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tom petty and the heartbreakers rocks raleigh!

Published Jul 14, 2008
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Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performed Saturday night at the Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek. I have seen lots of concerts in my lifetime, but one show that I have never been able to catch was Tom Petty. Being a child of the 70s, I was a huge fan of his Damn the Torpedoes album.

Firstly, I am not sure of the exact numbers, but I haven't seen that many people at Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion since I have lived in Raleigh (two years). The lawn seating area was even packed as far as the eyes could see. Opening the concert was 80s icon Steve Winwood.  I thought Steve Winwood sounded great, but I would have like to have heard more of him. The set list lated an hour, and was missing some of his best work, such as Arc of a Diver. Winwood and his band sounded great, and he even played Mr. Fantasy, a song from his original band Traffic.

The stage was unique to say the least. It contained cube-like video screens where you could actually see different angles of the band members. Behind that was huge video screens that at times displayed fire images. It was one of the nicest stage layouts that I have seen at a show in some time.

Although I wasn't sitting very close, Tom Petty looked and sounded exactly like he did in his prime, with an added beard, that on the video screens appeared to have lots of grey in it. Nevertheless I felt the show was incredible. I was particularly impressed with Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell. Being a band mate of Tom Petty kind of puts you in the background. Campbell was more than a capable guitarist, and managed to stand out all all evening though several impressive guitar solos.

Petty started out the night playing You Wreck Me, and the hits just kept coming. Listen To Her Heart, I Won't Back Down, Even The Losers, Free Fallin', Mary Jane's Last Dance, Sweet William, and End Of The Line were played before he introduced us to the Heartbreakers.

"It's not every day we get out to Raleigh, North Carolina" Petty exclaimed, to the crowds delight. Petty and the band then continued with Breakdown, Saving Grace, Honey Bee, You Don't Know How It Feels, Learning To Fly, Don't Come Around Here No More and Refugee.

One complaint, if I had to have one, and it's certainly not Petty's fault, but popularity to blame. When a musician's music is as popular as Petty's, everyone knows the words... and likes to sing along with the band. My goodness I sat around some very loud, and off-key fans, and I would have really preferred to hear the person qualified to sing them. And here's a personal note to the 150-year-old woman in the tube top and hot pants that was sitting next to me; if you have to dance at a rock concert, I would really appreciate it if you could have avoided continually whacking me in the face while doing the swim dance, cabbage-patch or whatever dance you were doing!

The encore began with Runnin' Down a Dream, Bo Diddley's Mystic Eyes and ended the show on American Girl. It was a great show, and for all you Traveling Wilbury's out there, I recommend seeing this show in your travels, it was well worth the price of admission.
 

Filed under: Concerts




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I wish Tom & the Heartbreakers had played "Rebels" in Raleigh. That would have made the night perfect.

We had a young and drunk fellow come staggering into our space only to flop down and steal one of our chairs we had brought. We tried to get him to move, but he was unable to get back up. So instead of beating the mess out of him, we just left him alone and he later simply disappeared into the crowd...leaving his matches, cigarettes, and his lighter laying where he sat. Poor guy. He missed a good concert. It was so very packed on the lawn. And I haven't seen so many good-looking and lightly-dressed ladies at one place in 30 years.

My throat is still scratchy from all the screaming I did. AWESOME show!!! Can't wait to see him again.

Sounds like TP is approaching Jimmy Buffett status. All the parrotheads think they can sing too. Of course when you are that drunk everyone sounds good. Did you hear about the parrothead who went to the JB concert sober? He said,"who is that band, they suck!

Also... the set list that you posted was from his Charlotte show. He changed the order of the Raleigh show slightly.

charlesboyer... I was only referring to his solo work, not Traffic. Arc of a Diver came out in 1980, and Back in the High Life came out in 1986.

You won't find a better American rock-n-roll band anywhere ! When this band hit their 'prime,' they stayed on a plateau and never got off.

http://www.wral.com/golo/blogpost/3199741/

Petty is always good. Have seen him three times now and they have all been good. The last time he was here it was his "farewell tour". Glad he changed his mind.

I took a couple of decent photos with my wife's little pocket camera, I will have to post them.

Here's Petty's Setlist:

You Wreck Me

Mary Jane's Last Dance

I Wont Back Down

Even The Losers

Free Fallin'

Honey Bee

Sweet William

End Of Line

Band Intro

Gimme Some Lovin' (w/Steve Winwood)

Saving Grace

Face In The Crowd

Rebels

You Don't Know How It Feels

Learning To Fly

Don't Come Around Here No More

Refugee

Encore:

Runnin' Down A Dream

Bo Didley's A Gunslinger/Mystic Eyes

American Girl

ps: the bulk of Steve Winwood's work was in thr 60's and 70's.

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