Thanks.

[Tim Mack]

unless The Stones tour this year, this will be the rockingest show of the year!!!!!

[Try AA]

Really enjoyed the show, but the one distraction/low point for me anyway, was the aforementioned annoying drunk guy. The guy who posted that he is friends with this guy and wants photos of him (displaying his worst behavior) at the show has my condolences.

I was up near the stage and this guy and some of his friends crashed the front of the stage and blocked my aisle (and many people's view) for most of the show. Usually Security removes thoughtless people like this, but they were obviously asleep the other night. Where WAS Ameristar's Security?

The guy then jumps the barricade and as I was ready to applaud him getting thrown out, Chrissie, God love her, asked the roadies to bring him up on stage, where he stumbled around drunk making a complete ass of himself. Hope he enjoyed himself, but it was a bit of a taint on an otherwise perfect night.

[Tim Finn]

For the last 15-20 minutes, the guy behind me kept bellowing, "Let's go to Ohio!!" Annoying people annoy me.

[JTP]

This mentions she was hungover. Interesting. We saw her at First Avenue in Minneapolis the night before (She said it was nice to be in a "proper club finally"). We stayed in the bars after the concerts. They have several bars in the club. But they forced us out of the main bar, stating Chrissie wanted her band to have some private partying. Sounds like they did. In the end, before she would show at the bar, they forced everyone completely out of First Avenue. Fans who had wanted her autograph had to wait outside in the snow by her bus. Who knows when they headed for KC. They hadn't by 1:00AM.

[duke french]

to all who thought i was drunk....well i was buzzed yes.....stumble around no, when crissy said i could set in front of the drums......PRICELESS FOLKS....you wish you had the cajones to be up there....i'm a 2 time cancer surrvivor and thank you crissy.....something i will always remember.........and the band sounded excellent.......its all about the music.......it was an honor and a privilege to be brought up on stage......hope you liked my gift crissy......it was for you.......thanks again duke

[duke french]

i'd also like to say that if you can't get on ur feet n show the artist's how much you've enjoyed their music,then why go.....if you want to see and don't want to stand up sit up in the rafters....the floor is for those of us who love live music and want to worship our hero's.........and i've followed the pretenders since before that 84 tour t i had on.......i appolagize for nothing........you stand until those in front sit and if they don't sit you don't sit.......although you do not have to SEE to
ENJOY MUSIC........duke
crissy if u come back to kc... YOU n ROADIES who grabbed me DINNER..MY TREAT....PROMISE YA that duke...cause security was just about to grab me....lol

[Try AA]

I stood for the whole show, Duke. In fact it was your friends who were bumping into me all night. But unlike you, I didn't force my way up into a section where I didn't belong....and yeah, you WERE stumbling around on stage. You could barely stand....also, I though your "gift" was tasteless. Time to grow up.......

[Sarcastic Sam]

Duke, I for one heard you on the Fox morning show with Doug Medlock. After listening to you, I was asking myself - how did this guy not get thrown out? I mean, I guess if a band member(s) allows you up on stage, you're fine. But, you really sounded like you're on another planet, dude. That was around 8 am. Hope you never bump into me at a show. The Sprint Center's seating is so extremely narrow and small, if a patron bumps into (too) many people, it really becomes very annoying. I could only imagine how cramped it was at the Ameristar. I didn't catch the Pretenders. One major reason is I don't like the venue itself - but I refuse to pay for a ticket in a venue I don't like. Had they shown up at the Uptown or the Midland, I likely would have been there.

[MikeA]

I think he was still drunk when he hammered out the emails!

[duke french]

think what you want....i had a great time and crissy was too cool.....had a great chat with her back stage.......if i woulda been as loaded as everyone thinks there is no way she wouda let me be on stage.....i mean think about it........it was a great show and yes PRICELESS.....thanks everyone duke.
and aa i did not force my way anywhere....i was setting on the isle in the lower section so i just walked up to the stage.....and none of my friends bumped into you o.k. get it right and don't feed the people whp weren't there a line of B S .......

[duke french]

and its obvious crissy didn't think my gift was tasteless........she did keep it........so i guess you can take a walk a a...........duke

[Pretender]

Hey Duke, didn't security escort you out of the casino about an hour after the show for being loud and obnoxious?

[Bubba]

Duke, sounds like you had a great time, there. I guess AC/DC is still providing some precious memories for yours truly, because the PRETENDERS - would simply be a second-priority concert for me. Duke, you mentioned the PRETENDERS played for over two hours - thought Tim Finn noted they were on stage for 90 minutes. Which is it? Anyone?

[Try AA]

Duke, I was there on the floor, right near the stage, and yes, you came up where you weren't supposed to be and your friends did bump into me. I didn't imagine that. I don't drink, nor do I do drugs, so my recollection of Saturday's show was way more sober than yours, my friend.

It WAS a great show (It did clock in at 95 minutes-both encores included), yes, but you were an annoyance to many people at the show and that you don't get that makes you even more annoying after the fact. Your sad display of arrested-development was a little sad to behold. Handing Chrissie a joint on stage should have gotten you arrested. Unfortunately, justice was blind as Ameristar's Security completely dropped the ball.

.....and Bubba, You may prefer a bunch of overage Aussie Rawkers like AC/DC (who I liked in their prime-almost 30 years ago) and that's cool. Whatever floats your boat. But I'll take a brilliant songwriter and gracious performer like Chrissie Hynde, who is still making adventurous and relevant music and not just trying to make "Back In Black (MACH 13)," anyday............

Main point: The Pretenders rocked KC, whether you were sober or drunk on your ass. I hope this same band sticks around for another record and as good as they were Saturday night, they can only get even better live, if that even seems possible. For those who were there, the band exceeded most people's already high expectations. You could hear it in the applause.

[Donkey Shane]

I'm pretty sure they guy in front of me farted a couple of times. Dang I hate that.

[Mark V]

I for one was relieved to hear that Duke was dignified by the band after the show. There was something awkward and deprecating about his presence on stage, and though Chrissie roared "I scored" in good fun, something was diminished slightly in the manner in which she managed him, like a devotional slave, to the rock goddess. I mean we are all just people, let's get over this deification nonsense-- as for the joint-- I think that's wonderful-- and though Duke might have been obnoxious up front, there should be some room left when the house is rockin to move out of that comfort zone, and let it all hang out. Still feelin it with Thumbelina still thumping in my head... "what's important in this life, ask the man who's lost his wife."

[cuban slider]

Yeah, we were in front row right, and let folks sidle up to the rail come encore time.