i was truly lucky to see the truckers open and then tom petty and the heart breakers rock the united center in chicago IL
this might be a ramble,
so for the cliffnotes version.
truckers were hot. sound was crystal, lights were fresh, band looked happy, played tight and petty is a rock legend and still a force.
ok
if you got the time, i got the thoughts...
nothing ground breaking, nothing profound.
just observations and emotions from someone who loves music.me.
here is how it went down:
i like tom petty. always have.
honestly, what is not to like?
guy is a phenomenal talent. songwriting chops for days. longevity..
the ability to make pop music and radio friendly and still be appealing to many many types of fans.
cross genre.
in fact, he is one of those artists that you know is stellar but often forget how talented and how many great songs there are.
i bought the 2 disc anthology a while back and am continually knocked out at the quantity of the quality.
while playing the jukebox last week , i picked american girl.
we were discussing it's release. bantered around some dates, 90's late 80???...
fucker was 1977.
i was 9 years old! and it is still delicious today.
fast forward ( or as i write this sunday eve.) lookin' back
to sat.
i had an excellent seat to last nights show.
got to the venue ( 21,000 seats) just as the lights went down for the truckers
the stage was gigantic.
it was almost laughable the disparity between otto's and the united center. polar.
the band looked incredible. everyone had a fine new haircut, great jacket on patterson, cooley sharp , top to bottom. threads were fresh.
patterson is a ring master. he is unbelievable.
he was charming and smiling and gracious and sincere and passionate.
he was not cheesy, goofy happy
he was genuinely proud to be there opening for tom petty, but was confident in knowing his band belonged there and have earned it.
he was every inch himself.
he was rocking out.
cooley is pretty bad ass cool. all the time.
i don't recall the set list but santa fe was played and it remains breathtaking.
that song will rank up there with the best of the truckers someday. mark my word.
birthday boy was fast and hot. women without whiskey was so clear and impressive.cooley's voice was perfection. deep and strong.
sinkhole was nasty funky (saving the family farm by any means necessary)
shonna stepped up for i told you so, right after get downtown and the energy was palpable.
the audience came for petty. die hards.
but they left asking who the truckers were.
lots of new fans created.
good set. solid, great pacing, excellent selection and perfect sound.
a short break for set change.
i don't recall petty's set list. i read somewhere it does not change much.
you know what? it does not have to.
petty has earned his place in rock history, yet he does not rest on his laurels.
he is out there giving the people what they want.
they adore him. generations
i saw tons of fans, all ages, in petty shirts. old and well worn and lots of teens in new gear.
the first few songs were classics.
petty was almost a little bit cheesy. but the fans were going NUTS! eating it up. reveling in these moments and sounds.
petty looks and reminds me of this crazy cross between andrew duplentis of son volt, dwight yokam, willie nelson and bob dylan.
( looks, style, voice, swagger,age)
the guys in the band are 'old' ( old-ish, older) and at first that may seem a bit off putting. but truly, these cats are polished, mature, experienced.
classy. and wicked talented.
the heart breakers are tight. a family.
mike campbell ( was listed in the underrated guitarist thread)
dude is NOT underrated. he is untouchable. total badass with a smile so sincere and warm. charming
and his skills. insane.
HE is the sound of petty. blazin. beyond.
i was blown away.
yes, petty did play 4 or 5 new songs off MOJO. i have MOJO. i listened to it twice.
it has not struck me.
the songs sounded good. people were respectful, there were some beer runs,
but overall, the band seemed most happy to be playing those.
i got a little tired during those 5.
i was thinking a lot about what this show was making me feel.
it was a huge venue. at one point petty said "turn the lights up, i wanna get a good look at you."
totally cool moment. twenty thousand fans cheering, waving, screaming, smilin'
all there to hear music.
i don't know if they are like trucker's fans and follow him around.
but it is a lot different shelling out $120 for a show
than $10 or $14.
for many folks, that night was magical.
and in witnessing that, it became magical for me.
to make music, for years and years and have people be so moved by it,.
to make it to the point in your career, you can have the big bus, the huge laser show, etc.
that must be all artists' dream.
it takes hard work, talent, and good management, and relentless touring
and mostly luck, to make it and still be profitable and creating new works for 40!!! years.
but you cannot get there without serious, sincere, die hard fans.
so cool.
i kept going back and forth between being overwhelmed with happiness for the fans and truly rockin' my ass off.
again, it was all campbell. epic.
and then back again to thinking 'jesus, this is so not the type of show i am into these days."
but in the end, i came away thinking. i want to name my next band breakdown.
it was a great night of excellent music performed by two bands that love rock, work their tails off, and love their fans.
and fans who treasure and are inspired, or simply made happy,
bu music and it's soul and the artists who bring it to them.
what more could anyone ask for in the span of 3.5 hours?
screw the haters.
truckers and petty & the heart breakers brought the rock.
and i was happy to receive it.
