The Pretty Reckless are bona fide legends of the American alternative movement, and when combined with a venue like City Hall on Halloweekend, I knew I was in for a pretty special show. City Hall was as fantastic a host as ever and was packed to the gills with rockers in fancy dress who brought endless energy and built an unbelievable atmosphere.
The main set was preceded by up-and-coming British rock band The Cruel Knives, whose music filled a niche somewhere between alt rock and new metal. Front man Tom Harris fed off the crowd’s energy, running around the stage for the duration of the set as he whipped the crowd into a frenzy ready for the main event.
It wasn’t long before the lights went out again and The Pretty Reckless took the stage, opening the show with the song for which the tour was named, “Death by Rock and Roll.”
Lead singer Taylor Momsen has been the band’s mastermind since its inception in 2009, a legacy which she fully embodied on stage, performing with confidence and charisma that trumped any other live performance I’ve seen. She had the crowd wrapped around her finger from the set’s first chords, and they hung on her every word throughout the show.
Momsen is a natural performer and was clearly in her element on stage
Momsen is a natural performer and was clearly in her element on stage, expertly commanding the crowd’s attention and energy. The band’s stage setup complemented her performance well, the use of raised areas at the front of the stage creating a pulpit-like scene from which Momsen could preach to her faithful and elevate her performance.
Momsen’s passion was more than matched by her bandmates, guitarist Ben Phillips, bassist Mark Damon, and drummer Jamie Perkins, who played a show-stopping solo in the encore before throwing his towel into the crowd.
It was a night of Rock and Roll Heaven
All things considered, it was a night of Rock and Roll Heaven, the only blemish being the omission of Just Tonight, one of my all-time alt rock favorites.
Averaging around £30, The Pretty Reckless was one of the best value for money gigs in Newcastle this year. Given the opportunity, I’d see them again in a heartbeat.