Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are on the road celebrating their 40th anniversary, a tour that experienced a few postponements (including this one) but shows no sign of letting up. As they continue to prove, time has nothing on these guys.
The third of 3 sold out shows at the Greek Theater in Berkeley kicked off with a nearly hour-long set by Los Angeles based The Shelters, their blues-rooted rock and roll grooves quickly warming up the gathering crowd which rewarded the effort with a hearty ovation. The appeal of The Shelters to the night’s crowd was not surprising given the fact that their self-titled debut album was co-produced by Tom Petty himself.
By the time the Heartbreakers took the stage, the sun had set over the balmy evening and the amphitheater was packed and ready to rock. Last on stage was a beaming Tom Petty, showing no sign of whatever affliction led to show postponements. Introducing the set with the first tune off of their self-titled 1976 debut, the band wasted no time rolling into “Rockin’ Around (With You).”
Looking and sounding great, Petty played the role of the gracious host who wants to make sure that his guests are having as good a time as he is. Oh they sure were … literally everyone in the amphitheater except for 8 people were on their feet throughout the nearly two-hour performance that delivered a career-spanning setlist of hit after hit.
It’s hard to grow up listening to music and not be familiar with at least some part of the Petty catalog. But it’s not until you see Petty live that you realize how many classics he has put out over his career. Even with 19 songs delivered through the show, you’re still going to regretfully have a few classics like “Breakdown” which don’t make the cut.
The longevity and relevance of the Heartbreakers is impressive, but what’s equally remarkable is the fact that they’ve done it with a stable line-up that considers drummer Steve Ferrone, who’s been with the band for 24 years, as “the new guy.” While they don’t appear to be ever letting up, this band is a treasure and not be missed.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
THE SHELTERS
The Shelters
The Shelters
The Shelters
The Shelters
The Shelters
The Shelters
The Shelters
The Shelters
The Shelters
The Shelters
The Shelters
The Shelters
SETLIST
Rockin’ Around (With You)
Mary Jane’s Last Dance
You Don’t Know How It Feels
Forgotten Man
Into the Great Wide Open
I Won’t Back Down
Free Fallin’
Walls
Don’t Come Around Here No More
It’s Good to Be King
Crawling Back to You
Wildflowers
Learning to Fly
Yer So Bad
I Should Have Known It
Refugee
Runnin’ Down a Dream
ENCORE
You Wreck Me
American Girl
