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tom petty and the heartbreakers rocks raleigh!

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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