Rock and Roll Icon Chrissie Hynde Takes Charge at the Pantages

Grace Morgan

Anyone aspiring to be a musician in Los Angeles should have been at the Pantages on Saturday night taking notes as Chrissie Hynde, frontwoman and founder of English punk band The Pretenders, schooled a packed crowd on what it means to be a real rock star. Hynde proved that after nearly 40 years of pushing her way through the music scene, she hasn’t lost a scrap of her edge, attitude, and fierce, rock vibe. The December 6 show, which capped off a 25-date North American tour in support of her debut solo album “Stockholm,” featured a balanced fusion her record’s new source material and timeworn Pretender classics.

The evening started out with warming act “The Rails,” a husband and wife British folk duo armed with just a pair of acoustic guitars and their perfectly harmonious vocals. James Walbourne (who also played electric guitar during Hynde’s set) and Kami Thompson performed a handful of refreshingly simple yet superbly crafted songs including a traditional Irish ballad “William Taylor.” While awaiting the main event, a crowd of spectators in the orchestra seats also sighted and encircled actress Rosanna Arquette who was attending her friend Chrissie’s gig.

At 9:05 p.m, the lights dimmed while sounds of R&B slow jam, “The Great Pretender” (inspiration behind her Brit Rock band’s namesake) flowed over the speakers as Chrissie and her crew stepped onto the stage. Decked in over-the knee leather boots and black blazer with sparkling silver lapels, the veteran rock star kicked into gear by belting out late-era Pretenders “Don’t Lose Faith in Me” and “Biker” as she strutted around the platform like she owned the place.

Three songs in, she had stripped down to a black vest and tie, and was barking with authority for security to toss violators of the ‘no camera phone’ policy. There was no questioning who was in charge here. She then took the opportunity to dive into some new tracks from “Stockholm,” including an appropriately local tune about Hollywood called “Like in the Movies.”

Soon after showcasing her new material, Hynde announced, “here’s a little nostalgia for the old folks,” and broke into the 1980 hit “Talk of the Town.” This brought the crowd leaping from their red, velvet seats, fully charged for the timeless classics they had come for. Hynde continued her early catalogue with “Kid’ and “Don’t Get Me Wrong,” her strong, glossy voice emitting just as much bite and spunk as ever. During “Back on the Chain Gang,” she paid tribute to her LA listeners stating, “This is a rock and roll town, and rock and roll is a dying breed.”

The show never lagged, and by the time she closed the set with poignant “Adding the Blue,” it had been the only soft, unplugged point of the night. But Hynde wasn’t done yet, returning for two encore sessions, which included a rowdy and invigorating rendition of “Precious.” She finally broke her own rules to appease the crowd’s camera-phone obsession. “If you have to take a picture, do it now,” she said, striking a pose with her shimmering, metallic guitar as the paparazzi audience stampeded down to the foot of the stage. She then closed the night with the seasonally appropriate “2000 Miles,” cooling down a night of textbook rock and roll with a classy and controlled melody as she serenaded the gentle line “It must be Christmastime.”

After a lifetime of hanging around the iconic British and American punk scene, Chrissie Hynde knows her place in chronicles of rock music, and she accordingly left her legacy loud and clear during her final tour stop at the Pantages. It’s a legacy of taking charge, showing attitude and keeping rock and roll alive.

Chrissie Hynde performed at the Pantages on Dec. 6.