How many big name bands originated in Florida? Not very many, with the exception of The Doors’ Jim Morrison being born in Melbourne. But one band that originated in Gainesville announced in December that they would embark on a 40th anniversary tour. Yes, it’s really been 40 years since Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers released their self-titled debut album.
A lot of shows’ opening acts are artists who are trying to get out there. But when the lights went down at promptly 8:00, who else walks out to open but Joe Walsh of The Eagles? “Good morning!” He rasped before beginning his electric 45 minute setlist. He played songs from his own successful solo career (Meadows; Rocky Mountain Way) and two songs from The Eagles (Take It To The Limit; In The City), the first one being dedicated to his “brother and fellow bandmate, Glenn Frey,” who passed away last year.
Walsh left the stage around 8:45, and the roadies began to set up for Tom Petty. People went out to mingle with fellow fans, and to buy t-shirts and beer. Then, at 9:47, the lights went down, and the almost-sold out crowd of over 20,000 fans brought the house down as Tom Petty and his dearly beloved Heartbreakers entered the stage for their second Florida show, their first being the night before in West Palm Beach.
“We’re bringing you 100 percent natural rock and roll, no artificial sweeteners!” he announced as the Heartbreakers prepared their instruments for the best night that Tampa Bay has had in months. The band started out with “the first track from [their] first album,” which was Rockin‘ Around (With You). Petty then went onto his famous sing-along, Mary Jane’s Last Dance, which had the young and old in the audience singing along the whole way through.
Through the rest of the night, Amalie Arena heard mainly greatest hits: The acoustic guitars of Free Fallin‘ and Learning To Fly, and also some deep cuts from Petty’s second solo album, “Wildflowers.” After ending their main set with the frenetic Running Down A Dream, Petty and the guys walked offstage for about two and a half minutes as the ecstatic audience chanted “Petty” until they came back out. The group finished up the show with an encore of You Wreck Me from “Wildflowers,” and American Girl, which was their first album’s closing track.
Petty stated many times through the night how pleased he was to be back home in Florida, and how he “felt the mojo in this room,” to which the roar of the audience was the response he received. At that point in the show, he turned towards the people up in the nosebleeds on each side of the dome.
With Tom onstage were old and new members of the Heartbreakers, including his old buddy and original guitarist Mike Campbell, and also two new members on backing vocals. The Webb Sisters, Charley and Hattie, who were also backup singers in Leonard Cohen’s band from his latter days, are touring with the group for the first, and possibly last time.
In an interview with Rolling Stone from last year, Petty stated how he’s thinking about making this tour “the last big one” with the Heartbreakers, due to the fact that he has a granddaughter he wants to spend time with, and that they’re getting older. That being stated, last night was the perfect opportunity for Petty fans old and young to either relive the old days, or to discover something new.
“Before we leave, I want to hold the world record for the loudest sound ever made in this building,” was his final request to his hyped audience before ripping into his final song of the night.
A loud sound we made, and a loud sound it was.
Josh Bradley Live 