Pretenders Still Good

This just in: The Pretenders are still good. Chrissie sounds as good as ever. Martin is really rock steady after all these years, but still throws in little flashy bits. They also have a pedal steel player, since some of the stuff on Break up the Concrete has a tasty twang. He and the lead guitarist were trading licks, which rocked. I love the sound of distorted slide or steel guitar, although not the George Thorogood flavor.

The opening act was American Bang, a 4–piece stoner rock band from Nashville. I really liked them. Very Fu Manchu/Wolfmother sounding, with a slight Southern "let's drink beer" edge. The bass player had his right forearm in a cast with his pinky and ring finger held out straight, so he had a very whole¶ndash;arm strumming–with&ndashpick style, very reminiscent of Lemmy.

The only goofy thing of the evening was some chick handing out leaflets at the end that said "Chrissie has a message she'd like you to read." It was a PETA thing with anti–meat quotes from famous people. OK then.