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PREVIEW: The Pretenders at Tanglewood on Tuesday, July 16

Clean guitar sounds and transparent textures give "Brass in Pocket" something of a lean, new-wave sheen. All the better to convey the essence of Hynde's music, which is her attitude: cocky, sexy, provocative—and whip smart.

Lenox — Most of the shows on The Pretenders’ American tour this summer are already sold out, and exactly no one is surprised. Folks in Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington, and other big cities who wanted to see the band are out of luck if they don’t already have tickets. But at Tanglewood, in Lenox, where the band will appear on July 16, a few seats remain.

The Pretenders are a big draw because the band’s founder and lead singer Chrissie Hynde has written some great songs over the last 45 years. The hits include:

  • “Kid” (1979)
  • “Brass in Pocket” (1979)
  • “Talk of the Town” (1980)
  • “Message of Love” (1981)
  • “My City Was Gone” (1982)
  • “Back on the Chain Gang” (1982)
  • “Middle of the Road” (1983)
  • “2000 Miles” (1983)
  • “Don’t Get Me Wrong” (1986)
  • “My Baby” (1986)
  • “I’ll Stand by You” (1994)

The Pretenders were probably classified as “new wave” on account of their first hit single, “Kid,” from their self-titled debut album, relying on a drum-bass groove that was typical of early 1980s pop music. (It probably didn’t hurt that Hynde hung out with the Sex Pistols and was pals with Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious.) But the band’s second hit, “Brass in Pocket,” stands apart stylistically from anything on the radio at the time. Both singles appeared on the group’s first album, which Rolling Stone magazine still considers one of the best albums of all time.

Another reason for the “new-wave” label, perhaps, is that Hynde seemingly had no affinity for the big-hair arena rock acts of the 1970s, with their flamboyant front men and speed-of-light guitar pyrotechnics. Compare the slick grandiosity of bands like Journey, Boston, and Foreigner with the directness and spare instrumentation of “Brass in Pocket.” There is nothing specifically new wave about the song, but clean guitar sounds and transparent textures give it something of a lean, new-wave sheen. All the better to convey the essence of Hynde’s music, which is her attitude: cocky, sexy, provocative—and whip smart.

In January 1980, “Brass in Pocket” reached No. 1 in the U.K. and No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Two years after “Brass in Pocket” charted, the group had their biggest U.S. radio hit, “Back on the Chain Gang,” which spent three consecutive weeks at No. 5. The Pretenders were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.

At the time of this writing, The Pretenders’ tour hasn’t started, so we have no news from fans about how it has been going. However, Hynde is at a point in her career where she can attract top talent for concert tours. She knows what she wants from musicians, and she gets it.

Hear The Pretenders at Tanglewood on Tuesday, July 16, at 7 p.m. Tickets are available here.

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