Growing up in northeastern Ohio, I was exposed from the get go to Chrissie and her band in 1978.  That original line-up of Hynde, Honeyman-Scott, Farndon and Chambers made rock history by being installed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I had seen them back in Ohio as they were touted by then FM giant WMMS out of Cleveland. I even had the super pleasure of catching the original line-up in the 7th Row Center at the old Tower Theater right here in Houston back in 1980. Plus, I was at the Aerial Theater (now Verizon) in 2000. Man I’m old.

Anyway, the present line-up consisted this evening of Hynde & Chambers, plus new comers James Walbourne and Nick Wilkinson. Now they immediately will not get you to forget the original line-up, but they did not come in to play hits only for sure!  In fact, I was most happy that I picked up the album they are touring behind, “Break Up the Concrete”, because they dove into it big time this night.

From the opening 1-2-3-4 of “Boots of Chinese Plastic” it was on. Followed by “Don’t Cut Your Hair”, the uptempo tunes stood up well to the impending blend of rock classics.  Chrissie has always done things her way and I dig her for it. By standing by her new work when she could of trotted out a greatest hits barrage and go home sat well with this reviewer. In fact, the title cut, “Break Up the Concrete” with its Bo Diddley thump was slick as hell. The
“Dack-Dack-Dack-Diggie-Diggie-Diggie” scat like refrain is pure classic Chrissie! And “Rosalee” was maybe the highlight of the whole gig to me with James Walbourne scorching the crowd with a mean streak of guitar leads. The pause in the end of that song was masterfully played by Chrissie, bringing the crowd to think it was done and then screaming AGAIN,  where JW shredded some more!  Fine stuff indeed.

“Loves a Mystery” was sweet, too as Hynde branched off in to peddle steel territitory, provided by Eric Heywood (Son Volt, Alejando Escovedo, Richard Buckner), which fits in well in this part of the country. It was an interesting change of pace for someone who came up out of the “New Wave” scene ions ago.  When Chrissie decided to go back in time boy did she. She stated “Here’s one y’all should know” and then stepped back to the mike and said “Well its been 30 years so maybe you don’t!” Classic rendition of “Stop Your Sobbing” followed with CH’s pipes flashed in fine form. To her credit, at 57, her voice was as pleasant as ever with a chunk of Hynde attitude thrown in. Imagine that?

Other highlights of classic material were “Back on the Chain Gang”, a tender dedication to Honeyman-Scott & Farndon on “Kid”, saying the band would not be standing there without them and she told them as she pointed skyward “Hold on boys, we’ll be there soon enough.” I was right up front snapping killer pics during “Talk of the Town” and a burning hot “Message of Love” where Chrissie was high kickin’ like a Rockette!

Of course, a good sing a long was “Brass in Pocket” and “Day after Day” all sounded fresh even though they are three decades young. Personally I missed rugged edge classics like “Tatooed Love Boys”, “Precious” and “Middle of the Road”, but you can only do so much when promoting new stuff.  Another cool highlight of Hynde humor was introducing Chambers saying she’d been with him for 30 years and “Funny you only get 20 for murder!”  Weird relationship those 2 have had over the years. He does NOT appear on the latest CD, yet is on the tour. Go figure.

In summary folks, I thought it was great that the band did not just milk there hits and showed they had lots to offer for the future. I left the HOB walking on air after finally being able to cover a band I truly love. This “job” is so much easier when you dig the bands you cover. I’m also so happy Chrissie has made amends with Ohio and moved back to Akron. She has a Rubber City clothes line out promoting Akron and a vegetarian eatery that I hope to visit the next time I’m in her neck of the woods. She didn’t play “My City was Gone”, but apparently she’s found it isn’t after all…Get out to a gig kids. Its more fun than ya think!