Hynde calls ‘Fidelity’ her best

By JOHN BENSON

entertainment@vindy.com

The “Talk of the Town” once again, Chrissie Hynde, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and visionary of The Pretenders, is “Back on the Chain Gang” with her new act — JP, Chrissie & The Fairground Boys. At the center of attention is the group’s stunning debut effort, “Fidelity,” an Americana album steeped in acoustic guitar-driven rock and folk, with occasional forays into bluesy guitars and country motifs.

Considering Hynde recently turned 59, a year short of Golden Buckeye Card status, the decision to join a new group is somewhat surprising. In fact, no one is more surprised than the Akron native. What happened was she crossed paths with Welsh singer-songwriter JP Jones, who approached her at a November 2008 party in London. The night remains hazy for both, but from that point on, song ideas started flowing. Eventually, the collaboration culminated with a spontaneous songwriting trip to Cuba where “Fidelity,” an album that tells the story of two people who fall in love but realize their future is doomed by a 30-year age gap, was conceived. The Vindicator talked to Hynde and Jones about the collaboration, the group’s Tuesday show at the Grog Shop and the future.

Q. Considering the lion’s share of writing took place in Cuba, how did the island atmosphere affect the songs?

Jones: I think that just more than listening to Cuban music, it was just the vibe and the isolation. The Cubans are sort of honest and humble. And it’s just kind of like there was such a beautiful vibe there. I think it definitely had an influence being there on the way we wrote these songs. All of them were just flowing out of us.

Q. Were either one of you initially intimated — an up-and-coming artist working with a rock legend — when it came time to write?

Jones: We didn’t plan on doing it, so it was certainly a natural progression. Because me and Chrissie had become really close before that, before we wrote any music together, it was just a natural thing. It was easy. We’re both songwriters.

Hynde: No, I’m not very easily intimidated. I don’t see what’s intimidating about it to meet a great artist and have a natural collaboration.

Q. Using the lyrics of opening track “Perfect Lover” (“I found my perfect lover but he’s only half my age/He was learning how to stand when I was wearing my first wedding band/I found my perfect lover but I have to turn the page/But I want him in my kitchen and standing on my stage”) as a reference point for JP, Chrissie & The Fairground Boys, how much does sexual tension play in the songwriting of the act?

Hynde: (silence) Uh, I can’t really answer that. You have to read into the songs as the listener. As songwriters, we’ve delivered what we feel is … explaining songs makes you really feel like you haven’t succeeded as a songwriter. If it’s not in there, we need to go back to the drawing board, I guess. It’s just not a question I’d like to answer. I don’t want to talk about my sexuality or his or yours.

Q. Finally, are you surprised by the positive attention “Fidelity” is receiving?

Hynde: We’re blown away, but I think it’s the best thing I’ve ever done, and he thinks it’s the best thing he’s ever done. People seem to dig it. It seems to be the right time for it, for some reason. I guess it’s just kind of struck a chord. But we certainly have had a great response, and the attention isn’t on me by any stretch of the imagination. The band is amazing, he’s amazing and people are accepting it for what it is. They’re welcoming it. I think it’s the best thing that I’ve ever done, that’s for sure.