‘Hello Manchester,I told you we’d be back’ Chrissie Hynde told the packed audience at the Bridgewater Hall as the Pretenders hit the stage
A career that began at the end of the 1970’s shows no sign of abating, this performance was as electrifying and energetic as they get.
The 73 year old Hynde’s vocals have lost nothing in a career spanning over 40 years, her stage presence exemplified by tearing off her pink jacket after just two numbers revealing knee high boots, tee shirt and jeans to whoops from the audience, while guitarist James Walbourne, her song writing partner often took centre stage himself with bassist Dave Page and drummer Rob Walbourne kept the engine of the band firmly on track
The songs were a mixture of the old and the new, last year’s latest offering Relentless and 2020’s Hate for Sale with all the hits of the last century interspersed, Kid being dedicated to two former band mates of Hynde, James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon who both died tragically young
When Back in the chain gang began, it was the signal for members of the audience to begin to stand and dance and finally after many requests shouted from the audience, Brass in Pocket would finish off the set at the end of the encore with Hynde perched at the end of the stage dangling the microphone for members of the audience to sing ‘so special’
“Fellas we are not far behind” Hynde said looking to the ceiling as she dedicated Kid to her departed band mates,let’s hope she is wrong
