By: David Schultz


IF YOU ARE READING THIS because The Stones and/or Petty tickles your musical fancy, then you will be excited to know that Alan Parsons has a new live album coming out March 19 in Europe and April 6 in the USA. Eye 2 Eye - Live In Madrid captures a May 14, 2004 show at the Playa Mayor in Spain and contains "Games People Play," "Damned If I Do" and "Sirius," a staple of every NBA pre-game. There seems to be a supporting tour but to see it, you need to be in Israel, Slovakia, the Czech Republic or Russia.

Labels: Alan Parsons, The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty

By: David Schultz

As Peter Bogdanovich has already chronicled every aspect of Tom Petty's career in a briskly-paced four hour documentary, there's really only one way left for the youngest Wilbury to repackage thirty years of memories in a wide spanning retrospective without redishing old dirt: a comprehensive 4 CD set of live recordings. Cutting through all the PR hyperbole, The Live Anthology will feature 48 live tracks culled from recordings made between 1978 and 2007. Like every major undertaking these days, there will be expanded "deluxe" versions with added tracks and "bonus" DVD concert footage.

DESPITE THE FACT THAT I will be going, I managed to miss the fact that U2 has been forced to reschedule their Friday night show at New Jersey's Giants Stadium from September 25 to Wednesday, September 23. With the New York Jets (who aren't really from New York anymore) moving their Sunday game against the Tennessee Titans from 4:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. so that their Jewish fans may be home by sundown to celebrate (well, really commemorate) Yom Kippur, there would be insufficient time to remove the band's elaborate stage set-up. U2's publicists have declared that the three hour time change makes the Friday night show "logistically impossible." I figure if I missed this, you may have too.

THOSE READERS (yes, I'm optimistic, I'm using the plural) who enjoy their daily earful will have to live without it for a day. In celebration of Labor Day, Earvolution will be enjoying a day of rest. Come on back on 9/8.

Labels: Tom Petty

By: David Schultz

In substance, Tom Petty's solo albums, Full Moon Fever and Wildflowers, have contained some of his most memorable and intimate songs. While his Heartbreaker-less material has been lyrically different, musically it's never been a dramatic shift from the distinct style he's created over the past thirty years. Even though Jeff Lynne's production touches are noticeable, the Florida native's latest solo album, Highway Companion, follows the same formula as his previous ones: warm, personal songs sung in an unmistakable, wizened nasal voice over jangling Byrds-era guitar riffs.

Anyone expecting a rowdy, partying album in line with the atmosphere Petty & The Heartbreakers have been creating on their recent summer tour will be disappointed by Petty's latest. The dozen songs comprising Highway Companion are not road songs to accompany a freewheeling trip down a rowdy freeway a la "Running Down A Dream" but rather a companion to the uncertainties and insecurities encountered on the highway of life. Unlike Petty's prior solo efforts which seemed geared towards a more mainstream audience, Highway Companion feels more like a labor of love. Missing the arena anthems Petty fans have come to love, his latest aims not for the gut but for the heart.

While thematically introspective, the album does have its upbeat moments: built around a bluesy John Lee Hooker guitar-boogie based riff, "Saving Grace" strongly kicks off the album and the heavier guitar work on "Jack" and "This Old Town" are greatly aided by the vocal cadence Petty mastered on songs like "Mary Jane's Last Dance" and "You Don't Know How It Feels." In contrast, Petty's strumming of an acoustic guitar, though bordering on lazy, suitably matches the ruminations found on the sparse "Square One" and "Damaged By Love."

In bringing these more personal songs to life, Petty has turned to longtime friend Jeff Lynne. While Lynne's production results in the inclusion of some anachronistic riffs that seem more appropriate on an ELO album, his participation also results in the recreation of some old Traveling Wilbury magic, with "Big Weekend," a song about the necessity of being able to cut loose once in a while, sounding like a lost Wilbury song.

Petty seems to be bringing his fans down the same path Bruce Springsteen brought his. No longer teeming with the unbridled energy of youth, Petty's thoughts have become more reflective and introspective; the inevitable result of growing old. Anyone willing to travel down this road with Petty will find great enjoyment in Highway Companion; those who still wish for Petty to be running down dreams or feeling born to rebel may need to look elsewhere.

Labels: Tom Petty

By: David Schultz

When compiling a shortlist of the greatest rock bands of the last thirty years, it's quite likely that Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers wouldn't make the cut. However, next time a classic Petty song comes on the radio; take note: not only will you probably sing along, you'll know all the words.

To celebrate their thirtieth anniversary and the impending release of Petty's latest solo album, Highway Companion, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers are taking their enduring brand of stoner southern rock on the road. This past week, Petty & The Heartbreakers came to Madison Square Garden for their first New York City appearance in three years. Cherry picking from three decades of hits, the Manhattan crowd continuously sang along with Petty while he ran through a set list that, even in the absence of beloved tunes like "The Waiting" and "Breakdown," didn't suffer for recognizable classics.

Fresh off of their co-headlining stint at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Petty played under a set of video screens that provided distracting close-ups of the band throughout the night. Given the relatively good sightlines in the Garden, they were unnecessary; only serving to provoke discussion as to whether the 55-year-old Petty once portrayed Kelly Leak in The Bad News Bears. After opening with the early-era "Listen To Her Heart," the band went right into "You Don't Know How It Feels," marking their first but hardly last foray into Petty's stellar solo material. While egotistic on the surface, the Heartbreakers contributed significantly to Petty's individually-titled efforts, making their inclusion into the show quite appropriate. Petty's 1989 solo album Full Moon Fever received the most attention; the crowd drowning out Petty's voice on the choruses of "Free Fallin'" and "I Won't Back Down" and doing a little hippie headbanging to "Runnin' Down A Dream." In addition to the smoothly rendered reading of "You Don't Know It Feels," they went back to Wildflowers for the encore, an energetic version of "You Wreck Me" that far exceeded its studio counterpart.

Petty spent a portion of the show reclaiming old songs and old melodies: offering a twangy version of the Traveling Wilburys' "Handle With Care," recently covered by Jenny Lewis, Conor Oberst and others, as well as a scorching rendition of "Mary Jane's Last Dance," in which he laid ownership to the guitar line allegedly purloined by Red Hot Chili Peppers for "Dani, California." However, if Petty is truly upset over the similarities between his 1981 hit and the Red Hot's new single, he should perhaps take a look in the proverbial mirror to see if he's a pot calling the Peppers' kettle black; Petty's new single "Saving Grace," seems to borrow just as heavily from John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom."

Perhaps influenced by his recent time at this year's Bonnaroo, Petty sought the crowd's approval to "jam a little bit" in their encore. While they didn't take that moment to experiment with interminable noodling, Petty & The Heartbreakers zipped through a medley-type jam that borrowed as much from the Isley Brothers' "Shout" as it did from Them's "Mystic Eyes." Always eclectic with their covers, Petty nodded to the band's influences earlier in the show; putting down his guitar in favor of a tambourine and maracas while the Heartbreakers quickly ran through The Yardbirds' "I'm A Man" and pre-Stevie Nicks Fleetwood Mac's "Oh Well."

Often overshadowed by Petty's subtle superstar status, The Heartbreakers remain an exceptionally tight band, responsible for some of the more subtly ubiquitous songs of a generation. From within his cube of keyboards, Benmont Tench had chances to solo, excelling on the greasy bridge of "Refugee." More than Petty's equal on the guitar, Mike Campbell ceded the center stage guitar theatrics to Petty, throwing off his guitar riffs with modest aplomb. Petty's rhythm section, made up of original Heartbreaker Ron Blair, who returned to the band after a lengthy absence on The Last DJ, and Steve Ferrone, formerly of the Average White Band, toiled admirably in relative anonymity. Likewise, Scott Thurston offered additional guitar, keyboards and the occasional harmonica solo in yeoman fashion.

As she has for the early shows in the tour, Stevie Nicks, the band's "little sister," joined Petty & The Heartbreakers for a reprise of their 1981 hit "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around," and took lead on Petty's own "I Need To Know." Wearing a new outfit, Nicks returned a couple songs longer to duet with Petty on a quiet version of the introspective "Insider." Once the ruling earth-mother of seventies rock and roll, Nicks, who thankfully no longer looks like she possesses her own gravitational field, seemed content with a supporting role, singing background far to the right of the stage, spreading her arms wide while providing her distinctive harmony to "Learning To Fly."

Nicks wasn't the only notable name appearing with Petty at the Garden this evening. While fronting Phish, Trey Anastasio used to headline Madison Square Garden regularly; as a solo act, he’s become an illustrious opening act, returning to MSG for the first time since joining The Black Crowes for a memorable New Year's Eve show. Focusing his one hour set on newer songs, Anastasio offered solo faves like "Night Speaks To A Woman" and "Come As Melody" before concluding with a groove-heavy rendition of "First Tube." The fact that Anastasio didn't come back to join Petty & The Heartbreakers during their set might be the only disappointment of his Garden appearance.

Petty & The Heartbreakers have a catalogue broad enough to offer a different show each night. However, the set lists for the early shows have remained substantially similar. Fittingly for a show dedicated to their length career, Petty & The Heartbreakers have been finishing each show with their first true success, the arena anthem "American Girl." While the boys from Gainesville, Florida have had bigger hits, "American Girl" remains the song that tears the house down; the sinuous opening chords drawing raucous shrieks from all the American girls in attendance. Petty's traveling roadshow continues on throughout the summer. While Anastasio occupies himself with his own mini-tour with Phish bassist Mike Gordon and the Benevento Russo Duo for a highly anticipated slate of shows with Phil Lesh & Friends, Pearl Jam and The Allman Brothers Band should provide suitable alternatives in the supporting slot.

Labels: Tom Petty, Trey Anastasio

Tom Petty's new record "Highway Companion" won't be out until July 25th, but we've got some streams for you of the single "Saving Grace" for an early preview.

Don't forget you can check Tom out on the road during his 2006 North American "Highway Companions Tour" with Trey Anastasio, Pearl Jam, The Allman Brothers and The Derek Trucks Band on selected dates.

"Saving Grace" Audio Streams: (Quicktime) (Real)

Labels: Tom Petty

As reported in Rolling Stone magazine, Tom Petty seems to be a bit irate that the Red Hot Chili Peppers may have taken "Mary Jane's Last Dance" out for one more spin. Most discerning listeners caught the similarity between the 1993 Petty hit and the Red Hot's first single "Dani, California," weeks ago. However, two Delaware talk show hosts and SPIN magazine have been recently stoking the flames of discontent by posting polls and comparisons of their own. A University of Chicago musicologist seems to downplay Petty's chances, finding the similarities between the two unworthy of an infringement claim.

However, this whole brouhaha just begs another question. Haven't Jimi Hendrix' heirs listened to the end of the song and thought: "hmmm, isn't that 'Purple Haze'"?

Labels: Tom Petty

In teaming up with Trey Anastasio, The Allman Brothers and Pearl Jam for their summer tour, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers have amassed some serious firepower to help commemorate their 30 years in the music business. As if that wasn't enough, Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac fame will come along for the ride for the first eight shows of the tour, which will definitely include a stop at Madison Square Garden and possibly an appearance during Petty's headlining spot at the Bonnaroo Festival in Manchester, TN. While it doesn't appear that Nicks will perform a set of her own, it's likely safe to bet that Nicks, Petty & The Heartbreakers will reprise their 1981 hit "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" off of Nicks' Bella Donna album. Less of a certainty, but definitely a possibility, they could recreate "Needles And Pins," their collaboration from Petty's 1986 live album Pack Up The Plantation.

America can look forward to a Nicks/Petty (and possibly Anastasio) combination but London's Royal Albert Hall saw an unlikely combination of their own when David Bowie joined David Gilmour on stage for his encore this past weekend. The Thin White Duke joined Gilmour for a rendition of the Floyd classic "Arnold Layne" and then joined in on Floyd's signature piece, "Comfortably Numb." As if Bowie's appearance wasn't enough, David Crosby, Stephen Stills & Graham Nash joined The One Who May Be Pink for "On A Island," the title track from Gilmour's current album as well as sticking around for their own "Find The Cost Of Freedom."

Labels: David Bowie, Tom Petty

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' 2006 North American "Highway Companions Tour" will begin on June 9 in Charlotte, NC. The tour, which will feature headlining slots at the Bonnaroo Festival (June) and the Austin City Limits Festival (September), will also see some notable special guests, including Pearl Jam, Trey Anastasio and the Allman Brothers Band. The tour will support Petty's soon-to-be-released, Jeff Lynne produced solo album Highway Companion.

In other Petty news, Academy Award-winning director/screenwriter Peter Bogdanovich has commenced work on a comprehensive documentary focusing on Petty & The Heartbreakers' 30 year history. Bogdanovich will intersperse previously recorded interviews, videos and live performances with footage to be shot over the course of the next few months.

"I want to tell this very American story about a small family of musicians who jumped in a car, left Gainesville and drove cross-country to get into the record business," explained Bogdanovich. "How they did it, what happened to them as a result, how this affected their families and friends and the impact their music has had on the music industry and on millions of people's lives." Amongst many other benchmarks of the Heartbreakers' history, Bogdanovich plans to cover the band's early days recording for Shelter Records, their tour with Bob Dylan, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction and Petty's involvement with the Traveling Wilburys.

Labels: Tom Petty

Tom Petty will be the featured attraction at ASCAP's inaugural "I Create Music" EXPO to take place April 22 at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, CA. In its first conference devoted to the art of songwriting and composing, Petty will answer questions in a traditional interview format and address questions from those in attendance.

Marilyn Bergman, ASCAP President and Chairman commented: "Tom Petty is one of rock's consummate craftsmen, and his music is beloved by fans around the world. As a master songwriter with a long and distinguished career, he has achieved commercial success and maintained artistic integrity in the music business like few others. His conversation with fellow writers at the ASCAP 'I Create Music' EXPO will be an inspiration and a highlight of the event."

Taking place April 20-22, the EXPO will bring together composers and music industry professionals with the generic goal of "working together to achieve greater success." In addition to Petty, fellow musicians Desmond Child, Jimmy Jam and Jimmy Webb will attend the conference.

Labels: Tom Petty

Radiohead - the band U2's Bono hails as one of the greats of all time - will headline their first U.S. festival since Coachella in 2004 when they head to Tennessee with some of the biggest names in rock for this year's Bonnaroo Festival in June. Tickets go on sale Saturday, February 11, at 10:00 AM Eastern Time through Bonnaroo.com.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Phil Lesh & Friends, Beck, Elvis Costello & the Imposters, Bonnie Raitt, Death Cab for Cutie, moe., Bright Eyes, the Neville Brothers, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, Buddy Guy, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Ben Folds, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Dr. John, Matisyahu, G. Love & Special Sauce, My Morning Jacket, Cat Power, Medeski Martin & Wood, Nickel Creek, Gomez, Steve Earle, Blues Traveler, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, Dresden Dolls, Son Volt, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Soulive and Rusted Root have also signed on for the festival.

Fans can also check out a interview with Thom Yorke for the Big Ask campaign.

Labels: Radiohead, Tom Petty

After finishing up the seven sold-out shows at New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom, the Black Crowes will be touring this summer with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The major summer trek with Tom Petty begins June 8 in Florida, and wraps July 30 in upstate New York, with tickets going on sale soon. This news comes on the heels of the seven sold-out shows in New York City, which were their first official shows since the group took a hiatus after their last concert in October of 2001. The group also announced that they will be headlining some additional shows and festival dates that run from April 21 through May 29.

Headlining & Festival dates

Date CITY/STATE VENUE
Tue 3/22 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
Wed 3/23 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
Fri 3/25 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
Sat 3/26 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
Sun 3/27 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
Tue 3/29 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
Wed 3/30 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
Thu 4/21 Houston, TX Verizon Wireless Theatre
Fri 4/22 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest.
Sat 4/23 Gulfport, MS Gulfport Grand Casino
Mon 4/25 Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues
Tue 4/26 Charleston, SC The Plex
Wed 4/27 Raleigh, NC Disco Rodeo
Fri 4/29 Knoxville, TN Knoxville Civic Auditorium
Sat 4/30 Asheville, NC Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
Sun 5/1 Memphis, TN Beale Street Music Festival
Thu 5/5 Atlanta, GA The Tabernacle
Fri 5/6 Atlanta, GA The Tabernacle
Thu 5/7 Atlanta, GA The Tabernacle
Tue 5/10 Boston, MA Orpheum Theatre
Wed 5/11 Boston, MA Orpheum Theatre
Fri 5/13 Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino
Sat 5/14 Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino
Mon 5/16 Montreal, CAN Metropolis
Tue 5/17 Toronto, CAN Kool Haus
Sun 5/22 Pensacola, FL Pensacola Springfest
Tue 5/24 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Revolution
Wed 5/25 Orlando, FL House of Blues
Sat 5/28 Little Rock, AR Riverfest
Sun 5/29 Montgomery, AL Montgomery Jubilee
Sat 6/11 Manchester, TN Bonnaroo Music Festival

With Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers:

DATE: CITY/STATE: VENUE:
Wed 6/8 Ft. Myers, FL Germain Amph
Fri 6/10 Tampa, FL Ford Amph
Tue 6/14 Cinncinati, OH Riverbend Music Center
Wed 6/15 Pittsburgh, PA Post-Gazette Pavilion
Fri 6/17 Camden, NJ Tweeter Waterfront
Sat 6/18 Mansfield, MA Tweeter Center
Tue 6/21 Wantagh, NY Tommy Hilfiger @ Jones Beach Th.
Wed 6/22 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Ctr
Fri 6/24 Hartford, CT The Meadows
Sat 6/25 Darien Center, NY Darien Lakes Amph
Tue 6/28 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
Thu 6/30 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center
Fri 7/1 Milwaukee, WI Marcus Amph-Summerfest
Fri 7/15 Tinley Park, IL Tweeter Center
Sat 7/16 Cadott, WI RockFest
Wed 7/20 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theater
Wed 7/27 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
Sat 7/30 Saratoga Springs, NY SPAC

Labels: Tom Petty