PCM had the chance to check out The Pretenders at their show in Philadelphia, and I must say they have a timeless appeal. The venue was packed with fans of all ages, and the band played a fantastic mix of old and new songs, there was something to please old and new fans alike, and lead singer Chrissie Hynde looked phenomenal! (I just had to get that in there!) My only complaint with the show was the apparent photo-phobia of Chrissie Hynde. Several times through their set she would stop playing to tell the audience to put away their cameras, because they were distracting. I could see if this only happened once or twice, but it was several times during the performance, and that was distracting in it’s own right. As stated earlier, Chrissie and the rest of the band were looking damn good, so what gives, I say, even as a concert photographer myself, let the fans cherish their photo memories of the show, what is the worst that could happen, they end up on someone’s MySpace or Facebook page!

Musically I think The Pretenders were sounding fantastic. Lead guitarist James Walbourne was fabulous tearing up all the riffs and taking the crowds to new highs. Chrissie doesn't seem to have lost any of the swagger and subtle humor that made audiences fall in love with her from day one! They opened up with songs such as Boots Of Chinese Plastic and Talk Of The Town, and kept the momentum going with Chain Gang, Don't Lose Faith, and the ever popular Brass In Pocket! I was especially thrilled to hear Tattooed Lover Boys one of my personal favorites from the band! The Pretenders have truly stood the test of time and will continue rocking future generations for years to come!