The Pretty Reckless Are Outgrowing the Club Circuit.
August 2, The Van Buren, Phoenix Arizona.USA
This may be one of the last chances fans have to experience The Pretty Reckless in a theater-sized venue.
Fresh off stadium dates supporting AC/DC, the New York rock outfit made a headlining stop in Phoenix while continuing to celebrate the release of their latest album, Dear God If this performance was any indication, the band is quickly becoming too large for rooms like this.
From the moment the lights came up, it was clear The Pretty Reckless had brought an arena-sized mindset with them. Three risers stretched across the front of the stage, giving each member room to own the spotlight. Taylor Momsen prowled from platform to platform with complete confidence, guitarist Ben Phillips stepped forward for soaring solos that demanded attention, while bassist Mark Damon constantly engaged the front rows. Even without the production budget of a stadium tour, the band’s stage presence never allowed the room to feel small.
The audience responded in kind. Every familiar opening riff was greeted with deafening cheers, and fans eagerly followed Momsen’s every cue, singing choruses back word for word and clapping in rhythm whenever she asked. It created the kind of feedback loop every great live band strives for a performance where the energy flowing off the stage is immediately returned by the crowd.
One of the evening’s defining moments came with “Dear God,” the title track from the band’s new album released in June. Rather than feeling like another song in the set, it played as a statement of intent. The Pretty Reckless wasn’t simply promoting a new record they were introducing the next phase of their evolution.
Where Death by Rock and Roll often leaned into raw power and catharsis, Dear God explores a more vulnerable side of Momsen’s songwriting without sacrificing the band’s hard rock foundation. Those songs translated effortlessly to the stage. During “Devil in Disguise,” much of the arrangement was stripped back to Momsen and Phillips, creating one of the night’s most intimate moments. Without the full band driving the song, Momsen’s voice became the focal point, revealing just how much she has grown as a vocalist. The grit that first made her instantly recognizable is still there, but it’s now matched by greater control and emotional restraint, allowing quieter passages to carry as much weight as the louder ones.
What impressed me most, however, was that the band’s growth extends far beyond its frontwoman.
Ben Phillips has quietly become one of the group’s most valuable assets. His harmony vocals added warmth and texture throughout the evening, particularly on the new material, often creating moments that felt even richer than their studio counterparts.
The addition of guitarist Logan Nikolic has also expanded the band’s live sound considerably, freeing Phillips to lean further into expressive lead work while maintaining the rhythmic punch that has always defined The Pretty Reckless. The result is a bigger, more dynamic performance that never sacrifices precision.
After spending the summer sharing stadium stages with one of rock’s most legendary bands, The Pretty Reckless could have easily coasted on that momentum. Instead, they delivered a performance that felt focused, hungry, and surprisingly intimate. They played like a band fully aware that they’re standing at another turning point in their career.
If you have the opportunity to catch them on one of the remaining headlining dates or while they’re still touring with AC/DC take it. Because if this show proved anything, it’s that The Pretty Reckless are rapidly outgrowing rooms like this. The next time they return, it may well be as an arena headliner rather than a band making one last stop in the clubs that helped build their reputation.
Photos and rivew by Mike Bengoechea