Tom Petty’s early life in Gainesville, FL had a unique event. He met Elvis when he was 10 years old and fell in love with his music. At age 13, he saw the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan show and, from that day on, he knew he wanted to be a rock ‘n roll star. Forming his first band a few years later, Petty went on to become one of the best-selling recording artists of all time. Darien Lake PAC has been a familiar venue to Tom Petty and the legions of loyal fans he has made along the way. When he and his long-time backup band, The Heartbreakers, played there last Sunday Sept. 7th, those fans showed up en masse. The show featured covers and songs from throughout Petty’s recording career with the Heartbreakers and solo albums.
The show opened with a spirited version of The Byrds “So You Wanna Be a Rock ‘n Roll Star” that had Petty smiling with the enthusiastic reception from the crowd. His vocals were as strong as ever. After 14 albums and almost 40 years of touring, Petty shows his age in his grayish hair and full beard, but not his voice. His guitar playing is right on. Power chords and stylish picking on the no less than 10 guitars used during the show was true to the classic Petty sound. Speaking of those guitars, Petty has a collection of classics that he regularly plays including, 3 Fender Telecasters and a Stratocaster, a Gibson SG, Firebird, and Flying V, and others from Gretsch, Martin, and Guild. Each of these guitars brings with it a different sound and this is really the basis of Petty’s appeal. His music is classic Rock ‘n Roll in many different forms. Blues, jams, power rock, and boogie are all a part of Petty’s repertoire. “American Girl Part B” off Petty’s new album “Hypnotic Eye” brought back some of the bluesy rock that began his recording career. Oddly, with all the recording success Petty has enjoyed, “Hypnotic Eye” is his first number one album. It debuted in Billboard’s top spot upon release in July.
The show continued with a string of hits including “Won’t Back Down,” “Free Fallin” and “A Woman in Love,” each of which brought the audience into a full sing-a-long. The latest single “U Get Me High” followed as tribute to Petty’s love of those things that alters ones mental state. The crowd approved, loudly. Petty broke out the acoustic guitars and showed his softer side with “Rebels” and “Two Gunslingers” which aren’t played much live. He called them “deep album tracks” in the vein of what a stoner radio DJ might play if searching for those hidden gem songs that don’t get much airplay.
Petty continued his acoustic guitar playing on the hits “Yer So Bad” and “Learning to Fly.” The Heartbreakers have not lost a beat and backed Petty beautifully on the haunting “Shadow People” off the new album and left many in the crowd in a happy, trance-like state. It was soon to be broken as some of the group’s favorite tunes revved up the show. “Refugee” and “Runnin’ Down a Dream” had the crowd going wild, stomping and singing along. The boys took a bow and a short break before encoring with “You Wreck Me” and “American Girl.” The 2 ½ hour show came to a close with the crowd still buzzing. Tom Petty left the stage promising he would be back to do it again. I wouldn’t be wrong to say that the crowd could hardly wait.
Many in that crowd came to see the opening act. Steve Winwood started the evening with a nine song set that included hits “I’m a Man”, “Can’t Find My Way Home,” “Low Spark of High Heeled Boys,” “Dear Mr. Fantasy” and closed with “Gimme Some Lovin.” To classify Winwood as a rock star would be an understatement. His contribution to rock music with The Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith, Traffic and solo career has few comparisons. His high tenor singing voice was as clear as ever and brought a loud, enthusiastic crowd to its feet, cheering and singing along with every verse. It was a great night to be a rock ‘n roll fan.
Tom Petty setlist:
So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star (The Byrds cover)
Mary Jane’s Last Dance
American Dream Plan B
Into the Great Wide Open
Forgotten Man
I Won’t Back Down (Tom Petty song)
Free Fallin’
(Tom Petty song) A Woman in Love (It’s Not Me)
U Get Me High
Rebels
Two Gunslingers
Yer So Bad (Tom Petty song)
Learning to Fly
Shadow People
I Should Have Known It
Refugee
Runnin’ Down a Dream (Tom Petty song)
Encore:
You Wreck Me (Tom Petty song) American Girl
