Songs gain poignancy over decades
CONCERT REVIEW
For anniversaries, the 20th century produced a couple of late doozies ending with the number “7.” Among them in music, 1967 and 1977 were particularly significant, delivering the Summer of Love and the full onslaught of punk music respectively, each with its attendant cultural upheaval.
A little more under the radar and, perhaps tangential to the arrival of punk, was the touring debut of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, a rough-and-tumble band from Gainesville, Florida. The Heartbreakers revived the sound of the Byrds, put punk energy into unforgettable power pop, and proudly stood on their own.
They did so again Wednesday night in a packed Value City Arena, delivering a retrospective show that not only rekindled memories but also stood as a spirited tribute to a sound unbound by fleeting style.
Much of it had to do with Petty’s songs — marvelous confluences of melody and lyric line delivered in a tone full of feisty self-reliance. Even the love songs are restless, pointed and stubborn.
From the opening “Rocking’ Around (With You)” — the first song from the band’s 1976 self-titled debut — Petty and the original core put a tune together with a riff and memorable lyrics. Founding Heartbreakers included keyboardist Benmont Tench, guitarist Mike Campbell and bassist Ron Blair. On Wednesday night, they were augmented by ace funk and rock drummer Steve Ferrone, multi-instrumentalist Scott Thurston and backing vocals from the Webb Sisters.
If the results were slightly less rock ‘n’ roll reckless than 40 years ago, they were often marked with a poignancy born of the years between. Petty’s introspective and lovely “It’s Good To Be King” was particularly resonant in its sentiment — an exploration of the individual in society in a role that has evolved dramatically during the time since its release 23 years ago.
That held true, especially for “I Won’t Back Down,” whose stubborn determination has evolved over the years and taken on a particularly quizzical stance, given the hard and fast polarization in political life today.
But, as Petty promised from the get-go, the evening was dedicated to rock ‘n’ roll, which was delivered though unforgettable songs and as energetic a delivery as could be expected from guys in their mid-60s.
Joe Walsh opened with a set that rocked leaner and harder, if it didn’t have the lyrical and emotional depth. With classics such as “Turn to Stone,” “In the City,” and “Rocky Mountain Way,” the storied rocker offered dizzying solos, classic riffs and a handful of songs that have wormed their way into the permanent consciousness of classic rock.
In shorthand, there was the best of Pink Floyd, framed by a whole lot of Grand Funk.