I’m a bit late mentioning this, but I went to see The Pretty Reckless at Rock City a few weeks ago (17 November, to be precise).
I saw them a few years ago at the Leeds O2, where they were supporting Evanescence. I’d had them on my tour alerts and snapped up tickets as soon as they went on sale. I did the same thing this time.
It is a bit difficult to describe this. On the one hand, the music was excellent. However, there simply wasn’t enough of it! The set list, shown below, consisted of a mere 11 songs. The encore was just one song.
- Follow Me Down
- Since You’re Gone
- Sweet Things
- Miss Nothing
- House on a Hill
- Dear Sister
- Absolution
- Why’d You Bring a Shotgun to the Party
- Make Me Wanna Die
- Heaven Knows
- Going to Hell
Encore:
- Fucked Up World
You could forgive the paucity of material when they were supporting in 2011 after only a single album having been released. After all, they only formed in 2009. But another two years down the line, and after graduating to headline status… well, I’m not so sure. Not being a hard rock band in the true sense the average length of each of their songs is around three minutes, so with that set list you’re looking at little over half an hour’s worth of music. And yet somehow they managed to stretch it to almost an hour and a half. And I said “almost”.
Unfortunately, they still haven’t polished their performance, and the rawness that was evident when they supported Evanescence was still there. You see, support bands are usually crammed in at the front of the stage – in front of the already-installed equipment of the main act. For that reason you can forgive the cramped performances that result. But if you’re the headline act yourself, then the audience expects a little more. There was a huge gap between each song which merely emphasised this unpolished product.
Having said that, the audience was predominantly young and female, and I doubt that they knew what they should be expecting. The screams of “we love you Taylor” probably illustrate that better than anything.
Personally, I did enjoy the show. There just wasn’t enough of it to go around, and you could see it being spread thinly on purpose.
Well done Eileen, who passed today first time with just 3 driver faults. This is a classic example of why you should never write someone off – and how wrong you can be if you do.
Well done Jim, who passed today using his own car. I’m still claiming it because I taught him, and he only went in his own vehicle because he wanted to take his test earlier than my diary would permit (in fact, I had another test at the same time).
Well done Virash, who passed today with just 2 driver faults. A very quiet and reserved lad, but a very good driver who deserved to pass.
Well done Abdul, who passed this week with 7 river faults. A very nice guy who is a student at Nottingham University.
Well done Kelvin, who passed first time with 7 driver faults last week. Another one who took very early (or very late) lessons to fit in with work, so I’m doubly glad he passed. I can have some lie-ins again now.
Well done Steve, who passed in November with 10 driver faults. He is one of a group of three I have taught from the same company, and the only one to need a second attempt!
Well done Tim, who passed first time in November with 8 driver faults. I know that this is going to have a major impact on his career prospects, and that makes it especially satisfying.
Well done to Muhammed, who passed in November with 5 driver faults. Another great guy to teach, who needed this test pass in lieu of his job relocating somewhat further north. In fact, he only stayed in Nottingham to take this test, that’s how close a call it all was.