Chrissie Hynde and JP Jones at the Showbox: Hot meets steamy

Concert Review |

Anyone inside the Showbox at the Market Wednesday night could see there was something hot and steamy between Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde and her bandmate/boyfriend/protégé JP Jones.

The knowing smiles. The long looks. The way they seemed to be singing and playing only to each other while their backing band, the Fairground Boys, served as musical third, fourth and fifth wheels.

The dynamic still made for a great show. JP, Chrissie and the Fairground Boys played an energetic, 90-minute, 16-song set, mostly from their "Fidelity!" album, which chronicles their May-December romance, and their bittersweet choice to (ostensibly) end it. He wants a family; she's "past her prime." The music — his earnest growl, her alto slink and their back-and-forth lyrics layered over steely, surefire rock — is the closest thing they have to a child.

Their well-chronicled back story couldn't distract, though, from stunning riffs delivered by guitarist Patrick Murdoch, who played Seattle like he was channeling native son Jimi Hendrix. His lead into the couple's hit "If You Let Me" sounded brand new, and his solo on "Portobello Road" blurred everyone else on the stage. Hynde has said she wants to get the band back into the studio and showcase Jones, but it may be Murdoch who deserves more time in the light.

Hynde, an animal-rights activist and outspoken vegan, had PETA representatives passing out "starter kit" booklets when they came in the door. ("Chrissie wanted you to have this," the mostly middle-age folks were told.) And the Showbox was asked not to serve meat products. Hynde's no-bull attitude reaches well beyond the stage, which you have to admire.

The night opened with Cobirds Unite, led by Rusty Willoughby and Visqueen frontwoman Rachel Flotard, whose tender, wry songs and folksy vocals charmed the crowd. Amy Correia, a smoky-voiced songwriter from Cape Cod, showed that much could be done with a guitar, a bass player, some hand claps and a good pair of boots.

Nicole Brodeur: 206-464-2334 or nbrodeur@seattletimes.com.