The Pretty Reckless – Artist Spotlight

Written By: Alexis Coleman

The Pretty Reckless – Artist Spotlight

Taylor Momsen left acting and her role on Gossip Girl to start Alternative Rock band, The Pretty Reckless and has never looked back creating unique sounding music and touring the world.

 

The Pretty Reckless hailing from New York City started their musical journey in 2009 and debut their self-titled EP on June 22, 2010.  The EP included four songs, three which would be included on Light Me Up their debut album which would come out August 31, 2010. The three songs were “My Medicine” “Goin’ Down” and “Make Me Wanna Die”. Momsen was influenced by her favorite artist the Beatles, Nirvana, Joan Jett and Oasis.  

 

The band is made up of Taylor Momsen on vocals, Mark Damon on bass, Ben Phillips on guitar and Jamie Perkins on drums.  The Pretty Reckless would support their first album by playing the entire Warped Tour in 2010 followed by opening act for the Evanescence Tour in 2011.  The band went back into the studio to record their EP, Hit Me like a Man which was released on March 6, 2012. The EP included five songs in total, three new and two live performances from Light Me Up.

 

The Pretty Reckless would embark on their headlining Medicine Tour to support Light Me Up and Hit Me like a Man. They toured during 2012 in North America, Asia and South America.  After which they would wind up in the studio again to record their second album, Going To Hell which was released March 18, 2014. The band found their greatest success with this new album.  

 

Going to Hell,  would  sell 35,000 copies it’s first week,  not to mention it would hit number five on the Billboard 200. The band would go out in September 2014 on the Going To Hell tour in support of the album. When “Messed Up World” (F’ed Up World)  “Heaven Knows” and were released as singles they went straight to number one on the US Mainstream Chart.

 

The Pretty Reckless became the second female-fronted band ever since the Pretenders to have  two number one singles in a row on the Mainstream Chart making history. October  21, 2016 the band would release their third and current album, Who You Selling For. The band will start their headlining North American tour in support of Who You Selling For on April 25 in Boston, Massachusetts and end on May 24 in Wichita, Kansas.

 

In between headlining dates the band will be playing major festivals such as Fort Rock, Welcome to Rockville, Carolina Rebellion, Northern Invasion, Rock on the Range, Rocklahoma, River City Rockfest and Rockfest which are all a part of the World’s Loudest Month Festival.  They will also play Rock USA, Moondance Jam and Lollapalooza before going overseas to Europe. They start the overseas Festival circuit in Hungary playing the Sziget Festival August 13 and end their run at the Leeds Festival in the United Kingdom on August 27.

 

The Pretty Reckless is a band that has made a name for itself with a unique live performance mixed with a distinctive sound and style. Creating albums and touring non-stop has led to a strong fan base and respect from other artist. Make sure to check the band’s summer headlining tour and festival shows to witness this powerhouse of a band.

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