The Pretenders @ Salle Pleyel, Paris

By 2017, there could be little doubt about who The Pretenders really were. The recently released Alone had been recorded largely by Chrissie Hynde alongside a cast of studio musicians, reinforcing a reality that had been apparent for years: The Pretenders had effectively become her vehicle. Not that this was necessarily a problem. After all, some bands eventually become inseparable from a single personality. As Mark E. Smith once famously remarked about The Fall, "If it's me and your grandma on bongos, it's The Fall." The same logic applies here. If Chrissie Hynde is on stage, then you are watching The Pretenders.

The touring line-up did at least feature the welcome return of drummer Martin Chambers, whose contributions to the band's classic recordings remain immeasurable. Any concerns regarding his abilities after years away from the fold proved entirely misplaced. Chambers played magnificently throughout the evening, while the rest of the band provided muscular, professional support for a catalogue that hardly requires embellishment.

And what a catalogue it remains. Few bands can draw on a repertoire as deep as this one. "Back on the Chain Gang," "Brass in Pocket," "Kid," "Mystery Achievement," "The Wait," "Message of Love," "I'll Stand by You" and "Middle of the Road" all made appearances, alongside a generous helping of material from Alone, which more than held its own in such distinguished company.

The Salle Pleyel, once one of Paris's great temples of classical music, was close to capacity. And Chrissie Hynde, rock legend, feminist icon, vegan activist and all-around badass can turn up in that venerable old art-deco theatre in jeans and a t-shirt, drop f-bombs during her stage banter and still manage to class up the joint.

SETLIST: