Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in Concert

I had been a fan of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers since I first heard "Refugee". Their combined instrumentals and lyrics were head nodding, toe-tapping jams. Considering myself a concert connoisseur, I was curious as to the group's stage presence and performance. A Tom Petty concert will keep you smiling and rocking.

One major drawback to a Tom Petty concert is the fact that his propensity for being hard to understand is highlighted. If I had not known the lyrics or instrumentals of some of his songs, I would be out of luck. I do wish Tom Petty would enunciate more clearly. Some would say, however, that is part of his charm.

"Won't Back Down" was dedicated to one of Tom Petty's friends. That song was fun to sing along with. "Break Down" was just down and out fun. There was an echo in the arena when everyone sang the lyrics. Tom Petty seemed to enjoy being the conductor during this sing-a-long. The concert set contained many other Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker classics. Of course, "Refugee" was a crowd favorite. "Learning to Fly" was also a lot of fun. I particularly enjoyed "Last Dance with Mary Jane".

The acoustics were good. Every instrument was easy to hear, without having loud repercussions. The sound volume level was appropriate for the venue size (basketball arena). The lighting was good, but nothing spectacular. It was colorful and pleasant at the same time. It was just right, I thought. Overall, the stage set-up highlighted the talent of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers without being distracting. There was no extravagance nor unneeded stage props. That was nice to see.

At one point during the Tom Petty concert, a woman jumped up from the front row. She then ran up to Petty, dropped down on her knees in front of him. She acted like she was praising him like a Holy Roller would. It was funny to witness. Tom Petty simply emphasized the note he was playing and seemed both amused and befuddled by her actions. Security moved her off stage in a matter of seconds. How she got by security in the first place, I do not know. I just know that surprising segment was entertaining to see.

The Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers concert provided two hours of unadulterated rock and roll entertainment. It was obvious they all enjoyed what they were doing. Tom Petty, himself, developed a repertoire with the audience. He came across as being pleasant and entertaining. In addition to providing the audience with good jams, he provided good chuckles. That was also nice to be a part of.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are another group that I highly recommend seeing in concert. With a musical repertoire ranging from ballads to hard-core rock and roll, they offer something for everyone. Plus, I did not lose my hearing at the end of the show.