Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at Target Center
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are still Rock-n-Roll Stars
For a band to exist for over thirty years and still have nearly every original member playing is almost unheard of. But Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are not just any band. The band still has four out of the five original members playing strong, and after their performance at Target Center, it’s obvious they aren’t stopping any time soon.
Target Center was near capacity for the final date of the band’s US tour, and they put on another stellar performance showing why they are one of the best selling bands of all time. On this tour, Petty not only mixed in the expected hits, but he and his band reached deeper into their vast musical library, playing songs they haven’t played live in years. Target Center witnessed songs like “Love Is A Long Road” and “Rebels” from the 1985 album Southern Accents, as well as the Traveling Wilburys’ song “Tweeter & The Monkey Man”. Songs that brought the biggest applause were the classics “Mary Jane’s Last Dance”, “Free Fallin'”, and “American Girl”, which ended the night when Petty exclaimed, “We’re going to end things where we started.” The crowd, mostly middle-aged with plenty of families thrown in, absolutely ate the music up all night long — the entire lower level dancing along.
For “Good to be King”, the Heartbreakers jammed out the ending pushing the song well over ten minutes. Tom Petty likes to be in control and he acted as conductor, gesturing to drummer Steve Ferrone who responded with a smile, bringing the dynamics up and down as Petty wished. The song ended in an onslaught of guitars and drums. As much as Petty controls the band, Ferrone often seems to be the one in the driver seat. He plays drums with such power and finesse. Even though Steve isn’t an original member, Tom Petty was quick to say how the band would be nothing without him.
During introductions Petty called lead guitarist Mike Campbell the “co-captain” of the band. Campbell was all smiles all night, with black dreadlocked hair that made him look younger than his true age. He is an amazing guitar player, and throughout the night his solos howled through his Rickenbacker and Gibson guitars, especially on songs like “Good to be King”, “Refugee”, and “Running Down a Dream”.
This show was such a pleasure, not only for the crowd, but the band appeared to be enjoying it just as much. There is good reason Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, and why they have sold over 80 million albums worldwide since 1976. They rock and they always will. What a show.
Opening the night was The Smithereens. Photos and review for Twin Cities Daily Planet.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Target Center – Minneapolis, MN 6.29.13 Setlist
Rock-n-Roll Star
Love Is A Long Road
I Won’t Back Down
Love Is A Long Road
Baby Please Don’t Go
Mary Jane’s Last Dance
Free Fallin’
She’s a Woman in Love
Cabin Down Below
Tweeter & The Monkey Man (Traveling Wilburys)
Rebels
Good to be King
Learning to Fly (acoustic)
You’re So Bad
I Should Have Known It
Refugee
Running Down a Dream
Encore:
Don’t Come Around Here No More
You Wreck Me
American Girl
