The Pretenders live in the future
Orpheum Theatre, Boston, February 4, 2009
Reviewed by Jeffrey B. Remz
The Pretenders could be excused for living in the past, the deep past, but that was not the case for the 30-year-old band. The Chrissy Hynde-led group is touring behind their first disc in six years, "Break Up the Concrete."
And while they did dish out such longstanding gems as Talk of the Town and Message of Love, that was not necessarily the focal point of their 95-minute gig.
Hynde and boys made that quite clear from the get go where they started off with the "one, two, three four" lead in to the opening song in concert and on the CD, Boots of Chinese Plastic and Don't Cut Your Hair. Both are typical, uptempo, meaty Pretenders songs that stand up well to the old material.
In fact, Hynde certainly was not afraid to continue playing new material. During the show, they played six songs from "Break Up the Concrete" and Tequila, an iTunes exclusive put out in conjunction with buying the new CD online. For some acts, playing so much new material at the expense of older chestnuts (Middle of the Road and My City Was Gone, for example, were not part of the set list) could be dangerous and a real detriment.
But Hynde is standing by her new work as well she should. There is a far more rootsy, at times outright country bent to her music. It's an interesting change of pace for someone who came up out of the New Wave scene. Love's a Mystery was flat out country with a lot of pedal steel from guest Pretender Eric Heywood, who is found as a sideman on many Nashville-based discs. Hynde came off as being comfortable with the musical change, though don't expect her on the country charts any time soon. Hynde joked at one point about playing country, saying, "We're run out of ideas. It's the last frontier."
Neither did Hynde shy away from going back in time with songs like Stop Your Sobbing, Back on the Chain Gang, Kid, Talk of the Town, Message of Love, Day After Day and Brass in Pocket all close to three decades old, but sounding fresh.
To her credit, Hynde, at 57, was in great form vocally. Her voice was as pleasant as ever with a bit of attitude on display as well. And while she may have a bit of a reputation as being a tough chick, that wasn't the case at all.
The only longstanding member of The Pretenders was drummer Martin Chambers. A few others have died along the way, of course. Hynde joked at one point that 30 years together with Chambers was a long time, considering you only get 20 for murder.
The remaining members - James Walbourne on guitar and Nick Wilkinson on bass - turned in solid performances, particularly Walbourne, who ripped off a number of good leads.
Good thing The Pretenders decided against milking only their past because they still have something to say musically today.
The Nashville connection continued with the opening band, American Bang. The quartet may be from Music City, but don't think that brands them country. They're not at all (it's a misnomer that Nashville is home to only country music). They mine more of a blues rock sound.
American Bang isn't necessarily distinctive in their musical approach as not much of what they do would set them apart from any number of bands out there touring. But their songs were of sufficient quality with at times forceful vocals from band leader Jaren Johnson that they drew a good hand from a crowd probably unfamiliar with them.
