The Egyptian Room at Old National Centre in Indianapolis was the place to be for rock fans on September 22 as The Pretty Reckless brought their Dear God tour to town. The historic venue provided the perfect setting for an evening built around loud guitars, dark songs and the unmistakable presence of frontwoman Taylor Momsen.
Opening the night was MAXILLA, who delivered a short but hard-hitting nine-song set. Songs including “Anatomy: She,” “Overlook,” “Half Life,” “Rite of Endurance” and “Heartbreaker” showed off the band’s heavier side. They closed with “And the Bleeding Ceases…” and “My Creatures,” leaving the room warmed up for the headliner.
When the lights went down and The Pretty Reckless took the stage, the energy inside the Egyptian Room changed immediately. The band opened with “Death by Rock and Roll,” a fitting introduction that quickly had the crowd locked in. Momsen commanded the stage throughout the performance, moving between powerful vocals and a quieter, more controlled presence depending on the song.
The set drew heavily from the band’s catalog while putting a major focus on the material from Dear God. “Since You’re Gone,” “Follow Me Down,” “Miss Nothing” and “Zombie” kept the momentum moving early, while newer songs such as “For I Am Death,” “When I Wake Up,” “Love Me” and “Dragonfire” gave the performance a darker and more dramatic feel.
One of the highlights came with “Spell on You,” followed by “Devil in Disguise (Michelle’s Song)” and “Dear God.” These songs gave the show some of its strongest atmosphere, with the band’s music filling the Egyptian Room and Momsen’s vocals carrying across the venue.
The final stretch was built for longtime fans. “Make Me Wanna Die” brought one of the biggest reactions of the night, followed by “Heaven Knows” and “Going to Hell.” After a short break, the band returned for “About You,” giving the audience one final song before the lights came back up.
The Pretty Reckless’ Indianapolis performance worked because it never felt like the band was simply going through the motions. There was a sense of drama throughout the night, but the music remained at the center of everything. The Egyptian Room’s intimate setting also allowed the crowd to feel close to the performance, creating an atmosphere that would be difficult to recreate in a much larger venue.
For fans of The Pretty Reckless, the Indianapolis stop delivered a little bit of everything: new material, familiar favorites and a frontwoman who continues to make the stage her own. By the time “About You” ended, the Egyptian Room had been treated to a night of dark, powerful rock that felt right at home in one of Indianapolis’ most distinctive concert spaces.
-Brian Cranfill