Tom Petty looks like he is having the time of his life. And why wouldn’t he be? The guy is seriously a musical legend walking among us and living the dream. Playing a packed Pittsburgh Consol Energy Center last night, June 20, 2013 to a crowd that ran from septuagenarian to tweenager, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers proved why they are Rock N Roll Hall of Famers. Even though not a huge Petty fan, this writer was stunned at how many songs I was singing along every word to without any thought at all. Tom Petty is a part of Americana and is intertwined into the very fabric of our musical history, thus being my main motivation to see this phenom. But, the man and his band do not disappoint for all the right reasons. The sparse stage filled with vintage equipment was carefully highlighted only by necessity lighting and two big screens up top for the back rows. Otherwise it was all classic rock n roll output with very little stage banter other than Petty telling the crowd ‘what a great day (he) had in Pittsburgh’ and ‘that (he) hoped that the crowd was in for a long night because he didn’t have anything to do for a few hours’ (add in your own thunderous applause). There really is no criticism to be had here. After honing your craft for close to 40 years you come to expect that, but the point is Petty lives up to it every night and still loves what he does and does not go around bitching about it, something a few younger bands could take note of. After Petty (and Elvis) left the building last night Petty made one more fan that night, proving after all these years the man is still doing his job. There’s a lot to be said for that.
Setlist via setlist.fm
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(The Byrds cover)
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(Big Joe Williams cover)
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(Traveling Wilburys cover)
- Encore:
All photos ©2013 AWeldingphoto and Pittsburgh Music Magazine