The Pretty Reckless at The El Rey Theatre

My first ever post on my first ever blog. I love music, I went to school for it and I love to perform it and see it performed. This blog is going to be about music I love, shows I've been to, and what YOU need to be listening to.


The Pretty Reckless at The El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles on February 11, 2011.
The venue, The El Rey, was a very cool spot. The room was shrouded in dark colors and lit by groovy glass chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The outside marquee was reminiscent of old Hollywood or current Vegas. Flashing lights and a sold out sign plastered across the band names could have come straight out of a movie. This is a spot that I would be more than willing to see more shows at.
http://www.theelrey.com/
Opening the night was the band 'A Thousand Horses,' rock music with a bit of a southern swing. Very very good band. If you haven't heard them, or heard of them, check them out. I couldn't believe with how good they were that was the first I was hearing them. My friend who went to the show with me did have one comment that needs to be highlighted, "that is a lot of plaid up there." Lead singer: plaid, bass player: plaid, guitars: plaid, and even an amp had a plaid screen over it; talk about a theme. But hey, overdose of plaid withstanding, this band rocked faces; there was even a harmonica solo that, it could go without saying (but I'll say it anyway), was amazing.


The next band opening for The Pretty Reckless, seemed to have more people in the crowd who knew their songs than A Thousand Horses but, left me wanting. Runner Runner was cookie cutter pop/rock that was neither new nor interesting. Sure the dance beat wasn't bad and I didn't mind how good looking the lead singer was, but that was the most they had going for them. My friends and I questioned each other, how much hair gel does that guy go through in a day? It's definitely a lot. One of their songs is called 'So Obvious' or maybe just 'Obvious' but I couldn't help but think, "exactly." That was exactly what they were, unquestionably exactly what you expect, obvious. At least there was good entertainment value in the drunk girls next to me who were yelling for the lead singer to take off his pants during the performance.


And finally The Pretty Reckless came on, if you aren't listening to this band you need to be. Taylor Momsen came out in what must have been 10 inch heels, and red studded lingerie. My spot, which happened to be right by the stage, gave me a solid view of some of the goods when she was walking out, but she managed to keep them put away for the rest of the show. Which was impressive as she was wearing little more than underwear.

What surprised me by the show was that TayMo could actually sing. Girl had solid pipes. She could move and dance in her shoes and she could sing. Let's just say "wow," as it seems some of the people performing in the Grammys could learn to do the same. Even if you haven't heard of this band, if you can score tickets, do it. It is worth the negligible $15-$25 price tag for general admission. And, contrary to what seems to be popular belief, she wasn't a bitch. All I've ever heard of this Gossip Girl star was that she was a bad girl with a bad attitude, and while I didn't get to meet her (paint me with disappointment), she was very gracious on stage to her fans.

If they schedule another LA show on their tour, I am there again.