When Stevie Nicks’ manager asked if she’d like to invite the Pretenders to open her 24 Karat Gold Tour, she asked, “Do you think they would?” The answer was a resounding yes—and the rare and somewhat unusual pairing makes for one of the must-see concerts of the year.
Named after Nicks’ 2014 collection rarities and B-sides 24 Karat Gold: Songs From the Vault, this tour affords Nicks a flexibility she doesn’t have on the road with Fleetwood Mac. She can now dig into the archives for a set list that spans her dual career as a solo artist and a member of one rock’s most celebrated bands.
Since kicking things off last month, Nicks has performed a few songs live for the first time, while dusting off other ‘80s gems like tour highlight “Leather and Lace.” Her intimate stage patter makes the two-hour show feel more like a club gig than an arena show.
Newly blond Pretenders leader Chrissie Hynde and original drummer Martin Chambers form the foundation of a revamped band that delivers a blistering hour of music. The set includes classics like “Brass in Pocket” and “Middle of the Road,” along with tracks from the new album, Alone, produced by the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach. Spoiler alert: Hynde makes a surprise return to the stage to perform Tom Petty’s part in Nicks’ 1981 hit, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.”
Sands Casino Resort
77 Sands Blvd., Bethlehem
Saturday, Nov. 19
Tickets start at $99
Wells Fargo Center
3601 S. Broad St., Philadelphia
Sunday, Nov. 20
Tickets start at $49
