Pretentious (Pretenders Tribute)

Artist Information

Biography

"Pretentious doesn't just sound like a great band -- Pretentious is a great band in its own right.
In a world that's full of rock & roll pretenders, this group of gifted players is the real deal."


David Wild
Contributing Editor, Rolling Stone

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"I've got to say, the band Pretentious was right on the money. There are tribute bands and then there are Great Tribute Bands. This is one of them. I highly recommend this show."

Brad Mercer
KDGL - The Eagle 106.9 Palm Springs, CA

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Pretentious is L.A.'s original tribute to The Pretenders, faithfully recreating the classic Pretenders' live show from the 80's, including Pretenders' hits like "Middle of The Road", “Back on The Chain Gang”, and "I'll Stand by You".

Hynde and company are definitive rock icons, and Pretentious have captured the essence of the Pretenders spirit with their spot-on renditions of timeless Pretenders’ songs. Playing hallmark Pretenders classics like "Precious", "Mystery Achievement", “Tattooed Love Boys” and "Brass in Pocket", Pretentious pays homage to the original Pretenders line-up of Chrissie Hynde, Martin Chambers, James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon.

With the eerily Hynde-like vocals and punctuating rhythm guitar of Dina Gathe (in the role of Chrissie Hynde), the thumping bass of Mike Bear (as Pete Farndon), the energetic drumming of Eddie DeJoy (as Martin Chambers), and the unabashed guitar solos of Brian Keith (as James Honeyman-Scott), the Pretentious live show offers an authentic recreation of the pure rock and roll energy and Hynde sensuality that have made the Pretenders world famous.

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THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE PRETENDERS

- 17 Top 40 U.S. Hits
- 8 TOP TEN U.S. HITS
- 3 TOP TEN U.S. ALBUMS
- 4 Gold Albums, 2 Platinum
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees (2005)
- Pretenders (debut album, platinum) was named one of the best albums of all time by VH1 (#52) and Rolling Stone (#155)

PRETENTIOUS IN THE LINE-UP
Very versatile…

Over the years, The Pretenders have toured with The Who, Neil Young, The Stray Cats, B-52’s, U2, and ZZ Top to name a few.

Pretentious’ set is always high-energy, and runs the gamut -- from driving, upbeat, edgy rock to pop.

Pretentious matches well with:
* Classic Rock (examples: The Who, Neil Young, AC/DC, Aerosmith, The Doors, Boston, Tom Petty, Led Zeppelin)
* 80s Nights (examples: The Cure, The Cars, Duran Duran, The Clash, Oingo Boingo, Ramones)
* Pop Music (examples: Journey, U2)
* Female-fronted Rock (examples: Pat Benatar, Blondie, etc.)

Instrumentation

Dina Gathe - Lead Singer/Rhythm Guitar
John Tosdal - Bass
Brian Keith - Lead Guitar
Eddie DeJoy - Drums
PK - Backing Vocals, Percussion

Discography

Official Website

http://www.pretentiousrocks.com

Links

• Facebook

Audio

• Brass in Pocket
  Listen   Download
• Tattooed Love Boys
  Listen   Download
• The Wait
  Listen   Download

Video

Pretentious Promo Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Quote from Rolling Stone Editor [+ Show ]
  

  "Pretentious doesn't just sound like a great band -- Pretentious is a great band in its own right. ..."Pretentious doesn't just sound like a great band -- Pretentious is a great band in its own right.
  In a world that's full of rock & roll pretenders, this group of gifted players is the real deal."
  
  
  David Wild
  Contributing Editor, Rolling Stone.
  
  

• Reviews from TributeCity [+ Show ]
  

  REVIEWS ON TRIBUTE CITY: "I've got to say, the band Pretentious was right on the money. There are...REVIEWS ON TRIBUTE CITY:
  
  "I've got to say, the band Pretentious was right on the money. There are tribute bands and then there are Great Tribute Bands. This is one of them. I highly recommend this show."
  
  Brad Mercer
  KDGL - The Eagle 106.9 Palm Springs, CA
  
  
  "In the very early 80's I fell in love with The Pretenders - they were my favorite band. I saw them perform twice. That version of The Pretenders is long gone, but Pretentious faithfully brings the music and spirit back to life. They almost sound more like The Pretenders than the original band! They play with joy, power and precision, and Dina makes a great Chrissie Hynde which is no easy feat. VERY ENJOYABLE — HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!" Larry, North Hollywood
  
  "Let me start out this review by saying ,I feel the Pretenders are the greatest rock n roll band of all time, and I have seen them live close to 40 times now. When I heard there was going to be a Pretenders tribute band called Pretentious playing on March 2nd, at Paladino’s, I was looking forward to seeing how they would sound and perform. Pretentious started the set with “Mystery Achievement”, with that cool signature Martin Chambers beat beginning the song by Eddie, then that classic bass riff delivered by the intensely gorgeous Mike Bear, then the dazzling guitar harmonies & face melting solos by Brian , and then that VOICE! Dina Gathe on vocals as Chrissie Hynde is summarized by one word, ORGASMIC! Dina delivers Chrissie Hynde as a rockin, female sexually empowering aggressive, yet vulnerable rock n roll woman. Pretentious played classics from the 1st album, “Up the neck”, “Tattoed Love boys”, and “The Wait”,along with classics from the early Pretenders era , like “Message Of Love”, Kid, Stop your sobbing, and Cuban Slide,( YES , they played Cuban slide, which rocks any real Pretenders fan who played Pretenders extended play on vinyl many years ago). The show just continued to rock, and not one person was seated by the time we heard Pretentious deliver “Precious”. And its not only the sound, because everywhere you look, you feel you are actually seeing the original Pretenders experience, Brian wearing a black & turquoise cowboy shirt, with the blonde haircut just like James Honeyman Scott’s, to Mike looking fierce in his black leather jacket and white shirt like Pete, to Eddie with his side burns like Martin, to Dina , who just blew me away & had me in pretenders bliss , she not only has the Chrissie nuances like chrissie bangs, eyeliner, white ruffled blouse, black boots, guitar strap with the name Precious on the back, fender telecaster, the hat in “middle of the road”, but she has the expressions, look, and vocal phrasing and talent that it takes to truly make Pretentious the BEST tribute band that ever walked the face of the earth. SEE PRETENTIOUS NOW!!"
  -- Caroline, Montebello
  
  "I was there to see The Neil Deal... a Neil Young tribute band. The plan was to check out Pretentious, listen to one or two songs, and then meet up some friends elsewhere. I was amazed by the performance... Dina was absolutely spectacular and needless to say I went nowhere but into their world! The drummer, Eddie, is very talented, and together Pretentious puts on a show that even Chrissie would applaud! If you get a chance to see them perform you're in for a great time!" -- Jodie, Northridge
  
  
  more reviews at tribute city:
  http://tributecity.com/reviews.php?rsn=3323
  
  Cut and paste the link above into your browser...

• Pretentious - Ain't no Pretenders, they are the REAL DEAL! [+ Show ]
  

  "Being from the era of the original Pretenders I was skeptical to go see "Pretentious - L.A.'s Origi..."Being from the era of the original Pretenders I was skeptical to go see "Pretentious - L.A.'s Original Pretender's Tribute" but I wanted to check it out at Paladino's, a club known for it's tribute band nights. So glad I did as the place was packed awaiting this new group to hit the stage. The music, the look, the sound and the energy was truly a tribute to Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders but it was all "Pretentious" pounding out the hits. If I hadn't known this was a tribute band, closing my eyes to only listen I'd have sworn it was the real deal. The band's opening song covering "Mystery Achievement" gave me chills when lead singer Dina Gathe sang "don't breathe down my neck, nah"... Mike Bear's bass line was exactly as Pete Farndon had done with Eddie DeJoy keeping a strong steady beat like Martin Chambers. Brian Keith had the hard edged sexy rock riffs of the great James Honeyman Scott so that the crowd really was in a time warp.
  
  I usually don't like most tribute bands but this one is different - you can feel the power and emotion in their wall of sound like a spiritual channeling of the originals. Dina Gathe has taken Pretentious to a new level of quality entertainment for a tribute band so that it's not a caricature but a vision of the past come to life. Each song raised the audience to a new high, covering "Brass in Pocket", "Message of Love", and other great hits this band has the cool presence and the music chops to spark a cult following. If Chrissie Hynde was there she'd be loving this, no doubt! The audience was into this band totally. I can't remember all the songs played in the 45 minute set because the moment was on fire. If you have a chance to see "Pretentious, L.A.'s original tribute to the Pretenders", you must! The music will make you smile and remember how good it feels to wear your red leather jacket, rock to the beat of "Tattooed Love Boys" and appreciate the awesome talent of not only Chrissie and the original band, but Dina Gathe and her Pretentious partners."

Setlist

Pretentious Song List

Brass In Pocket
The Wait
Precious
Mystery Achievement
Tattooed Love Boys
Up The Neck
Kid
Stop Your Sobbing
Message of Love
Cuban Slide
Day After Day
Pack It Up
Night In My Veins
Middle of The Road
Back on The Chain Gang
Thumbelina
My City Was Gone
Rebel Rock Me
Room Full of Mirrors
Louie Louie
Don't Get Me Wrong
My Baby
I'll Stand By You
Talk Of The Town
2000 Miles
The Phone Call
Hollywood Perfume

Basic Requirements

PDF Rider

Performance Agreement and Rider

Calendar