Chrissie Hynde To Bring Career-Spanning Show To The Chicago Theatre

By Carrie McGath in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 11, 2014 8:00PM

Chrissie Hynde, photo credit: Jill Furmanovsky

Since the mid-1970s, Chrissie Hynde has been a part of the canon of straight-up, bare-boned, rock n’ roll. In 1978, she gathered together Pretenders, creating music that was pure, driven rock that has proven to have an iconic and far-reaching shelf-life. Hynde once said, "I just want to keep it basic: four players, boom, boom, boom, a couple notes, three chords. It's like a real small bank job. Just enough to get by. Quick in and out." This adage has served her well throughout her career.

Hynde is wise and unapologetic and her new solo album, Stockholm, delivers these characteristics through elements of rock infused with power pop. The songs’ lyrics feed bittersweet love songs, expressing her disdain for an insincere cult of personality that is so ingrained in the American consciousness. She is still very much on her game with her unmistakable voice threading it all together with appearances by Neil Young and, yes, tennis player John McEnroe. Hynde also collaborated on songwriting and album production with Björn Yttling. The result is a solidly-conceived and executed record that nicely showcases the robust edge that is so much a part of her work.

Hynde will be appearing at The Chicago Theatre tomorrow night, touring with a setlist that spans her career, including new material from Stockholm to classics from The Pretenders repertoire.

Chrissie Hynde plays Wednesday, Nov. 12 at The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., 7:30 p.m., $38-$93.28, all ages