![]() It was a hit, sure, but “My City Was Gone” early in the set seemed especially poignant today - as much about Denver, or any other sizable city in the world today, as it was originally about Akron, Ohio, in the early '80s. Hynde long ago mastered the art of coming off strong, while her music is imbued with a vulnerability that makes it accessible. And it's not like she skimped on the energy (nor did longtime drummer Martin Chambers). ![]() That came off like a big fuck-you to ageism. Interestingly, she didn't bother trying to hide her age by dying her silvery hair to be as dark as it was early in her career. In typical fashion, Hynde joked throughout the show in her cool, wiseacre style, including an oblique dig at the American elections without committing to a stance on the subject. Both styles create a riveting tension and versatility of expression that is at the root of what makes their music so compelling. Both have grit, and Hynde somehow manages to be tough and tender, while Nicks makes a virtue out of really selling the vocal lines with a forcefulness, like she's amplifying and projecting her direct emotional experience. Both are capable of a broad range of emotional expression and tonal range. What became obvious immediately during both sets is how Hynde and Nicks, both rightfully acknowledged for their powerful and arresting vocals, have unconventional and distinctive voices. Historical coincidences aside, Hynde and Nicks simply played the show like they were having fun with the music and rediscovering a newfound passion for the material. The Pretenders seemed to come from out of nowhere and were not really post-punk or new wave, despite Hynde's roots in England's punk world and the timing of the first Pretenders record, issued in 1980. ![]() Sure, Nicks was then a member of one of the most popular rock bands of the era as a singer and songwriter in Fleetwood Mac, but she also established herself as a solo artist of note, beginning with her striking 1981 solo album Bella Donna. Because last night, both stars rocked like they did in the old days. Tonight it was easy to forget that Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders and Stevie Nicks are both senior citizens and that their greatest impact on popular culture happened in the first half of the 1980s, when both ruled the airwaves.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |