The Pretty Things

Celebrating 50 years in the biz, and contemporaries of The Rolling Stones, the band hold a somewhat unique place in the history of rock’n’roll. Early success wasn’t quite followed through despite subsequent late 60s work which has nevertheless cemented their long-term cult status. But in the beginning there was R’n’B, and here tonight, led by stalwarts Phil May on vocals and the superb Dick Taylor (original bassist for The Rolling Stones, fact fans!) they largely went back to their roots, immediately blasting out of the gates with 1965’s ‘Honey’, ‘I Need’ and a clutch of seminal songs from that era, all played with power and precision; mention must also go to the younger and dynamic rhythm section of bass and drums. Following a trip down memory lane with tracks off their psychedelic influenced concept album of 1968, SF Sorrow, they then gave a masterclass in the roots of R’n’B with Taylor playing some magnificent blues and slide guitar. Although both May and Taylor are approaching 70, their passion for rock’n’roll remains intact: no pretension, no fillers, just ferociously played rock’n’roll, the good old fashioned way.

Komedia, 6 March 2013

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