Ben Phillips

LIVE REVIEW: THE PRETTY RECKLESS AT THE WILTERN

For quite a while now, The Pretty Reckless have been a really great rock band. One of those bands that has not gotten the due they deserve. Now five albums deep and showing all the signs of a well oiled rock band, they arrived in Los Angeles on sizzling Friday July 31, 2006 to a sold out Wiltern Theater.

At 9:00 the lights went down and a roaring crowd got louder and louder as Logan Nickolic (guitar), Jaime Perkins (drums), Mark Damon (bass) and the absolutely underrated Ben Phillips (lead guitar) took the stage. Then one of the loudest indoor audience pops I’ve heard in a long time exploded as singer Taylor Momsen hit the stage. Without a second more to wait, The Pretty Reckless stormed into a stirring performance of “Death By Rock And Roll.” The next batch of songs went back to their first two albums and upped the stakes of the evening. Just as you thought it was going to hit a more mellow tone in the set, the fantastic and heavy “For I Am Death” made the walls of the Wiltern seem like they were shaking. The onslaught of great rock continued with bangers “When I Wake Up” and Love Me” both and the former from the new album, Dear God.

Then came the moment when the show went for a more solemn tone as “Devil In Disguise (Michelle’s Song)” was played. It’s one of those songs that when you know what it’s about, really hits different. Then the vibe picked up with the title track off the record as well as two more songs from the new album. Then came a trifecta of absolute unbridled rock with “Make Me Wanna Die,” Heaven Knows,” and “Going To Hell.” Each of these songs had the crowd eating out of the bands hands. The fun jamming during the songs really helped to showcase the band as great players and how damn good they are. The way the crowd sang back at the right moments was astounding. For the encore the very melodic rocking song “About You” was played with special guest guitarist Pat Smear.

The Pretty Reckless are truly a great band that deserve more recognition for being a great rock band. They have a no frills approach to their music and songs that makes the music speak for itself. Taylor Momsen has a terrific rock n roll voice and can wail like the best of them! The band definitely needs more recognition as well. One of the tightest bands I’ve heard and seen. Each plays with a vigor that emits heavy rock. Ben Phillips especially needs to be on the lists for rock guitar players!! The Pretty Reckless are here and are guaranteed to put on one hell of a great rock show!

Overall Rating: 9/10

Review and Photos By: Brian Lacy

The Pretty Reckless Setlist:

01) Death By Rock And Roll
02) Since You’re Gone
03) Follow Me Down
04) Miss Nothing
05) For I Am Death
06) When I Wake Up
07) Love Me
08) Devil In Disguise (Michelle’s Song)
09) Dear God
10) Dark Days
11) Spell On You
12) Make Me Wanna Die
13) Heaven Knows
14) Going To Hell
ENCORE:
15) About You (with Pat Smear on Guitar)

The Pretty Reckless Photo Gallery:

ALBUM REVIEW: THE PRETTY RECKLESS- DEAR GOD

Rock music has always been about feeling. No matter the genre, the “feel” of the music propels you to hear things in a whole different way. When the music hits right and the words convey a thought that strikes the right chord, that magic is what keeps us all coming back. These days finding a real rock band that does that is quite difficult. So many bands have sounds that while are rooted in straight rock music, it’s a convoluted mess. The Pretty Reckless though, they’re the real deal. And on album number five, Dear God, that “feel” is what sends this record to the heavens.

The Pretty Reckless have put in a really solid amount of time to write an album that feels like a hard rock albums you’d find from the 1970’s mixed with the early 90’s. Taylor Momsen, Ben Philips, Mark Damon and Jaime Perkins have quite the chemistry on this album in a very deep way. Each song is a journal entry that comes to life through Taylor’s vocals. Songs like “For I Am Death,” “When I Wake Up,” “Love Me,” “About You” and “Dear God” are quite the rock songs packed with vigor and emotion. Then you get into a mid tempo territory that gets extremely raw the further it goes. Especially on songs like “Eye Of The Storm” and “Devil In Disguise (Michelle’s Song).”

Upon first listen, the album may seem front loaded but, it actually gets deeper the further you get into the record. There’s a lot of words within the lyrics, it all plays out in a journal come to life. Sure it’s something we all do but, to have someone who grew up in an industry that will eat you up and spit you out just as easily as it will make you feel like you’re the one, it’s quite introspective and revealing. The performance in Taylor Momsen’s vocals are full of every piss and gasoline. Its blues meets grunge and a tinge of goth. Making for a nice twist and turn as it is woven into the accompanying music. 

The Pretty Reckless absolutely won me over with their 2021 album Death By Rock And Roll. This is a really solid album and follow up. Definitely look forward to hearing these songs live.

Overall Rating: B

By: Brian Lacy

The Pretty Reckless- Dear God:

Best Guitar Solos: The Pretty Reckless- Only Love Can Save Me Now

If you haven’t heard The Pretty Reckless’s album, Death By Rock N Roll, you are missing out on one hell of a good rock album. It’s seriously one of those albums that proves rock sure as hell isn’t dead. There is one song in particular on the album that I constantly have stuck in my head and that is “Only Love Can Save Me Now.” My daughter loves this songs and the video and every chance she gets to sing this song at the top of her lungs is so great. The song itself is superb. It’s not just a well written song but, one of those that has teeth and depth. Having Soundgarden’s Matt Cameron and Kim Thayil on the song doesn’t hurt either, especially with the solo by Kim, which shows he’s still a badass with that axe. Check out this song and album!

The Pretty Reckless- Only Love Can Save Me Now:

Death By Rock N Roll (ALBUM):