Tom Petty: A Heartbreaker Comes Home
By Leslie Streeter
The Palm Beach Post - September 22, 2006
Being a mayor must require strong leadership and loyalty to your city -- particularly when some other trash-talking mayor steps to you.
Gainesville's Pegeen Hanrahan is apparently up to that challenge, at least according to a story she told at a press conference at University of Florida yesterday afternoon at which she presented the keys to the city to a certain band.
The story goes that Hanrahan was at a conference where she met the mayor of college town and musical mecca Athens, Georgia. Hanrahan introduced herself as the "mayor of Gainesville, Florida, home of University of Florida." The mayor of Athens answered with "I'm from Athens, Ga., home of REM."
The crowd at the press conference let out a mock-astonished "Ooooh!" like "No, she didn't!" Hanrahan smiled, paused for one delicious moment and said "So I said 'I'll see you your REM and raise you one Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.'"
So take that, Stipe.
Noise
Review by Joe Curran
The Viking Views - September 22, 2006
Tom Petty: 'Highway Companion' | 8.0
"Saving Grace," the first single from Tom Petty's new album sets the standard for the rest of the CD. The first single on the album starts off with some good old-fashioned rock and roll. The song opens with "I'm passing sleeping cities..." From Petty's first album in 1976 to his latest release in 2006, he has certainly passed a number of sleeping cities. "Highway Companion" is his 19th album in 30 years, and his third solo album.
Petty plays all the instruments on the album like a man with 30 years experience. The sound is easily identified as Petty, but compared to his other albums, this one is a little more mellow. He mixes his signature rock and roll sound with a little bit of softer Neil Young mixed in. If you liked Petty's albums in the past, then this album is for you. "Highway Companion" is the perfect companion for future lonely drives.
Tom Petty getting back to his roots
Santa Monica Daily Press - September 23, 2006
Tom Petty has come home.
"Every corner you turn is some kind of memory," said the 55-year-old rocker, who grew up in Gainesville and hasn't played here in 13 years.
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' concert at the O'Connell Center on the University of Florida campus Thursday night sold out in 10 minutes.
People: Key To The City
Toledo Blade - September 23, 2006
Tom Petty has come home.
"Every corner you turn is some kind of memory," said the 55-year-old rocker, who grew up in Gainesville, Fla., but hasn't played here in 13 years.
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' concert at the O'Connell Center on the University of Florida campus Thursday night sold out in 10 minutes.
The long delay between Gainesville concerts was the result of the band's summer tour schedule, Petty said. He said the band decided to expand its tour schedule this year.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers pick up the key to Gainesville, Fla.
By Tirdad Derakhshani
The Philadelphia Inquirer - September 24, 2006
Rocker-hero Tom Petty and his Heartbreakers returned to their hometown of Gainesville, Fla., for a concert Thursday on the University of Florida campus and were showered with love not only by their fans but also by the city itself. Gainesville's mayor, Pegeen Hanrahan, presented the 55-year-old singer and each member of his homegrown band with a key to the city, proclaiming Sept. 21 as Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Day. Tom's bandmates are also local: Guitarist Mike Campbell and keyboardist Benmont Tench were born and raised in and around Gainesville, and bassist Ron Blair lived in the area for many years.
"It's a lot nicer than the one we got in Chicago," Petty quipped while holding his key.
"Every corner you turn is some kind of memory," he said of his visit.
Petty and his songs hit home
By Jim Abbott
Orlando Sentinel - September 25, 2006
Gainesville's native son shines just by doing what he has done for years.
GAINESVILLE -- It was a homecoming on Thursday for Tom Petty, who returned for the first concert in his hometown in 13 years.
Such an occasion offers the opportunity for celebration and surprises, and both were part of "Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Day" in this college town.
In the afternoon, the mayor gave the band that honor, and the University of Florida commemorated Petty's career with a distinguished achievement award.
On stage later, Petty and the band turned back the clock to their formative years, running through a breakneck Yardbirds cover early in the show. There were a few other unique touches, such as the fans doing the "Gator chomp" as they clapped along to "Don't Come Around Here No More," and guitarist Mike Campbell playing an orange guitar with the Gator logo on "You Wreck Me."
That stuff was cute, but the most impressive part of the show at UF's sold-out O'Connell Center was that it was basically the same generous, skillful and spirited thing that Petty and the Heartbreakers have been doing for 30 years.
Tom Petty Rocks Gainesville, Again
By Giselle Mazur
The Shpiel - September 26, 2006
The '60s and '70s were a time of musical reinvention and the birth of some of America's greatest singers and songwriters. It is the era in which Dylan, The Rolling Stones and The Byrds all began their legacies.
In this time of story telling, free love and folk rock 'n' roll, one Gainesville native and his band became one of the biggest music icons of the century.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers returned home for the first time in over a decade to play to a sold out crowd at the Steven C. O'Connell center Sept. 21. The concert was broadcast live on radio stations in over 70 cities, as well as filmed for television. Tickets to the show were the hottest commodity around, selling out in just minutes and being scalped for hundreds of dollars at the show.
The 55-year-old high school drop out who can wear a black velvet jacket and magenta dress shirt and not look like a fashion victim from the glam era, Petty epitomizes all that is rock star yet maintains a sincerely gracious attitude.
Concerts: Tom Petty: Still Breaking Hearts
By Carly Levison
The Loyola Prep - Thursday, September 28, 2006
Long before we were born, rocker Tom Petty was breaking the hearts of our parent's generation. With his outstanding performance on Thursday, September 17th at Charter One Pavilion, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers proved that age has nothing to do with putting on an unforgettable show. The concert was part of the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 30th Anniversary tour, playing two shows in Chicago on Thursday and Friday night. Opening with the classics that we all know and love such as "Free Falling" and "Last Dance with Mary Jane," Petty stole the crowd right from the beginning. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers demonstrated pure talent, extending several songs with strong solo performances by lead guitarist Mike Campbell and keyboardist Benmont Tench.
Tom Petty strikes gold with new album, Highway Companion
By Connor Olsen
The Laker Review - September 29, 2006
Tom Petty. The name is legendary, but he just won't back down with his latest release, Highway Companion.
Since his debut album with the Heartbreakers in 1976, Petty has remained a favorite of true rock 'n' roll listeners, and for good reasons.
Songs such as American Girl, Refugee, Free Fallin, and Mary Jane's Last Dance are just a few of those good reasons.