The Pretenders are Talk of the Town as they play their hits at The Hammersmith Apollo

Chrissie Hynde even showed true rock ’n roll spirit when she egged on the crowd to defy venue staff and get up and out of their seats..

Their long parade of hits has been tempered by the tragic early deaths of two original members but the longevity of the band can simply be attributed to the chemistry of the superb drumming of Martin Chambers and the irresistible talents of Chrissie Hynde.

Tonight’s show at The Hammersmith Apollo finds Hynde in total control from the moment she bounced onstage wearing her glittery jacket.

Her classy Ohio drawl sprawls all over Alone, the title track of the band’s most recent release, getting the audience in the groove from the off.

Then an entrancing and atmospheric cover of Grace Jones’ Private Life saw the band confidently display their range with its magnificent bass and drum interplay.

It was then that the over officious venue staff visibly irked Hynde when the excited audience itched to get out of their seats to dance to Talk Of The Town. 

As the overbearing staff attempted to persuade the fans to remain in their seats, Hynde stopped the song to encourage everyone to get up and dance.

And after achieving her desired effect, the staff trooped away to allow the lovely and friendly party atmosphere to continue.

It was, therefore, more than a pleasant surprise to witness Angela Eagle MP letting down her hair by racing to the front of the stage to fist pump and bellow out the words to all of the songs.

In fact, between songs, Hynde acknowledged the MPs long-standing presence at many of the bands shows down the years. 

With a plugged in guitarist of James Walbourne’s calibre, who plays as though he has stepped on the live rail, the songs also took on a sonic excellence. There is a bit of Wilko Johnson in the rip-roaring live wire approach to his guitar playing and his constant physical shaking and buzzing during each song. 

And Walbourne’s incendiary rockabilly twanging on deep cut Kid and Back On The Chain Gang was worth the price of admission alone.

But the showstoppers were Hynde’s passionate performances on songs Let’s Get Lost, I Hate Myself and I’ll Stand By You.

On all of which she poured a vocal wrung in emotional experience down the microphone straight to the hearts of her devoted following.

Chrissie Hynde is one of only a few female rock icons still fronting a working band that has survived the pitfalls and pleasures that success and praise heaps on an artist.  

She also has the onstage presence of an Iggy Pop and a classic voice, not dissimilar to a rock version of Dionne Warwick, as she holds her quivering vocal notes with soothing ease.

Some fun banter from Chambers and Hynde between numbers betrayed a relaxed and comfortable vibe in the band.

This connected with their longstanding fans, who were not disappointed with perfect takes on The Kinks’ Stop Your Sobbing and I Go To Sleep both of which were written by Hynde’s former husband Ray Davies.

But it was left to Brass In Pocket, the final song of the night, to confirm this band’s legendary status. A sassy Chrissie Hynde stalked the stage owning the ‘I’m special, so special’ chorus line.

There is nothing make-believe about The Pretenders. And judging by this performance alone they are still the real thing.