Wow! Sometimes there are gigs where everything comes into place and you have an unforgettable evening. Well this was one such occasion. The Cluny is a tiny pub venue in Newcastle. It cannot hold more than a few hundred people. So when the Pretenders announced that they were playing some intimate gigs and one of them was the aforementioned Cluny I just had to go along. The tickets sold out in minutes, if not seconds. I was lucky enough to score one for myself and a companion, who turned out to be Elaine, and who also took some great photos. We arrived around 8:10 PM. The Pretenders were due on stage at 8:30 PM. So we were just in time to squeeze through the tiny door which gained us entry into the concert room at the back of the pub.
We came into the concert part and were faced with a jampacked room, filled with a sea of people. We couldn’t move and couldn’t see a thing. Now usually I don’t take advantage of being in a wheelchair. But this was one occasion I broke my rule and used my disability to my advantage. I slowly moved forward asking people to let me through to the front. Slowly but surely, everyone was so kind, and I reached a spot almost at the front of the crowd, one person between me and the stage. I had a wonderful view of everything. Thank you so much Cluny crowd! Elaine followed nervously behind me. I asked her to go to the bar and get me a drink and a T-shirt. “I can’t possibly move at all” she explained “and if I do get to the bar there is no way I can get back!” And she was right. We were completely crammed in and could not move at all. The entire venue was completely full and there was no room to move anywhere. Wonderful. It felt just like the old days when I was used to being crammed down close to the front.
8:30 PM. The band come on stage. Chrissie is just in front of me and looks just great. This lady is 71 years old and looks just wonderful. She is the archetypal rock chick in thigh length black leather winklepicker boots, jeans and a black shiny leather jacket. She sounds great and the new band she has assembled are excellent musicians. The advertising for the show told us that there would be no hits. But as I said, sometimes magic does happen and four songs in we get “Kid”. A meltdown moment. Tears in my eyes. And a mix of great rock ‘n’ roll and hits follows. But the evening gets better. Chrissie Hynde spots me and asks the people in front of me to move aside so I can see. “Are you okay? Can you see?” She says to me. I told you it was one of those evenings. Chrissie Hynde talking directly to me. I tried to mouth back “do you remember playing the Mayfair?” But she can’t hear me.
I recall seeing the Pretenders at the Mayfair around 1977 and that they were pelted with pints of beer by the traditional heavy rock crowd. So we get “Back on the chain gang”, “Talk of the town” and “Don’t get me wrong”. All played at full volume, with great raspy vocals from Chrissie. At one point she asks “did any of you see the New York Dolls?” A big cheer. “And Johnny Thunders. He’s dead now. But so is everyone these days.” Says Chrissie. “We can play arenas if we wanted to, but we want to come back and play little venues. We are losing a f***ing fortune!” Chrissie also talks about the Grammys: “what happened to real music and great rock ‘n’ roll?” More rock ‘n’ roll follows. And then they are gone.
They play three encores. It is 9:50 PM. A member of the crew gives me a set list. Everyone is so kind. Thank you Chrissie for a wonderful evening. Special things happen every now and then. This was one of them. We wander out of the venue not quite believing what we have just witnessed. Elaine loved it and so did I. Proper rock ‘n’ roll in a small venue. And so close to the band. And Chrissie spoke to me and looked after me! As I said magic does happen now and then.
Setlist: Losing Sense; A Love; Turf Accountant; Kid; Adulteress; Downtown; The Buzz; Domestic Silence; Don’t Get Me Wrong; Biker; Message of Love; Talk of The Town; Don’t Cut Your Hair; Time The Avenger; Chain Gang; Let The Sun Come In; Junkie Walking. Plus three encores!?
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by David Dennis on February 8, 2023 at 9:13 pm
You clearly had a great time. Methinks it was the tight quarters and great vibe that contributed to that. Always enjoys your reviews!
Posted by vintagerock on February 9, 2023 at 1:49 pm
Hi David many thanks it was a magic evening happy days Peter
Posted by John on February 9, 2023 at 5:21 pm
Great review! I missed the chance to see them last year at the Brudenell in Leeds – I was disappointed then but even moreso now!
Posted by vintagerock on February 9, 2023 at 6:50 pm
A magic night John Sometimes things are just great Peter
Posted by Peter Maggiore on February 9, 2023 at 6:13 pm
Nice one Pete. It’s nice to be made to feel a bit special. What a night for you
Posted by vintagerock on February 9, 2023 at 6:49 pm
Hi Pete it was great and I now in love with Chrissie Hynde happy days Peter
Posted by John on February 10, 2023 at 10:31 am
Hi Peter,
Super write-up. It made me feel as if I was there!
John
Posted by vintagerock on February 10, 2023 at 12:41 pm
Thanks John it was a magic night and I am still buzzing Peter
Posted by mark on February 10, 2023 at 2:11 pm
Its all very nice bands playing smaller venues but what about the people who would like to have gone but couldn’t get a ticket. I wanted to see them in brighton but i had no chance of getting a ticket. A handful of dates played to a few hundred people. An ego trip i think. As for loosing a lot of money, i have a friend who puts bands on in Brighton, if a show sells out and the prices are sensible, not the high amount The Pretenders were asking, a show shouldnt lose money. Unless the artist demandes a lot of money.
Posted by vintagerock on February 10, 2023 at 5:03 pm
Thanks Mark. Understand where you are coming from. Best wishes Peter