Pretenders find their stride with ‘Reckless’ abandon in Milwaukee
Riverside Theater | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Monday, July 29
Supporting their 12th studio album, Relentless (released Sept. 15, 2023), The Pretenders have been touring the U.S. for just more than two weeks. The tour has so far been a combination of headlining hall gigs sprinkled in with opening stadium sets in support of Foo Fighters.
Of their 17 headlining dates, Chrissie Hynde and company — James Walbourne, guitar; Kris Sonne, drums; and Dave Page, bass — have sold out all but four. Last night in Milwaukee was among those not-quite-capacity dates, but there were still well more than 2,000 in attendance with no lack of fan fervor for the band’s first appearance in Cream City since 2018.
That fervor was tepid at first as everyone, including the band, seemed to be getting acclimated. Hynde, who came out in a pink blazer and blue jeans with thigh-high faux leather boots, seemed a bit distracted. She, at least twice, instructed fans to “get off your phone.”
The first half of the set was heavy on lukewarm newer material, beginning with “Losing My Sense of Taste” and “A Love,” the opening tracks of Relentless. Even “Kid,” which Hynde dedicated to her late co-founding bandmates James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon, felt stale; while everyone seemed to be going through the motions on “Back on the Chain Gang.” Despite the musicianship and execution being spot on, the song still felt slow and methodical with little vibrancy. Face it: Walbourne, Sonne, and Page were just wee tykes in 1984 when the song was originally an MTV and radio smash, reaching No. 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Hynde did her best to lighten the room. Sensing she might be losing the crowd, the Midwest-born singer (she grew up in Akron, Ohio) tried to engage the Milwaukee audience in a sing-a-long of the Blatz beer radio jingle from the 1960s (Blatz has been brewed on and off again in Milwaukee since 1851).
Perhaps the trick worked — either to loosen up the crowd or loosen up Hynde herself. She followed the jingle with two beautifully crafted ballads — “I Think About You Daily” (Relentless, 2023) and “Biker” (Viva El Amor, 1999) — before confessing, “I’m a real chatterbox tonight just because I’m nervous.”
Perhaps slowing the pace was all it took to settle her nerves and get the train back on the tracks. “Who wants to dance?,” she asked before diving into the 1986 hit “Don’t Get Me Wrong.” Apparently, the majority of the crowd (which had been seated, perhaps snoozing to this point — I’m 53, and I was on the young side of the median age) was ready to cut loose, too. Suddenly, the spell was broken. Hynde and crew hit full stride closing out the main set with “Stop Your Sobbing” (a Kinks cover from their 1980 debut), “Merry Widow” (a dark, grunge-toned rocker from the new album), “Bad Boys Get Spanked” (from 1981’s Pretenders II) and “Let the Sun Come In” (Relentless). That string of songs proved Hynde still has the stamina of a much younger woman, and she and her band appeared reinvigorated by the new material perhaps because Hynde and her current band of Pretenders can truly call these songs theirs.
The stage was minimalistic, and the light show was basic. There was nothing to distract the audience when the band seemed to struggle. Yet, when the simple four-piece found their mojo, it’s all we needed. Walbourne’s spastic energy and talent on guitar were a highlight of the night.
“Some things change, some stay the same,” Hynde crooned during “Hymn to Her” (dedicated to novelist Edna O’Brien, who died Saturday). Hynde’s voice at 72 years of age has remarkably remained unchanged. What has changed over the years is her fellow Pretenders. While she may be the only true Pretender still standing; Hynde’s current bandmates, indeed, are not pretenders. They are the real deal. Hynde has surrounded herself with talented musicians to give the classic hits of the past new life and create new works that fit seamlessly alongside them.
Given that The Pretenders’ discography spans 44 years, some might have expected a greatest-hits showcase. The hits were there, but sparingly, with a noticeable focus on tracks from Relentless — tours still promote albums, after all. Monday’s performance was decidedly not a mere Pretenders tribute band. Hynde proved why she is a bonafide Rock & Roll Hall of Famer — striking a fashion pose in “Don’t Get Me Wrong” and holding the high notes in “Stop Your Sobbing.” For the first encore, she came out sans guitar, strutting all about the stage and looking the surest of herself she had all night. A stunning “I’ll Stand By You” showcased that unmistakable voice, followed by a display of her harmonica chops on “Middle of the Road.”
After a nearly two-hour performance, Hynde and company skipped back on stage for a second encore to perform “Mystery Achievement,” another solid track from the 1980 debut. How she continues her relentless touring may be the mystery achievement. But as Hynde has been quoted as saying, “If you’re an artist, you need to work. It doesn’t matter how old you are, or who you are. It doesn’t matter if you’re 12: if you draw, you draw. If you’re 85 and you paint, you paint.”* Apparently, if you’re 72 and you sing, you sing. I am glad Hynde is still singing.
The Reckless Tour continues in the U.S. through Aug. 14 before hitting Europe in September and October and the U.K. in October and November. Visit: thepretenders.com for more information or follow The Pretenders on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
If you captured any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see.
Brianswilk
May 1, 2025 at 10:35 am
вавада зеркало: vavada casino – вавада казино
Kennethdap
May 1, 2025 at 6:45 am
pin up: pin up – pin up
Brianswilk
May 1, 2025 at 6:06 am
pin-up casino giris: pin up – pin up
Brianswilk
May 1, 2025 at 1:38 am
pin up: pin-up casino giris – pin-up
Kennethdap
April 30, 2025 at 8:34 am
pin-up: pin-up casino giris – pin up casino
StevenCag
April 30, 2025 at 1:26 am
best canadian online pharmacy reviews: Generic drugs from Canada – canadian compounding pharmacy
WalterFes
April 30, 2025 at 1:14 am
http://rxexpressmexico.com/# Rx Express Mexico
MichaelFriex
April 29, 2025 at 10:52 pm
canada rx pharmacy world: Buy medicine from Canada – canadian pharmacy
StevenCag
April 29, 2025 at 5:28 pm
mexico pharmacy order online: Rx Express Mexico – mexican online pharmacy
MichaelFriex
April 29, 2025 at 5:02 pm
RxExpressMexico: mexican rx online – mexico drug stores pharmacies
StevenCag
April 29, 2025 at 12:34 pm
mexican rx online: mexican online pharmacy – mexican rx online
MichaelFriex
April 29, 2025 at 10:38 am
Medicine From India: indian pharmacy online shopping – indian pharmacy online
Dannydrync
April 29, 2025 at 10:21 am
indian pharmacy: indian pharmacy online – indian pharmacy
StevenCag
April 29, 2025 at 7:42 am
buying prescription drugs in mexico: Rx Express Mexico – Rx Express Mexico
MichaelFriex
April 29, 2025 at 4:42 am
mexican online pharmacy: mexico pharmacies prescription drugs – п»їbest mexican online pharmacies
StevenCag
April 29, 2025 at 2:56 am
certified canadian pharmacy: ExpressRxCanada – canadian online pharmacy
MichaelFriex
April 28, 2025 at 11:04 pm
RxExpressMexico: Rx Express Mexico – Rx Express Mexico
StevenCag
April 28, 2025 at 10:10 pm
RxExpressMexico: Rx Express Mexico – mexico drug stores pharmacies
StevenCag
April 28, 2025 at 5:42 pm
indian pharmacy online shopping: Medicine From India – Medicine From India
MichaelFriex
April 28, 2025 at 1:51 pm
mexico drug stores pharmacies: mexican drugstore online – Rx Express Mexico
StevenCag
April 28, 2025 at 12:58 pm
canadian compounding pharmacy: Express Rx Canada – canadian pharmacy scam
Bernardlaw
April 28, 2025 at 8:12 am
acheter mГ©dicament en ligne sans ordonnance: Livraison rapide – Achat mГ©dicament en ligne fiable pharmafst.com
Bernardlaw
April 28, 2025 at 4:33 am
pharmacie en ligne avec ordonnance: pharmacie en ligne sans ordonnance – pharmacie en ligne pas cher pharmafst.com
BillieRunse
April 28, 2025 at 4:02 am
cialis prix: Tadalafil achat en ligne – Tadalafil achat en ligne tadalmed.shop
Bernardlaw
April 28, 2025 at 12:44 am
kamagra en ligne: Kamagra Oral Jelly pas cher – Kamagra pharmacie en ligne
Bernardlaw
April 27, 2025 at 9:22 pm
kamagra oral jelly: acheter kamagra site fiable – Achetez vos kamagra medicaments
Bernardlaw
April 27, 2025 at 6:02 pm
kamagra livraison 24h: achat kamagra – Achetez vos kamagra medicaments
Bernardlaw
April 27, 2025 at 2:37 pm
Pharmacie sans ordonnance: Meilleure pharmacie en ligne – Pharmacie en ligne livraison Europe pharmafst.com
Bernardlaw
April 27, 2025 at 11:27 am
Pharmacie en ligne livraison Europe: pharmacie en ligne – Pharmacie Internationale en ligne pharmafst.com
Bernardlaw
April 27, 2025 at 8:14 am
acheter mГ©dicament en ligne sans ordonnance: pharmacie en ligne – pharmacie en ligne france livraison internationale pharmafst.com
Bernardlaw
April 27, 2025 at 5:05 am
acheter mГ©dicament en ligne sans ordonnance: pharmacie en ligne pas cher – pharmacie en ligne france pas cher pharmafst.com
BillieRunse
April 27, 2025 at 4:29 am
Pharmacie sans ordonnance: Meilleure pharmacie en ligne – п»їpharmacie en ligne france pharmafst.com
Bernardlaw
April 27, 2025 at 12:09 am
Acheter Cialis: Acheter Viagra Cialis sans ordonnance – Acheter Viagra Cialis sans ordonnance tadalmed.shop
BillieRunse
April 26, 2025 at 10:24 pm
Cialis en ligne: Tadalafil 20 mg prix en pharmacie – Acheter Viagra Cialis sans ordonnance tadalmed.shop
Bernardlaw
April 26, 2025 at 7:14 pm
Kamagra Oral Jelly pas cher: Kamagra Commander maintenant – kamagra livraison 24h
BillieRunse
April 26, 2025 at 4:20 pm
kamagra gel: kamagra 100mg prix – Kamagra Oral Jelly pas cher
Bernardlaw
April 26, 2025 at 2:33 pm
Tadalafil achat en ligne: Tadalafil 20 mg prix sans ordonnance – Pharmacie en ligne Cialis sans ordonnance tadalmed.shop
BillieRunse
April 26, 2025 at 10:20 am
pharmacie en ligne france pas cher: Meilleure pharmacie en ligne – pharmacie en ligne pas cher pharmafst.com
Bernardlaw
April 26, 2025 at 9:49 am
Acheter Viagra Cialis sans ordonnance: Cialis sans ordonnance 24h – Tadalafil 20 mg prix sans ordonnance tadalmed.shop
Bernardlaw
April 26, 2025 at 5:16 am
trouver un mГ©dicament en pharmacie: Pharmacies en ligne certifiees – Pharmacie Internationale en ligne pharmafst.com
BillieRunse
April 26, 2025 at 4:14 am
Pharmacie en ligne Cialis sans ordonnance: Cialis sans ordonnance 24h – Tadalafil sans ordonnance en ligne tadalmed.shop
BillieRunse
April 25, 2025 at 10:02 pm
kamagra gel: Achetez vos kamagra medicaments – Kamagra Oral Jelly pas cher
Bernardlaw
April 25, 2025 at 8:26 pm
Cialis sans ordonnance 24h: Cialis sans ordonnance 24h – cialis generique tadalmed.shop
Bernardlaw
April 25, 2025 at 4:18 pm
Acheter Cialis: Achat Cialis en ligne fiable – Cialis sans ordonnance 24h tadalmed.shop
Bernardlaw
April 25, 2025 at 12:06 pm
kamagra 100mg prix: kamagra 100mg prix – Acheter Kamagra site fiable
BillieRunse
April 25, 2025 at 9:39 am
Pharmacie en ligne Cialis sans ordonnance: Cialis generique prix – Tadalafil sans ordonnance en ligne tadalmed.shop
Bernardlaw
April 25, 2025 at 7:49 am
pharmacie en ligne france pas cher: pharmacie en ligne pas cher – pharmacies en ligne certifiГ©es pharmafst.com
Davidmusty
April 23, 2025 at 11:59 pm
kamagra livraison 24h: Achetez vos kamagra medicaments – Achetez vos kamagra medicaments
Krispy Bacon
August 9, 2024 at 4:09 pm
Could not believe they didn’t play Brass in Pocket, Tattooed Love Boys, Message of love, Day after Day!?
Brookebillick@gmail.com
August 4, 2024 at 9:43 pm
Excellent review!