The Pretty Reckless (Supporting Stone Sour) @ Brixton Academy 4/12/2017
Opening for Stone Sour, fronted by the bona-fide rock god Corey Taylor of Slipknot fame, would be a huge task for any band, especially at stalwart London venue Brixton Academy. It is one of my favourite venues and where I saw my first concert sans parents, No Doubt and The Vandals way back in 1997 when I was just 14!
I've been a fan of The Pretty Reckless for some time and they definitely lived up to the occasion. As the PA began to play the infamous porn sample, it was obvious they were going to begin with Follow Me Down. The now three-quarter full crowd responds ecstatically and I'm immediately drawn to the immense presence of former Gossip Girl Taylor Momsen, trademark Panda-eyes make-up and all.
The sound is loud and crisp and the band sound absolutely huge as they smash through fan favourite Since You're Gone, more than making up for the obvious lack of on-stage chemistry between Taylor and the rest of her band. They had their own lighting rig, which is not often the case with support acts, and it was rather good and extremely bright at times.
After 3 songs from latest album Who You Selling For and 4 older ones, the band exits the stage, only to return for an encore of Take Me Down, also from the latest album. If there was any doubt they could stand up to the occasion, surely a support band doing an encore is proof enough?
The Pretty Reckless can heard over on Spotify.
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