Stage Buzz – Live Review: Chrisse Hynde
Chrissie Hynde
November 12, 2014
Chicago Theatre
âWouldnât you rather see a band in a theatre than a stadium?â Chrissie Hynde cheerfully asked shortly after kicking off her concert at the Chicago Theatre this past Wednesday night. It was a rare opportunity to see the long-reigning godmother of cutting-edge and punk/alt-rock in a more intimate (and ornate) setting. Hynde had eased into the performance with a trio of lesser-known songs rather than opening with one of her big hits. Eventually, she gave the people what they came to hear; music from her days with The Pretenders.
Hyndeâs iconic vocals still resonate, whether sheâs spitting out a rapid-fire volley of withering putdowns or celebrating the healing power of love. She was backed by a band of young musicians who consistently delivered the goods throughout a mix of classics and material from Hyndeâs 2014 solo debut Stockholm. Even though the audience showed a definite preference for Pretenders songs, Hynde made sure newer fare like âYou Or No Oneâ and âA Plan Too Farâ stood on their own.
In a nod to her musical connections to Chicago, she dedicated the touching âAdding The Blueâ to the late Jim Ellison of Material Issue. After a show that included Pretender’s classics âBack On The Chain Gang,â âKid,â and âNight In My Veins,â Hyndeâs first encore featured a blistering version of âPrecious,â from The Pretenders’ 1980 debut, that reaffirmed its hallowed place in rock history. And by performing her acerbic new single âDark Sunglassesâ as the final song of the evening, she proved that she hasnât lost a bit of her “Class of ’78,” rebellious, punk spirit.
–Â Terrence Flamm
Category: Featured, Live Reviews, Stage Buzz, Weekly
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