THE PRETTY RECKLESS WON OVER THEIR BIGGEST DOUBTER AT THE WILTERN
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY JOSHUA MANALANG
For years, I refused to give The Pretty Reckless their flowers. Despite their loyal fanbase and impressive résumé, I wrote them off as "not a real band"—just an actor playing rock star—without ever giving them a fair chance. In other words, I was a hater.
With the release of their new record, Dear God, it's time for me to atone for my past sins. With equal parts humility and embarrassment, I can finally admit I was wrong. Consider me a believer.
Los Angeles, like much of the country, is in the middle of a relentless heat wave, but not even triple-digit temperatures could keep fans away from a sold-out night at the Wiltern. Over the past 17 years, The Pretty Reckless have built an impressively diverse audience. Young Taylor Momsen fans stood shoulder to shoulder with their parents, goths and metalheads packed the floor, and there was even a healthy contingent of classic rock diehards. I ended up chatting with a lovely couple who had driven all the way from Wyoming just to catch the show.
The band doug. was already midway through its set when I walked into the venue. The Portsmouth, New Hampshire quartet reminded me of the hardcore bands I grew up with, like Sick of It All and Madball, filtered through a grungier, sludgier lens. Paris Jackson followed with a melodic mix of indie and alternative rock, highlighted by an excellent cover of Blind Melon's "No Rain"” a welcome dose of nostalgia for everyone who grew up in the '90s.
Conversations with fans throughout the night quickly made me realize just how much The Pretty Reckless means to people. One woman near the barricade told me it was her first time seeing the band after years of waiting, calling it a true bucket-list moment. It's always special to watch a band evolve from an up-and-coming act into one that inspires lifelong loyalty.
As the house lights dimmed, the atmosphere inside the Wiltern shifted instantly. The roar from the crowd was deafening as The Pretty Reckless stormed the stage with "Death by Rock and Roll." As much as Dear God won me over on record, the band is even more impressive live. Taylor Momsen commands the stage with effortless confidence, her voice carrying an extra layer of grit and power that occasionally recalls Joe Elliott while channeling the snarling intensity of Brody Dalle.
Although the tour celebrates Dear God, the band never forgot the fans who have been there from the beginning. New material blended seamlessly with longtime favorites, including the breakthrough anthem "Make Me Wanna Die," which sparked one of the loudest singalongs of the evening. The biggest surprise came during the encore when legendary guitarist Pat Smear—of Germs, Nirvana, and Foo Fighters fame—joined the band onstage for a performance of "About You," sending the Wiltern into one final frenzy.
I walked into the Wiltern expecting to reinforce an opinion I'd held for years. Instead, I walked out wondering why I'd waited so long to give The Pretty Reckless a fair shot. As I said, I'm an incredibly stubborn man. Every now and then, though, it's nice to be proven wrong.
