THE PRETTY RECKLESS TAKE CALGARY STRAIGHT TO HELL WITH ROCK AND ROLL
GREY EAGLE RESORT & CASINO - CALGARY, AB
While promoting their fifth studio album Dear God, The Pretty Reckless are pulling off something very ambitious. They are currently opening for AC/DC on their POWER UP TOUR, but on days off they are headlining their own tour. The DEAR GOD TOUR is bringing The Pretty Reckless to venues across the globe, with Paris Jackson and Doug. (the band) as their USA openers.
If they needed time to rest between all this, you would have never known it given their performance in Calgary, AB, at the Grey Eagle Resort & Casino. This really shouldn’t be a surprise as they have constantly been able to impress AC/DC fans, who have been known to be pretty rough on opening acts. Aside from the obvious talent of each of the band members, The Pretty Reckless creates a perfect and much-needed balance between rock, high energy, vulnerability, playfulness, and truth.
Their openers are no different.
Doug. starting off the night with a high energy set was a great choice, as they bring a dirtier punk-rock sound that blends well with the environment of the night. They pull off the challenge of making a large concert fall feel like you’re experiencing a core memory moment of listening to live punk music for the first time in a grungy basement somewhere.
Paris Jackson and her band then carried on the momentum.
Although her sound is more of a softer rock than Doug. and The Pretty Reckless, she held the crowd captive and still oozed rock and roll. It’s clear both her and her band are well-versed in stage performance. She comes off as effortlessly authentic between taking shots of honey (it helps her “scream better”), her warm vocals, and her gritty guitar work that makes her every song vulnerable and resonating.
Straight out of the gate, The Pretty Reckless came in hot with energy that is off the charts, and went for pure anarchy with “Death by Rock and Roll” and their newer single “For I Am Death.”
At the helm of the band is ringleader and lead singer Taylor Momsen, and she is captivating. She seems made for the stage in the way she is able to wash away any inhibition and transfix the audience, especially given the vast range of different types of people she is able to bring together and share a moment with. Whether she’s twirling around to “Just Tonight,” dancing seductively for “Follow me Down,” getting the audience to have screaming contests with each other for “Witches Burn,” or going into the crowd for “When I Wake Up” - you just can’t take your eyes off her.
For their day ones, The Pretty Reckless played their first release “Make Me Wanna Die” during the second half of the set. It’s a song that Momsen says that she’s surprisingly “still not sick of singing,” and it’s clear the fans aren’t either, as there was a substantial pause during the song for the cheering to subside a bit.
This also brought the second-largest singalong of the night, which was only defeated by the song that probably displays the band at its best and most engaging - “Going to Hell.” Every single hand in the room was up and everyone was screaming “I’m going to hell” in such perfect unison, and it was truly a sight to behold.
The night ended with a great send-off. The song choice for the encore was a double surprise, as The Pretty Reckless are currently shooting a music video for “About You.” This upped the ante for a crowd that was already brimming with excitement, and added another personal touch to a set already littered with them.
The most memorable moment of the night was also the most somber, with the performance of “The Devil in Disguise.” This song is a loving and beautifully haunting tribute to Momsen’s late friend Michelle Trachtenberg, and I feel like it’s also a nod to Momsen embracing her friend’s old identity. (Michelle’s character in Gossip Girl was referred to as the “devil in disguise” by the narrator). Hearing this live, with the build-up of emotion apparent in Momsen’s voice, was a poignant and heartbreaking moment.
A lot of The Pretty Reckless’ music strikes this almost impossible balance between personal and grandiose. It comes down to the introspection that is needed for this type of songwriting, and also likely comes with the maturity that is seen throughout the album Dear God as an exploration of mortality, revelation, optimism, and remorse.
This new album is their most honest and raw yet, and this tour is no different. Catch The Pretty Reckless on their DEAR GOD TOUR through the USA and Europe, and check out Dear God wherever you get your music.
