Photos and review by Raven Divito
@rockinshots

Chrissie Hynde and Pretenders are still “Talk of The Town”

I was in shock to see the Pretenders were playing at a small intimate club in San Francisco called Bimbos. I knew it would sell out, and I tried to purchase online tickets when they were released, but unfortunately I was unable to obtain them. As I anxiously watched my phone stating I was in the queue waiting for my turn, it never came. The next message I received was, there are no tickets available for this show. It literally sold out in 15 minutes. I knew the scalping outlets probably got a hold of a huge lot, but that’s another story. So, I reached out to the tour manager (thinking this was a long shot), and to my surprise, I was granted a ticket and photo pass. Dreams do come true!

Pretenders have been one of my all time favorite bands since high school, and yes, I did see Chrissie Hynde back in the day, but I never had a chance to actually see her in such an intimate setting, with no photographer pit, which meant you literally were up against the three foot high stage. I surely felt like a lucky duck on this day! Although as I stated there is no photographer pit at Bimbos, which means I had to wait in line to assure a spot up front, or I’d end up back at the soundboard. Regardless if I was photographing or just seeing the show, there was no way I would be happy not being in front. With that being said, I waited 5 1/2 hours in line, which put me first in the show to obtain these awesome shots that I was able to capture. And paying your dues to see a legend such as Chrissie Hynde is most definitely worth it.

Bimbos 365 Club was a perfect choice for her San Francisco showcase, as it’s nestled in the outskirts of little Italy and holds a capacity of 700. Every one of her show dates has sold out within minutes of online ticket sales. Not surprising at all, as the Pretenders music is simultaneously melodic and bristling with rebellion.

This Pretenders tour supports the release of their their 12th studio album, “Relentlesss.” Spinning off of stadium shows as a support act for Guns N’ Roses, the band are also performing several headline shows in intimate venues across the country, and will be returning to the masses, sharing the spotlight with Foo Fighters and The Hives for a couple of months come July 2024.

Fronted by singer/songwriter Chrissie Hynde, Pretenders exposed the confessional underbelly of punk and new wave. They have no shortage of massive, commercially successful hits, like, “Kid” (1979), “Brass in Pocket” (1979), “Talk of the Town” (1980), “Message of Love” (1981), “My City Was Gone” (1982), “Back on the Chain Gang” (1982), “Middle of the Road” (1983), “2000 Miles” (1983), “Don’t Get Me Wrong” (1986), “My Baby” (1986) and “I’ll Stand by You” (1994).

In 2005, Pretenders were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Hynde and the Pretenders artistic prowess has always been a known quantity. Observing her playful and subtly seductive attitude, the raw grit in her distinctive signature contralto vocals, and her unchained passion behind every song up close showed how she paved the way for many women in the music industry.

Joining Hynde (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) on stage were her longtime musical partner James Walbourne of 12 years (lead guitar, backing vocals), Dave Page (bass, backing vocals,) and Kris Sonne (drums). Martin Chambers, the original drummer for Pretenders was unable to make the trek overseas for this leg of their tour.
Hynde and Walbourne co-wrote all of the songs on the new album.

Hynde chose “Relentless” as the title for her new album, stating, “As an artist you show no abatement of intensity, you never retire, you become ‘Relentless’.”
This is definitely a proven statement as she stands the test of time in her legacy.

The show began right on time at 8:30 p.m. Hynde walked onstage to a roaring ovation. She witnessed fans with their phones held up and she said, “No, put those up your arse”! Hynde demanded full attention to what would become a remarkable evening flashing back before technology ruined concerts flooded in cell phones. She was powerful and intimidating, then she cracked a witty smirk and the band rolled into “Losing My Sense of Taste,” and a beautiful song in, “A Love,” two tracks off the new album. It featured rock-solid playing by the rhythm section, terrific guitar work by Walbourne, and a great lead vocals by Hynde packed with bravado. It was clear that Hynde still has it.

Next up, they launched into “Turf Accountant Daddy” off of 2020’s Hate for Sale. The audience loved it! It’s a rocker with heavy bass and drums and a terrific vocal by Hynde. “The Adultress,” off of 1981’s Pretenders II, Hynde used every ounce of her vocal range and she nailed it perfectly, from sultry low talking to vibrato-laden vocals. The band delivered a tight performance of the song with the spotlight on Walbourne’s stellar guitar work. This was a real crowd pleaser. It deserved a huge ovation from the audience and got one.

“The Buzz” was introduced by Hynde as a tribute to the late Johnny Thunders. Walbourne played a dynamic punk guitar lead on the song. “You Can’t Hurt a Fool” is a slower song that was highlighted by Hynde’s sexy vocal. It received a big cheer from the crowd.

The other new songs performed were “Domestic Silence” and “Let the Sun Come In”. The former is a rocker featuring Walbourne’s distorted lead guitar and Hynde’s powerhouse vocal. The guitar break in the song by Walbourne was quite impressive. The latter would fit right in on Pretenders’ classic albums from the early 1980s. It’s that good, a real power-pop gem! The performance of the song was one of the highlights of the show and drew quite a reaction from the crowd.

Not surprisingly, the songs that generated the biggest responses from the crowd were the best-known tracks from the band’s early days. “Time the Avenger” was one of the highlights of the evening, with its solid work by the rhythm section of Sonne and Page, Walbourne’s incendiary playing during the guitar break, and Hynde’s strong vocals. The crowd cheered loudly.

The frenetic, rocking “Boots of Chinese Plastic,” from Break Up The Concrete, (2008) energized the crowd with its tight performance by the band.

While much of the night was light-hearted and upbeat, it wasn’t without its slower, down-tempo moments as well. In “You Can’t Hurt a Fool,” Hynde ditched her guitar and grabbed the mic, dedicating the song to all the women in the crowd. “If there are any!” she noted. Grabbing her guitar again for a beautifully heartbreaking rendition of “Tequila,” her voice once again delivered all of its delicious vibrato, and was one of Hynde’s best vocal performances of the evening. It received a big reaction from the audience.

“Thumbelina” was driven by Walbourne’s rockabilly-style guitar and Hynde’s solid vocals. “Gotta Wait” was powered by Walbourne’s impressive guitar break and Hynde’s insistent vocal. Page and Sonne’s rhythm section stayed perfectly in sync while the former’s bass lines carried each song without taking over.

Walbourne drew screams and cheers every time he ripped out a solo, particularly on “Thumbelina” and “Tattooed Love Boys.” He flew up and down the fretboard with the precision of a surgeon, as he picked up frightening amounts of speed. His fancy pick work was quite mesmerizing, but on an extended solo he broke loose and outdid himself.

The rocker “Junkie Walk” was the closing song of the main set. It had fantastic drumming, pounding bass, a frenetic guitar break by Walbourne and Hynde’s strong vocals. The crowd loved it!

During the encore, Hynde randomly singled out a lady in the crowd to join her onstage to dance around while she sang “Don’t Get Me Wrong,” and shredded on her guitar.

Prior to the performance of “Precious,” Hynde introduced the band, and the crowd sang along with Hynde, and moved in time with the music, which was a feat in itself given how tightly packed the audience was on the floor in front of the stage. “Tattooed Love Boys” was an all-hands-on-deck effort by Hynde and company that was highlighted by Hynde’s assertive vocal and Walbourne’s snarling guitar.

Pretenders ended the evening with a four-song encore of solid classic hits, comprised of crowd favorites, “Back on the Chain Gang,” “Don’t Get Me Wrong,” “Precious” and “Tattooed Love Boys.”

Hynde thanked the crowd, handed out guitar picks and exited the stage.

Hynde doesn’t look 72, and she sure didn’t sound it. You’d never guess it by watching her live. Her voice is still strong and her unique vocal phrasings make her one of a kind. The vocals by Hynde were fantastic throughout the Pretenders’ set. Her voice still sounds like it did in 1980.

Hynde, undoubtedly is a “Rentless” Rock Goddess!