Thank you, Chrissie Hynde. Thanks for making the Pretenders concert that couldn't settle on a home into a concert to write home about.
The backstory: The Pretenders, Cat Power and Juliette Lewis were supposed to perform at the Minnesota Zoo, but animal-loving Pretenders leader Hynde demanded a change of venue when she learned that the zoo's Family Farm exhibit, like most farms, sells its animals for slaughter.
The show was moved to the Orpheum Theatre, but slow ticket sales prompted downsizing to First Avenue, where the Pretenders had played to a sell-out crowd in February. Never mind that the change of venue forced First Avenue to use a three-tiered ticket-pricing system for the first time, or that tickets cost $39, $49 and $65 compared with $35 for February's show.
Hynde and her reconstituted band of veterans and fresh faces put on a terrific rock 'n' roll performance Wednesday night. She provided plenty of her famous sass, snarl and spitfire. Too bad that First Ave was only a little more than half full -- maybe 1,000 fans -- to witness this exciting concert.
In February, Hynde was uncharacteristically happy and smiling but still very good. On Wednesday, she got occasionally riled, berating the audience for looking nonplussed (her word) about the band's new material. That kind of feisty swagger added just the right edge to the Pretenders' melodic guitar-driven rock to make for a great 90-minute performance.
Newest member Eric Heywood, the Minneapolis-bred pedal steel guitarist, provided some country seasoning on selections from last year's twangy-tinged "Break Up the Concrete" CD. But it was lead guitarist James Walbourne who stole the show. The young Brit, who signed on with this Rock Hall of Fame band in 2006, ripped off searing solos on the new "Rosalee" and the old "Kid," "Thumbelina" and "My City Was Gone." That was the night's highlight along with a surprise cover of Merrilee Rush's "Angel of the Morning," which showed the potent emotionalism of Hynde's voice.
Walbourne's animated style perfectly complemented the 57-year-old Hynde's sexy preening in her tight jeans, tank top, and over-the-knee boots of some kind of fabric (no leather for this animal lover). With co-founding drummer Martin Chambers banging away with fearsome power, this lineup had the alluring blend of veteran savvy and youthful exuberance, spiked, of course, with Hynde's flip-you-a-bird, rock 'n' roll attitude.
With the move to First Avenue, Cat Power became the only opening act, with fidgety, hushed-voiced singer Chan Marshall doing druggy, dirge-like readings of "House of the Rising Sun," "Dark End of the Street" and "New York, New York." With the relocation, Juliette Lewis ended up performing after the Pretenders, in First Ave's smaller club, the 7th Street Entry.
For set lists, go to www.startribune.com/poplife. Jon Bream • 612-673-1719