29.04.2012
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers switch off the cruise control at New Orleans Jazz Fest
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers apparently don't like to sweat, at the New Orleans Jazz Fest or elsewhere. They are all formidable musicians, capable of stretching out and challenging themselves. But with a vast catalog of carefully crafted rock radio hits to serve, they tend to play it safe onstage.
Except when they don't. The first hour of Petty and the Heartbreakers' Saturday evening closing set in front of a vast crowd at the Acura Stage sailed along smoothly enough. They stuck to a safe, reasonable and adrenaline-free speed.
But then they switched off the cruise control and opened up. And that's when the set came alive.
The grizzled, 61-year-old Petty, his eyes hidden behind sunglasses, hails from the perpetually cool school of rock star. He looked the part in a purple pinstripe jacket over a black shirt. The 13 tons of air-conditioning that Petty's crew reportedly rigged up to chill the stage no doubt helped make such an outfit tolerable in the day's heat.
Initially, the Heartbreakers played their cards close to the vest as they shuffled through their deck of hits: "Listen to Her Heart," "You Wreck Me," "Won't Back Down." Lead guitarist Mike Campbell is a master of taste and tone; Petty songs sound like Petty songs in large part because of Campbell's signature style. His slide guitar solo on "Won't Back Down" was letter-perfect, as were the majority of his solos.
Keyboardist Benmont Tench strung piano grace notes across "Here Comes My Girl." Petty raided the catalog of his '80s all-star ensemble the Traveling Wilburys for "Handle With Care"; Tench handled the late Roy Orbison's vocal part.
The Heartbreakers could have extended the hit parade for the entire set. But 45 minutes in, they turned down a road less traveled. They dug out "Lover's Touch," an indigo-shaded deep cut from the 2010 album "Mojo." They teed up Bo Diddley's "I'm a Man," which has become a staple of Heartbreakers sets on the current tour.
They trotted out "Something Big," a lesser-known cut from the 1981 "Hard Promises" album, and "Have Love Will Travel," from Petty's overlooked 2002 release "The Last DJ." "How about a cheer for all those bad girls," Petty sang, to a loud cheer, "and all the boys that play rock 'n' roll."
The sunburst chords of "Free Fallin'" marked a return to more familiar ground. But just as quickly, they veered off again with "Spike," an obscurity from the "Southern Accents" album. By way of introduction, Petty spun a tale about the Cypress Bar in his boyhood hometown of Gainesville, Flor., a place populated by unsavory types.
"They've got robbers and killers and shrimp boat captains and guitar thieves in there," he said. "Guitar thieves" likely referred to the recent theft of several guitars from a California studio during the Heartbreakers' tour rehearsals.
Perhaps relieved to have recovered those guitars, they decided to use them. Campbell swooped and wailed in his instrument's upper register; at one point, the guitars locked in for a "Freebird"-esque dual flight of fancy. It was an exhilarating exercise that had nothing to do with radio hits. This was a band of players actually playing.
They caught their collective breath with a lovely acoustic rendering of "Learning to Fly." Just as quickly, the big guitars came out again for "Good Enough," a hard, slow blues from "Mojo." Campbell manhandled a brawny Les Paul guitar, tearing off metallic shards over a recurring progression provided by Petty and the other Heartbreakers.
It was another wholly satisfying excursion, one that set up the final one-two punch. Campbell switched back to a chiming Rickenbacker guitar for a taut, tidy "Refugee," followed by a fleet "Runnin' Down a Dream" dressed up by jazzy piano flourishes.
Running slightly over time, they nonetheless returned for an encore of "Last Dance With Mary Jane" - Petty loves his pot references - and the open road, open throttle closer "American Girl."
All in all, it was a fun ride, especially given the detours.
28.04.2012
George Harrison still a hero in Bangladesh
DHAKA, Bangladesh Hidden from view along a side street in this dusty, traffic-choked metropolis of 12 million people, Dhakas Liberation War Museum seems an unlikely place to honor the memory of George Harrison.
Yet here, in a second-floor gallery crammed with glass cases full of aging rifles, machine guns, spears, bayonets and other weapons of war is a bronze plaque dedicated to the quiet Beatle who preached love and compassion.
Author, composer, peacemaker, gardener, lyricist, musician, philanthropist, poet, reads the inscription. Established the Material World Foundation to explore diverse forms of artistic expression and to support charities and those with special needs. Devotee of Krishna who found peace in his garden. Passed away Los Angeles USA, 29 November 2001. Our love and gratitude always.
The plaque, donated in February 2009 by British singer and Harrison fan Danis Theophilus, is a testament to the former Beatle who organized the worlds first showbiz charity event a full 14 years before Bob Geldof staged the 1985 Live Aid concert to raise money for Ethiopian famine victims.
Harrisons Concert for Bangladesh, which was actually two benefit concerts held Aug. 1, 1971, was attended by more than 40,000 people at New Yorks Madison Square Garden. Ticket sales from the concert itself generated $243,000 in emergency assistance for starving refugees at the height of the countrys 1971 war of liberation against Pakistan and sales of the boxed three-record set and a subsequent 99-minute film, The Concert for Bangladesh, have since raised $15 million for UNICEF projects around the world.
In the film, Harrison is asked by a reporter: With all the enormous problems in the world, how did you happen to choose this one to do something about? His simple reply: Because I was asked by a friend if I would help, you know. Thats all.
That friend was Ravi Shankar, the venerated Bengali sitarist. Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, who performs June 24 at Baltimores Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, also participated in that groundbreaking 1971 event. So did Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston and Leon Russell. (The two other ex-Beatles, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, declined for their own personal reasons).
Every Bangladeshi has respect for George Harrison. All of us can recite the words to his songs, said the countrys information secretary, Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, who was a 13-year-old war refugee at the time. He noted proudly that the countrys national TV network traditionally re-broadcasts parts of the concert every year on two occasions: Independence Day (March 26) and Victory Day (December 16).
With nearly 160 million people crowded into an area the size of Maryland and Virginia combined, Bangladesh is the most densely populated country on Earth. While its people are no longer on the verge of starvation, the nation faces tremendous challenges including poverty, corruption and the ravages of climate change. And nearly a third of its citizens are under 15 too young to remember the extravaganza that put their country on the map for tens of millions of people around the world.
The concert marked Harrisons first appearance before a paying audience since the Beatles last tour five years earlier, and included live performances of his classic tunes, Here comes the Sun, My Sweet Lord, Something and While My Guitar Gently Weeps.
George Harrison was a very powerful and influential man, and a good friend of Bangladesh, says Mahbubul Alam, the museums general manager, and a former freedom fighter who recalls those painful days all too well.
I was in the war, fighting on the front against the Pakistani Army. We had only a one-band radio and that was for getting information from the outside world. After liberation, we came to know that a concert for Bangladesh had been held in Madison Square Garden, he said. That concert acted like a catalyst. The U.S. government did not support Bangladesh, but we got the peoples support, and that concert helped a lot.
26.04.2012
Will Bob Dylans Presidential Medal of Freedom Lead to a Nobel Prize?
Bob Dylan may have a better shot than ever at getting a Nobel Prize, now that President Obama has announced he will receive a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The movement has been building for the past few years. Dylan has won 11 Grammys including a Lifetime Achievement Award (in 1991) an Oscar and a Pulitzer Prize. France even named Dylan a Commandeur dans lOrdre des Art et des Lettres.
To his supporters, the Nobel is the lone citation that has eluded Dylan, who turns 71 next month.
Characteristically, Dylan has seldom commented on the possibility. In a July 2001 press conference in Rome, a European journalist suggested that Dylan could win a Nobel. Dylan acknowledged: I hear about that, but who would that put me in the company of?
When a reporter at the Rome news conference mentioned that a Pulitzer would put Dylan in the category of Ernest Hemingway, Dylan shrugged it off, noting, I play (music), intimating that people like Hemingway were more traditional writers of distinction.
Perhaps President Obamas seal of approval will put Dylan over the top.
The other Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients are: Madeleine Albright, the former Secretary of State; John Doar, a legendary public servant and civil rights leader during the 1960s; William Foege, a physician and epidemiologist who helped eradicate smallpox in the 1970s; former astronaut and U.S. Senator John Glenn; Gordon Hirabayashi, who defied the relocation and internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II; Dolores Huerta, a civil rights, workers and womens advocate who worked closely with Cesar Chavez; Jan Karski, who served as an officer in the Polish Underground during World War II; Juliette Gordon Low, who founded the Girl Scouts in 1912; Toni Morrison, one of the great American novelists; Shimon Peres, an advocate for Israels security and for peace; John Paul Stevens, an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1975 to 2010, and Pat Summitt, a widely respected college basketball coach.
25.05.2012
Happy Birthday, Roy Orbison! A Shoutout to Iconic Stars Who Wear Specs
The hits were immediately accessible and radio-ready at that. The voice that sang them was a mournful croon, operatic in timbre and flush full of desperation and desire. Even the trademark shades couldn't mask the sadness spurred from inside.
Even so, Roy Orbison (born April 23, 1936) was one of rock 'n' roll's noblest forebears and also one of its most resilient. Having scored his earliest hits in the late 1950s, when rock was still in its infancy, his stature only grew stronger as time went on.
He was idolized early on by the Beatles, Springsteen, Dylan, Elvis Presley, U2, and practically all who came to know him, either through his music or personal acquaintance. He was never the flashy kind -- certainly nowhere near as showy as early contemporaries like Presley, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, or Jerry Lee Lewis -- but he embodied instead a shy, self-effacing dignity and humility appropriate for a small-town boy from Wink, Texas, or similarly humble environs.
Orbison's peak period was between 1960 and 1964, when he recorded for Monument Records and released no fewer than 22 songs that made the Billboard Top 40 -- among them "Only the Lonely," "Crying," "Love Hurts," "Running Scared," In Dreams," "Blue Bayou," and "Oh, Pretty Woman."
However, he had hits prior during his tenure with the pioneering Sun Records ("Ooby Dooby," "Claudette") and much later as well, including the recordings he made alongside Dylan, George Harrison, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne in the supergroup known as the Traveling Wilburys. His was a voice unlike any other, a rich, impassioned baritone that boasted a three-octave range, one that earned him the nickname "the Caruso of Rock," quite a compliment considering that Caruso was one of the greatest opera singers of all time. Then again, both Billboard and Rolling Stone listed Orbison among the greatest vocalists of all time, one of the main reasons he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in its sophomore year.
Although he reflected an image of extreme introversion -- owed mainly to his trademark sunglasses and all-black attire -- Orbison became a huge star overseas, even upstaging the Beatles when they toured as a support band for him in England early on. (It's said that he chose to open the bill in deference to all the attention they were receiving, but when the crowd demanded an encore, Lennon and McCartney literally held him back when he attempted to return to the stage.) His voice seemed to mesmerize his audiences far more than his presence, but ironically that vulnerability was drawn from real-life tragedy. After his divorce from first wife Claudette, they reconciled, but shortly thereafter, she was killed when the car the couple were riding in was struck by a semi. His two eldest sons later died in a house fire while he was overseas on tour. Orbison himself succumbed at a tragically early age as well, suffering a heart attack in the midst of yet another well-received comeback.
Today, more than 24 years after his death at age 52 on December 6, 1988, Orbison's more revered than ever. Despite a fallow period throughout most of the '70s, his fame was resuscitated early in the '80s, when several of his songs were covered by some of the biggest names in music, like Emmylou Harris, Bruce Springsteen, Linda Rondstadt, K.D. Lang, and Don McLean.
An all-star live concert, released on record as A Black and White Night, gathered the likes of Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, and Springsteen as participants in his backing band. It's little wonder that the other Wilburys were literally in awe -- his vocal contribution to their first hit, "Handle With Care," is especially compelling -- and that following his stint with the band, he capped his career with the album Mystery Girl, which featured contributions from both Lynne and Petty as well as Bono and Costello. The album reaped a massive posthumous hit in "You Got It," which Lynne and Petty composed specifically with Orbison in mind.
In rock, image is everything, and while Orbison hardly epitomized the rock 'n' roll image, his dark glasses helped shape that brooding persona. According to legend, he started wearing shades after he left his regular glasses on an airplane, and lacking any other way to see, he donned his prescription shades instead. Given his lifelong stage fright, sunglasses helped him hide in plain sight, and they soon became a regular part of his signature stage garb. However, he's not alone; other artists have become known for a bespectacled style as well.
24.04.2012
Dave Stewart played a key role from afar
in the Traveling Wilburys formative days
Dave Stewart, of Eurythmics fame, played a key role in the formative days of the Traveling Wilburys, that 1980s supergroup featuring Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison.
The Grammy-winning musician and producer talked about that period as work continues on his second album in as many years, after 2011?s The Blackbird Diaries. Hes also helmed projects for Stevie Nicks, Ringo Starr and Joss Stone, all while launching his own signature guitar model called the Dave Stewart Blackbird, of course. Oh, that was him with Mick Jagger in the more recent all-star band Super Heavy, too.
He used to being surrounded by other big rock stars. After all, back in the late 1980s, Harrison was living in Stewarts Encino, California, house while working on the Lynne-produced Cloud Nine a thrilling comeback for the ex-Beatle, who had been mostly involved with producing movies throughout the 1980s. While working on a B-side for single from the album, the Traveling Wilburys were born.
I was kind of the host/virtual member, Stewart tells Music Radar. They recorded it all in my house. I put Dylan together with Tom Petty George Harrison was living in my house in Encino at the time. Everybody met up there.
The funny part was, Stewart wasnt at home at the time. Heck, he wasnt even in the states.
I was busy doing quite a few things in England, Stewart says. That Wilburys thing happened really quickly. It all took place around my kitchen table and in my garden. I introduced everybody, went off, and when I came back they had already done it.
Stewart also mentions Harrison as a key element in his own guitar sound, too: I was influenced by George Harrison from his solo period, the All Things Must Pass album, the melodic soloing, Stewart says, also listing Keith Richards, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Ronnie Wood, Mississippi John Hurt, Robert Johnson and Big Bill Broonzy, among others.
Stewarts new album, called The Ringmaster General, will be released in September. Recorded at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, it features collaborations with Alison Krauss, Diane Birch, Jessie Baylin, Joss Stone and Orianthi.
23.04.2012
Treasure trove of George Harrison music unwrapped
Olivia Harrison and a few trusted collaborators are going through the guitarist's massive archive and bringing the best of it to the public
He loved to record, he was always doing more and more demos at night, says his widow, Olivia Harrison. But hed always say, Ill never finish them. Ill have to give them to (producer) Jeff Lynne (to finish). He knew he was going to be in his garden in the daytime, so they wouldnt get done. But he was discovering the singer-songwriter thing again and really doing a lot of recording. He was just getting to the point of getting some sessions together. Sadly, time ran out.
Now, Olivia Harrison and a few trusted collaborators, including Giles Martin, the son of Beatles producer George Martin, are going through the guitarists massive archive and bringing the best of it to the public. The first in what is projected to be a series of recordings is due out May 1, Early Takes: Volume 1 (UMe), a collection of mostly acoustic demos documenting the early days of Harrisons solo career. It will accompany the release on DVD and Blu-Ray of Martin Scorseses 2011 Harrison documentary, Living in the Material World.
Early Takes focuses on the era around the guitarists 1970 solo debut, All Things Must Pass, including demos or early takes of the title song, My Sweet Lord, Behind That Locked Door, Awaiting On You All, Run of the Mill and Id Have You Any Time (cowritten with Bob Dylan). Another gem is an acoustic version of the then-decade-old Everly Brothers hit Let It Be Me.
In the documentary, producer Phil Spector says he was stunned to find Harrison had hundreds of unreleased tracks when the two began working on All Things Must Pass. And perfectionist that he was, Harrison left behind alternate versions of countless songs. Among the documentarys bonus footage is a scene showing Giles and George Martin seated in front of a mixing board with Harrisons son, Dhani. They pull up a version of Harrisons Beatles hit Here Comes the Sun and play a previously unheard guitar solo by the songwriter.
I never even knew about that, Dhani Harrison remarks as he hears his fathers guitar-playing pour through the speakers.
Theres plenty more where that came from, as Olivia Harrison and Giles Martin describe in an interview:
Q: Did the Scorsese documentary meet your expectations?
Olivia Harrison: Its so rich, it so captured a deep part of George. Maybe some years from now I may think of something I wish was in it. But for now, as Dhani said, Youre off the hook, mom. I do feel like that. I was doubtful, before I met Marty, that anyone would be able to capture this part of George that was so unique, so different, the deep part of him. I thought that side was too private, too personal, but Marty managed to bring it out. So Im grateful he did.
Q: Did you have the final say on what went into the documentary?
OH: No, not really. Marty thought really long and hard before even accepting to do this, because he needed to express what he thought all this material meant, what the story was. There were times when I was emotionally not ready to put things out into the public. Wed have conversations about it, and hed say why it needed to be in there. It always made sense. He never wanted to do anything that would hurt anyone. We didnt want to be flinching about something 10 years down the line over this. It was a good balance. But Marty pretty much got to do what he wanted to do.
Q: George said after the Beatles Anthology came out in the 90s that he wanted to do his own documentary one day, right?
OH: He did say, I want to do my anthology. When you have four people you have four different perceptions. All of them were interested in different things, and George had a different attitude toward some subjects. He was into Indian classical music, meditation, things he thought were important in life to help you get through the madness. Those things he wanted to express. He had a list of things that he wanted to do. This was one of them. In fact, he had a note -- I shouldnt say this, but I will he had this piece of paper saying, Exploring my own twisted mind, Part One. That wouldve been his title for the first half of the documentary. He wanted to share certain things with people. So I felt pretty free to follow through on this project.
Q: Did any of the material in the documentary surprise you?
OH: It surprised me that Marty chose a certain body of music that would be a narrative for Georges entire life. It wasnt just linear, we didnt go through the music of the 80s and 90s. Outside of maybe one or two things, he didnt use any music beyond 1973, and that was a surprise.
22.04.2012
Tom Petty conquers Little Rock
It was a big night of rock at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock on Saturday, April 21st, 2012 as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers found out just how much support they had in Central Arkansas. This was the first time the band had ever played in Arkansas, and they had a great time doing it. The packed Arena was full of loud fans of all ages that were there to have a good time, and enjoy the music of Tom Petty.
The show opened with Regina Spektor at 7:30, and Regina had a lot of fans in the crowd too. Her voice and piano playing made for a great opener for the show.
Then, about 9, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers ripped into a night that spanned a long, successful career. They played some of their classics like I Wont Back Down, Free Fallin', and Refuge. They played some of their recent tracks like I Should Have Known It and Good Enough. They even played some of their deep tracks like Spike (from Southern Accents), Something Big (from Hard Promises), and Yer So Bad (from Full Moon Fever). Tom even threw in Handle With Care, a song he helped make famous with the Traveling Wilburys.
Tom and the band opened with Listen To Her Heart, and tore through two hours of great music that ended with Runnin Down a Dream. He returned for the encores Mary Janes Last Dance and American Girl.
Verizon Arena was packed, and many times throughout the night, the crowds singing was louder than Toms. A few times during the show Tom seemed surprised at the loud, enthusiastic reaction of the crowd and mentioned coming back. Little Rock will be waiting and ready when he returns.
21.04.2012
Bob Dylan's two nights in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Bob Dylan played two concerts at Credicard Hall in San Paulo, Brazil, over the weekend. Here are the set lists, courtesy of Dylan's official site and Bob Links.
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Credicard Hall
April 21, 2012
1. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
2. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
3. Things Have Changed
4. Tangled Up In Blue
5. Beyond Here Lies Nothin'
6. Make You Feel My Love
7. Honest With Me
8. Every Grain Of Sand
9. The Levee's Gonna Break
10. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
11. Highway 61 Revisited
12. Love Sick
13. Thunder On The Mountain
14. Ballad Of A Thin Man
15. Like A Rolling Stone
16. All Along The Watchtower //
17. Blowin' In The Wind
Four tour debuts - "Every Grain Of Sand," two from Time Out Of Mind ("Love Sick" and "(To) Make You Feel My Love"), and the encore of "Blowin' In The Wind."
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Credicard Hall
April 22, 2012
1. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
2. It Ain't Me, Babe
3. Things Have Changed
4. Tangled Up In Blue
5. Beyond Here Lies Nothin'
6. Not Dark Yet
7. Summer Days
8. Simple Twist Of Fate
9. High Water (For Charley Patton)
10. Tryin' To Get To Heaven
11. Highway 61 Revisited
12. Forgetful Heart
13. Thunder On The Mountain
14. Ballad Of A Thin Man
15. Like A Rolling Stone
16. All Along The Watchtower //
17. Blowin' In The Wind
Tour debut of another song from Time Out Of Mind, "Not Dark Yet." Three songs returned to the set that haven't been played since the first night - "Forgetful Heart," "It Ain't Me, Babe," and "Tryin' To Get To Heaven." Dylan also brought back "High Water (For Charley Patton)" (second time this tour), "Summer Days" (third), and "Simple Twist Of Fate" (fourth, after one night off).
For more details, please visit Bob Links.
Last thoughts on Levon Helm:
I spent the last couple of days listening to a poor sounding audience recording of the Levon Helm Band at Boston's Orpheum Theater from 2008, a show I attended. Revisiting that evening was a reminder of aspects I left out in my appreciation of the legendary musician, actor, and author.
I had forgotten the wild reaction of the fans. There was non-stop cheering from the rowdy crowd, which reached a fever pitch during the encores of "I Shall Be Released" and "The Weight." More that 2000 fans drowned out the assembled multitude on stage with their spontaneous vocal accompaniment.
The feeling in the air was Helm coming full circle, leading a musical hybrid reminiscent of the Band and Levon & the Hawks. It was comforting to see Helm regain his voice, return to the road, and record Grammy-winning albums. Not to take anything away from the other members of the Band, but in his final years, Helm reclaimed the legacy as the soul of the Band.
19.04.2012
Giddy Tom Petty Opens Tour in Colorado
'Don't know when I've had such a good time,' he says on stage
Tom Petty performs in Broomfield, Colorado.Josh LoweTom Petty and the Heartbreakers delivered a loose, rollicking set at Broomfield, Colorados 1stBank Center last night to finish out the opening two-night stand of their 2012 tour, which continues for another 25 dates in North America and Europe through June 30th.
The relatively intimate venue northwest of Denver, which can hold up to 6,500 but felt more like a cozy auditorium, hosted the official kickoff concert the previous night although Petty trimmed the set list on this show by four songs while still presenting a fans dream list of hits and the occasional cover and deep cut.
Petty and his longtime band took the stage at 9 p.m. and wordlessly launched into "Listen to Her Heart" from 1978s Youre Gonna Get It! The agreeable jangle was only a hint of the volume to come as Petty grinned mischievously at lead guitarist Mike Campbell, Pettys black, button-up bell bottoms swaying as he pitched his body over his guitar. He hit a sour note on the opening strum of "You Wreck Me Baby," which he jokingly attributed to a broken string. After a quick instrument swap the momentum was back, with Petty cueing drummer Steve Ferrone for fills as David Letterman would Paul Shaffers rim shots.
"Were going to have an even greater time tonight," Petty promised before "Wont Back Down." His familiar guitar dynamics palm-muted verses, open-chord choruses felt particularly laid-back as Campbells wailing slide leads cut through the pot fog hanging over the sold-out venue. Petty ditched his black overcoat for the Damn the Torpedoes cut "Here Comes My Girl" as the verses rode a wave of Benmont Tenchs insistent organ and piano notes. Dedicated to "all those Wilbury guys, wherever they are traveling tonight," his bands version of the Traveling Wilburys "Handle With Care" found multi-instrumentalist Scott Thurston taking over Roy Orbisons bridge vocals while Petty handled the rest.
Given the previous nod to Pettys folk-rock supergroup, it was no surprise he followed with a song dedicated to the Band drummer Levon Helm, who died earlier in the day after a long battle with cancer. He was "one of the greatest human beings that ever was," Petty said before playing "The Best of Everything," a song from 1985s Southern Accents. Petty then dug into 1981s Hard Promises for "Something Big," a song "I always liked and never got to play very much." It was soon clear why he likes it: his simple but effective blues lead gave the mid-tempo stomper a barrelhouse charm.
After sneaking a quick smoke near the drum riser and offering one of his personal favorites, "Have Love Will Travel," from 2002s The Last DJ, Petty lovingly introduced the Heartbreakers and led them back into a sing-along-friendly "Free Fallin," which briefly found him zooming around the stage like an airplane, arms outstretched. "Im havin fun. Im not in a hurry to get anywhere," he admitted before jamming on J.J. Cales propulsive "Travelin Light," a song also favored by Widespread Panic and rendered with suitable length and fluidity.
We could have expected more acoustic songs if Pettys beloved guitars hadnt been so quickly lost and found from last weeks rehearsal space theft, but "Learning to Fly" and "Yer So Bad" were just the right amount. Campbell finally broke out his Les Paul and channeled Jimmy Page for the eardrum-shattering, Zeppelinesque "I Should Have Known It," from 2010s back-to-basics Mojo. During hits like "Runnin Down a Dream" and especially "Refugee," the years seemed to melt away as Petty attacked the mike, eyes squeezed shut. "I dont know when Ive had such a good time," he said before playing "American Girl," the last of the two-song encore. It was easy to believe it as Petty affected a playful Elvis hip-shake, hands clasped behind his head. He seemed as genuinely humbled by the audiences raucous applause as they were by his still-potent, effortless cool.
Setlist:
"Listen to Her Heart"
"You Wreck Me"
"I Wont Back Down"
"Here Comes My Girl"
"Handle With Care"
"The Best of Everything"
"Something Big"
"Have Love Will Travel"
"Free Fallin"
"Spike"
"Travelin Light"
"Time to Move On"
"Learning to Fly"
"Yer So Bad"
"I Should Have Known It"
"Good Enough"
"Refugee"
"Runnin Down a Dream"
Encore:
"Mary Janes Last Dance"
"American Girl"
18.04.2012
Tour Begins Tonight In Colorado
For the better part of the last two weeks, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers have been rehearsing for a few hours each day to prepare for the upcoming North American Tour and the band's first trip to Europe in 25 years beginning in June.
The band has been busy, working through some old blues tunes and covers to get warmed up early on in rehearsals before transitioning to the Heartbreakers' catalogue in the last week to solidify the songs that they'll play out on this tour.
Be ready for some tried and true favorites, some rarities, and a special cover or two to keep everyone on their toes!
The crew has been hard at work dialing in the production, getting the lights and sound just right so that the first show tonight near Denver goes off without a hitch.
Later today, we'll be posting a video from rehearsals and an interview with Tour Lighting and Set Designer Jim Lenahan discussing his latest creation.
Keep checking TomPetty.com throughout the tour for setlists, show recaps, behind the scenes photos and videos, and much more. Tour dates and ticket info on the Tour page.
We can't wait to see all our fans out on the road!
18.04.2012
Police Arrest Guard, Recover Tom Petty Guitars
17.04.2012
Bob Dylan starts tour in Rio de Janeiro, musically references the Titanic
Bob Dylan just completed his first show of 2012. The gig at Rio de Janeiro's Citibank Hall marked the start of a 15 date tour of South, Central, and North America.
The publicity shy Dylan was photographed arriving in Brazil. Here's a translation of the article:
Frowning, Bob Dylan arrives in Rio for Brazilian tour
Bob Dylan arrived late on Friday, the 13th, at Galeao Airport, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for her (sic) tour. With a few guy friends, Dylan did not want to know the photographers. Head down, the singer went to the car. In the Rio de Janeiro, Bob Dylan will show in Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Sao Paulo and Porto Alegre, but vetoed journalists and paparazzi
In addition, the following message was posted on guitarist Charlie Sexton's Facebook page yesterday:
Tonight's set list has been posted on Bill Pagel's Bob Links page, Dylan's official set list page, and Wikipedia. Unlike most recent Dylan concerts, it proved difficult for fans to get tweets, or any other instant information, during the performance, and had to wait for the post on Pagel's site after the show's completion to find out what Dylan played. Just like the old days.
The band line up appears unchanged: Tony Garnier (bass), George Recile (drums), Stu Kimball (rhythm guitar), Sexton (lead guitar), and Donnie Herron (various stringed instruments).
The set list can be viewed below. Visit Bob Links later for more detailed information:
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Citibank Hall
April 15, 2012
1. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
2. It Ain't Me, Babe
3. Things Have Changed
4. Tangled Up In Blue
5. The Levee's Gonna Break
6. Tryin' To Get To Heaven
7. Beyond Here Lies Nothin'
8. Desolation Row
9. Summer Days
10. Simple Twist Of Fate
11. Highway 61 Revisited
12. Forgetful Heart
13. Thunder On The Mountain
14. Ballad Of A Thin Man
(encore)
15. Like A Rolling Stone
16. All Along The Watchtower
For those who like to over analyze set lists, it is interesting that Dylan played "Desolation Row" at this show. The song references the Titanic, the legendary passenger liner that sank on April 15, 1912, exactly 100 years earlier to the day. The Dylan composition includes the lines:
Praise be to Neros Neptune
The Titanic sails at dawn
And everybodys shouting
Which Side Are You On?
Additionally, Sirius XM's Deep Tracks channel played the Unplugged version of "Desolation Row" this morning, after Theme Time Radio Hour. This week's show was, appropriately enough, a rebroadcast of the "Baseball" episode.
16.04.2012
MY VALENTINE - VIDEO PREMIERE
Paul McCartney held a private party to premiere his latest video "My Valentine". Jeff Lynne and his girlfriend Camelia Kath were invited. The event took place in West Hollywood, California on 13 April. The other celebrities were Stella McCartney, Joan Jett, Jane Fonda, Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Martin from the band Coldplay and many others...
13.04.2012
Guitars Stolen From Tour Rehearsal
Five guitars belonging to Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers have been stolen from the Soundstage in Culver City where they have been rehearsing for their US tour which will start next week.
Tom's Rickenbacker 360/12 - 1967 Blonde (serial # GH 3747)
Scott's Epiphone Sheridan - 1967 (serial # to be updated ASAP)
Tom's Gibson SG TV Junior - 1965 (serial # 318533)
Ron's Fender Broadcaster (serial # to be updated ASAP)
Mike's Dusenberg Mike Campbell Model (serial # to be updated ASAP)
Police in Culver City are investigating the burglary.
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers are offering a $7500 reward with no questions asked to anyone with information leading to the recovery of the guitars.
13.04.2012
Ringo Starr's 'It Don't Come Easy': the George Harrison connection
Ringo Starr's "It Don't Come Easy," released as a single on April 9, 1971, was his first solo hit. The song topped out at number 4 in 11 weeks on the Billboard charts. And it's been one of the most enduring songs of his solo career that he's performed live many times, including at the Concert for Bangladesh.
But one fascinating side note to the song is George Harrison's part in it. According to Chip Madinger and Mark Easter's "Eight Arms to Hold You," Starr has said Harrison helped him in writing the song, though he was never credited.
More fascinating, though, is a guide vocal version that has floated around collector's circles for years with Harrison singing the song. (See the video spot at left.)
The backing track is a different mix than Ringo's, and Harrison's arrangement features a few differences from Ringo's version. The casualness of the vocal clearly says it was meant for demo purposes.
It would be interesting, though, to guess what Harrison's contribution to the song is. It's become one of the cornerstones of Ringo's "peace and love" trademark. ("Peace, remember peace is how we make it, here within your reach, if you're big enough to take it.")
But Harrison's singing also shows the song's spiritual side. "It Don't Come Easy" may sound like a common complaint, but it becomes a philosophical statement thanks to Harrison.
It's a collaboration that, you can say, "worked out nice, again
12.04.2012
11.04.2012
George Harrison talks about "Cloud 9" & Jeff Lynne
06.04.2012
More fantasy GOOD!: Interview realing Roy Orbison
John Bishoff and Ron Holm (Between Planes, Emery Christiansen), Rockford veteran performers and composers, recently interviewed Roy Orbison in a seance conducted at an undisclosed location.
Bishoff: Good evening, Roy. Can you hear me? Im here with Ron Holm, and we were in a band in the 80s called Emery Christiansen. We opened for you in 1982 at Rockfords MetroCentre.
Holm: And now John and I and some great players are doing a concert of your music at Just Goods, 201 Seventh St., at 7 p.m., Saturday April 7. Theres no cover charge (815-965-8903). Can you be there?
Orbison: (Sings) In dreams, I walk with you.
Holm: I guess youll be there in spirit. Your first minor hit was Ooby Dooby, for Sun Records. Do you ever listen to that song?
Orbison: I hum it occasionally, but we dont have any record players up here.
Bishoff: Actually, we dont have many record players down here anymore, either. Its been CDs for years, and now its Internet downloading and streaming music from Cloud Services.
Orbison: Oh, yeah? Well, we definitely got Cloud Services up here, too.
Bishoff: I really liked that song, Claudette on the backside of the Everly Brothers All I Have to do is Dream.
Orbison: Yeah. That was my first big break. I wrote it for this girl I had a crush on named Claudette Frady. The Everlys were so hot that my song actually went to No. 30. I got a hit record, and by the way, I also got the girl. I married her and bought her a Cadillac.
Holm: But then, you got your own hit song.
Orbison: Well, that was Only the Lonely. I broke from the Sun label and signed with Monument Records. I had this idea to make ballads like short operas, with violins and backup singers. That record went to No. 2 in the States, but it was a No. 1 smash in England. They loved it so much, they asked me to come over to their country and do some concerts. They put me on the stage with some kids calling themselves the Beatles.
Bishoff: And the rest, as they say, is history.
Orbison: Yeah. I went on first and got so much applause those Beatles pulled me off the stage! (laughs) But then, they went on to write a ballad in my style called, Please, Please Me. When George Martin, their producer, heard it, he told them to speed it up. I guess that did the trick!
Holm: I sure would like to have heard how it sounded when they did it your way.
Bishoff: Hey, lets play it in Roys style at our upcoming show!
Orbison: Thats something Id like to hear myself.
Bishoff: Done! Of course, then you went on to have a huge string of hit records. Candy Man, Oh Pretty Woman, Sweet Dream Baby, In Dreams. I noticed that lots of your songs are about dreaming.
Orbison: Well, I did a lot of dreaming when I was young. I was a beady-eyed scrawny kid, not the greatest looking guy, so I started wearing sunglasses to look cooler. I dreamed someday Id be a big-time singer, that Id marry a beautiful girl, be in movies; and yknow, all those dreams came true.
Holm: Well, we love your music. When we play your songs, we do it with a lot of love and respect for your talent.
Orbison: Aw, thanks, man. You guys have a great concert April 7. I bet Ill be able to hear it through that Internet cloud thing.
Holm and Bishoff: Thank YOU, Roy! Well call our show In Dreams: the Music of Roy Orbison.
04.04.2012
Dylan's 'Blood on the Tracks' as a film? 10 albums seeking scripts
A Brazilian production company has acquired the rights to Bob Dylan's landmark 1975 album "Blood on the Tracks" for an English-language feature film, according to Variety, and considering the imagery of "Shelter From the Storm," "Buckets of Rain," "Idiot Wind" and "Tangled Up in Blue," there could be lot of bad weather up on the screen.
"Our goal is to work with a filmmaker who can create a classic drama with characters and an environment that capture the feelings that the album inspires in all fans," one of the producers told Variety. Maybe they're on to something here -- we can think of 10 other classic albums we'd like to see on the big screen.
Meatloaf's "Bat Out of Hell": Operatic, overwrought and and catchy, this 1977 tapestry of sexed-up youth with no place to go could be "Hairspray" meets "SuperBad" ... or "Glee" with leather pants.
Guns N Roses' "Appetite for Destruction": Starring Tilda Swinton as an androgynous Axl Rose lookalike named Mr. Brownstone and Sasha Baron Cohen as a Slash-headed transvestite named the Rocket Queen, Appetite: The Movie could have the feel of a superhero flick. (Plot: Brownstone battles the Queen for control of a post-apocalyptic Sunset Strip, where a genetically evolved race of super-landlords called Adlers have kidnapped Brownstones love interest, Sweet Child.)
Bruce Springsteen's "Darkness on the Edge of Town": Any album by the Boss could be turned into cinema of hope and despair, but the tracks on this 1978 collection already read like titles from a film score: "Streets of Fire," "Badlands," "The Promised Land," "Something in the Night."
The Clash, "London Calling": "Jimmy Jazz"? "Guns of Brixton"? Somebody get Guy Ritchie...
Arcade Fire, "The Suburbs": Set in suburbia, of course (which suggests either Gus Van Sant or Mike Mills at the helm), this ode to teen angst and despair in the outer ring could easily be made for $10 million. In fact, by the time you're done reading this, "The Suburbs" treatment will have already made it onto the Black List.
De La Soul, "3 Feet High and Rising": A neon-colored ode to the Daisy Age -- think "Yo Gabba Gabba" meets "Shrek" -- the tracks on De La Soul's classic hip-hop album are perfect for a G-rated animated feature. The song titles write the script for you: "The Magic Number," "Potholes on My Lawn," "Buddy," "Transmitting Live from Mars," and other multi-colored images will drive the kids crazy.
Neutral Milk Hotel, "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea": The classic psychedelic indie rock concept album would work as a stop-motion animated film -- but, then, dozens of grad students have probably already done this.
Kanye West, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy": The title alone should guarantee a $20 million opening weekend -- and quadruple that if West can snag Taylor Swift to commit to the female lead.
Slayer, "Reign in Blood": Four horsemen, swords, daggers, buxom women -- "Game of Thrones" meets "Saw."
The Traveling Wilburys, "The Traveling Wilburys": An Adam McKay-directed buddy comedy starring Will Ferrell as Jeff Lynne, Cate Blanchett as Bob Dylan, Russell Brand as George Harrison, Jonah Hill as Roy Orbison and Kristin Wiig as Tom Petty. We're thinking "The Three Stooges" meets "Grumpy Old Men."
02.04.2012
Tom Petty Hosts One Million Facebook Fans Giveaway
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are so elated to have hit the one million-fans mark on their Facebook page that theyre giving away 28 pairs of concert tickets! The giveaway takes place over the next seven days and you can enter here.
One visit to Tom Pettys website and its evident that they totally believe in giving back to their fans but this offer especially shows their appreciation for the fans. Twenty-eight lucky winners will receive two tickets to a show on the 2012 Tour in the city of their choice.
On the first day, one fan will win tickets and will get to choose the concert in the 2012 tour city of their choice (excluding the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival), with the number of winners increasing by one fan each day. In short, seven winners will be announced on the final seventh day, resulting in 28 tickets total for the week.
Granted, this prize only includes concert tickets and does not include travel or accommodations but what a great excuse to hit the road. After all, youve been named a contest winner and thats an excellent excuse to take a little vacation.
Visit Pettys website for all the details and the official rules of the contest. Winners will be selected by random draw, so take a chance and who knows you may hear the words You Got Lucky.
