DC ROCK CLUB
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Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Time To Pretend

The Pretenders @ 9:30 Club - Monday, February 2, 2009 - $45

There are a number of nostalgia tours operating these days. I'll admit to throwing my money at one not too long ago (Van Halen), and my morbid curiosity was the driving force behind my going. I saw The Who last November; not quite nostalgia as they had released the Endless Wire album in 2006.

In theory, I don't support nostalgia tours. Ever since The Eagles came out with their money grabbing "Hell Freezes Over" tour, I've not been keen on the idea. It was 1994 and they hadn't made any music in 14 years. Doesn't seem right. Who, today, would pay big bucks to sit and listen to Jerry Seinfeld tell the same old jokes he told at the height of his career? Musicians can get away with it, though.

Even though I'm anti-nostalgia tours, there are a few bigger acts that I would see as they promote a new album. Nine times out of ten, I won't care about the new album, as I simply want to hear legendary musicians knock me out with songs I've been hearing all my life. This was the premise around seeing the Pretenders Monday night.

I am not a Pretenders superfan. I know the basic radio-play tunes; your Ohios, your Back on the Chain Gangs, and your Middle of the Roads. But the Pretenders are promoting a new album, Break Up the Concrete. And we heard a number of tracks from Break Up the Concrete on Monday night - yet no Middle of the Road, much to my disappointment.

How was the show?




It was packed inside the 9:30 Club with a core of middle-aged folks in attendance. Chrissie Hynde came out looking pretty much as she always has. Time has been kind to her. There are obviously some younger dudes now in the line up (though one grew older Monday night, as it was guitarist -James Walbourne's- birthday).

The major take aways from the show:
  • Not as loud or rocking as I would have expected, though probably at the right levels when I stop to consider the performers and the audience.
  • Chrissie Hynde claimed to be desperate these days, and jokingly (?) suggested that anyone interested should line up after the show. And no, sacklunch, she hasn't been married to Jim Kerr from Simple Minds since 1990.
  • Hynde apparently has no love for one (or maybe all) Oboe players, as she ridiculed one for a few minutes, ultimately informing us all that the Oboe has the smallest reed.
  • Two encores, without Middle of the Road? C'mon. Do it. Sing it. You know the words. It would have been easy.
As always, good to be out, good to see this band in action. Check it off my list. Emma Peel accompanied me to this show and threw out this challenge half way through.
Name the top 10 women of rock (all time).

A few of my choices: Joan Jett, the ladies of Heart, Janis Joplin, Debbie Harry...
Who would you choose?

11 comments:

Jimbromski said...

yeah, fuck those oboe players

off the top of my head, w/little to no forethought--my list of top womens in rock, in no particular order:

1--Janis Joplin
2--Madonna: the hitmaker
3--Debbie Harry: Blondie was a good band
4--PJ Harvey
5--Mama Cass: love the Mamas and the Papas and she was the best female in that band
6--The Go Go's: also an excellent band. Belinda Carlisle solo, not so much.
7--Tanya Donelly
8--Kathleen Hanna
9--Sarah & Maybelle Carter: Rock & Roll was the melding of black and white music...the Carters were pretty much the "white" part of the black and white cookie. Look to the cookie, Elaine. Look to the cookie.

Left some big names out but who gives a fuck, they're prob overrated anyway. I'm looking at you, Kim Gordon. You too, Patti Smith.

Jumbo Slice said...

I'm surprised Jimbomski didn't include Boy George on his list.

Beth Ditto isn't an all-timer but she'd make the list for current indie rockers. As would Karen O. If it's an all-girl group, does that count as one choice? If so, I'd put Sleater-Kinney on the list. Joplin seems like the best choice for the top slot.

What about Aretha Frankline, Diana Ross, or Tina Turner? Liz Phair started out strong and then fizzled.

Jimbromski said...

fuck all dem bitchez you just named

Jumbo Slice said...

What about Kim Deal, Grace Slick, or Yoko Ono?

Jumbo Slice said...

Isn't it ironic that no one mentioned Alanis Morisette?

Jimbromski said...

actually considered Ono and Slick. Ono only makes it for breaking up the Beatles. However, Lennon would have broken up the band regardless of whichever girlfriend he ended up with.

Slick's body of work with Jefferson Airplane is negated by her body of work with Jefferson Starship. And with Starship.

Kim Deal is good and prob should be on there, but Frank Black was the big fella in the Pixies, not her. Breeders were pretty good but would have been better if Donnelly had a bigger role. Hence, I choose Donnelly over Deal.

Anonymous said...

Top women in rock: James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich (as seen in "Some Kind of Monster")

Dumbek said...

Benatar
Patti Smith

Potsy said...

Benatar...had forgotten about her. Good one. Any 80s rock chick with that jagged haircut is probably is a contender.

I considered the Tina Turners but I think they might fall into R&B more than straight up rock. Then again, there's Janis. Is Rock racist?

Anonymous said...

A subset of women who rock would be women of "Vag rock"--rock for women, by women. Examples of this are Ani diFranco, Tori Amos, and Coldplay. Try to think of one guy that likes any of them and you'll see what I mean.

Potsy said...

I barely escape your subset, as I never cared for Ani deFranco's herky-jerky vocal stylings. Tori Amos and early Coldplay are a different story, however.