Nice feather in Tom's hat, he did a great job!
The guy is a class act imo.

Maybe next year they'll bring on Eddie Money?
NYC boy and all.

I have been to a bunch of Tom Petty concerts, going back to the Full Moon Fever tour. I missed last summer since we were out of town, and will be out of town this summer for the tour date in Colorado, so my wife and I are going to fly to NY, while her folks watch the kids, to see him.

Bill

For anyone who is a Petty Fan the DVD that came out several months ago is a must have. It chronicles the band from the early 70's and all the the stuff they've been through. I loved the show last night and will finally see him in concert this summer.

I thought he did a good job and the band was fairly tight. I have never seen him live before so I dont have a point of reference as to what to guage that....

Yeah he looked old... perhaps a makeover is in line for him as the stringy long blonde/gray hair and scruffy greyish beard didnt go over well on TV. He is Tom Petty and can do whatever he wants, but he would have come across less like an aging rock star and more contemporary had he either pulled his hair back like Willie Nelson...or clipped it close and had a shave. Sting is the same age, about 57 or so, but there is a difference in how they have aged and how they present themselves.

Funny though, in the pregame press conference, some really beautiful girl reporter said to him "you still look hot by the way" and Petty said "well thank you".... lol

To be honest, vocally he was warbling a bit more than he used to... his voice isnt as 'solid' as it was 20 years ago on records... but that could have been just a studio thing....20 years ago he was writing hits in his 30s, 30 years ago he was just starting to write those hits. The guy has had an amazing career and has written and recorded a TON of catchy songs...all done his way with that particular style which is often imitated by "southern rock bands" but rarely is it done well ...so you have to give him props for everything and last night was a fitting tribute.

HUGE Tom Petty fan here (will be going to concert #4 in August) and I can GUARANTEE he was live. There is no way Tom Petty would stoop to lip syncing, that is against everything the Heartbreakers are about.

Seriously, TP&HB are one of the best rock and roll bands to come out of the last few decades, in my opinion. I own every album and would listen to TP over the Stones or Beatles anyday. But that's just my opinion.

I see where Steve Windwood is playing with them when they are in Selma tx, and the Woodlands too but not Dallas. Since my brother lives in the Woodlands and it is Labor day weekend I think we'll do the Woodlands show as my wife and I love Windwood too.

I alluded to it "possible" being prerecorded in my first post only on the reasoning that is sounded just too "perfect" for a live concert. I have been told that almost all those concerts are prerecorded, mainly by the producers insistence. Did you notice how that guitar solo's sounded perfect? Maybe the HD signal was directly picked up and broadcast. There is a big difference between a no talent star like Britney Spears faking it and a tried and true entertainer prerecording for technical reasons. All I know is it sounded great.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Nzbe-DvcKOo

I saw an excellent documentary on IFC this morning.
Petty rocks........excellent.