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The phrases "punk" and "oldies" mix about as well as chocolate cake and mayonnaise. So, it's weird to see what amounts to an "oldies" show performed by a band that, in its hey-day, wouldn't have come within a thousand miles of that tag.
In 1979, the Pretenders self-titled debut on chic-punk label Sire (home of the Ramones and Talking Heads) was a source of monster buzz, and New York's Roseland Ballroom was packed with people who remember those days well, older folks who "grew up" with the sounds of the band. Some still embodied the punk aesthetic, with leather and tattoos, while others wore polos and khakis.
The good news: no matter how much the fans have changed, the band they came to see still rocks, if not always in the way they'd like. Chrissie Hynde and original drummer Martin Chambers haven't lost any edge. Hynde has been fairly lucky in the course of her career; she's managed to replace original lead guitarist James Honeyman-Scott without anyone crying foul -- Honeyman-Scott and original bassist Pete Farndon both died of drug overdoses after just two albums. While nobody can truly take their places, the musicians who've filled in have done so ably. Currently, it's Andy Hobson on bass and Adam Seymour playing the leads.
Celebrating the box set Pirate Radio, complete with the logo on a curtain in the background, the band took the stage and tore into "Message of Love", setting the tone for an explosive evening. Those looking for the biggies (read: the band's oldest stuff) had to wait until the later part of the show, and that's where the bad news comes in: a number of classics were omitted from the program.
The songs that were done sounded fantastic. The quartet is Army-cot tight, Seymour striking a fine balance between the recorded song's solos and his desire to put his own stamp on things -- "Love Colours" and "Cuban Slide" were prime examples of tasteful exploration. Chambers hasn't lost his edge at all, and Hobson meshes well with his weapon of choice, a rare Rickenbacker bass.
Prior to playing "Day After Day", Hynde heard someone in the audience shout for band standard "Brass In Pocket.'' Hynde's response: "Yeah, we'll play that -- just not tonight.'' The crowd laughed. Problem was, Hynde wasn't kidding. And this is where the show went wrong for many. Several older songs went missing. Put in perspective, the loss of tunes like "Kid", "Tattooed Love Boys", "The Wait", "Stop Your Sobbing", and "Talk of the Town" is not the end of the world. But, when the band plays 17 tunes, comes out for a two-song encore, then goes off, and the house lights stay off for three teasing minutes before going back up, disappointment is bound to fill the air (especially with "Brass" and, astonishingly, "Middle of the Road'' still absent).
Again, what the band did play sounded great. And in fairness, who would have thought the quartet would drag out "Bad Boys Get Spanked"? Other set pieces of note included "Human"; the new song specifically done for the box set, titled "The Losing"; "Time the Avenger"; "Don't Get Me Wrong"; "Back on the Chain Gang", dedicated to Honeyman-Scott and Farndon; "My City Was Gone"; and the balls-out closer, "Precious".
Bottom line: for better or worse, one aspect of the Pretenders that remains is a dedication to the unexpected. You can't go with preconceived notions as to what songs they will or might do -- after all, this isn't your normal nostalgia act and they play by their own rules. Just kick back and enjoy the hell out of what they do play, and you're good to go. If you're looking for a by-the-numbers bout of oldies pleasure, you're bound to be disappointed: a band only has to play all its songs if they think they might never play for you again. And, unlike many older acts, the Pretender probably will. Even now, nearly 55 years into life -- having survived the Kent State shootings (where she was a student at the time, the deaths of bandmates and 28-plus years as a performer -- Chrissie Hynde hasn't lost her edge for a single step; she's a true punk survivor.
— 11 August 2006
