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Tom
Petty with Stevie Nicks 2006 - FAN REVIEWS
9/21/06 O'Connell Center
Gainesville, FL
Suzi Mancil Since I moved to Gainesville two years ago, rumors went around about Tom Petty coming to perform a "homecoming" concert. When I found out when, I couldn't wait to get tickets -and then- I found out that yes, my favorite singer was going to be there too. Someone pinch me I must be dreaming! No I wasn't. Last night, I was very happy to find out that the seating chart provided by the university for the concert was innaccurate and guess what-I was a whole lot closer to the stage than I anticipated. I mean really close. (Its a small venue, so if you went, you had good tickets.) I was able to see Stevie come off and on the stage. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were absolutely amazing. The crowd just went crazy when Stevie Nicks came out. She looks great. Stevie was full of energy and her voice was beautiful. It was powerful during "Stop Draggin My Heart Around" and sweet high notes sung during a beautiful performance of "Insider" that brought out so much emotion I started to cry. Her and Tom's voices are so beautiful together. She's in great shape and looks happy. She did her kicks, shawl swaying, and tambourine playing reminiscent of the WWD tour(what I have been able to see on video-I never saw her live until 1997 with FM The Dance). When she danced with the tambourine under the strobe light during "Don't Come Around Here No More", the audience was in awe at the site. It was pure magic.
I am purposely trying to be vague as to leave all of you who are going to see this concert in anticipation. Those of you who have seen the show know what I'm talking about. Stevie was part of the band. It was wonderful. It was the best performance of hers that I have ever personally experienced. I will never forget it.
Tawnie What can I say...I am still reeling in disbelief that
I actually got to see my two favorite performers
together last night at a sold out show!!! I had been
watching for months to see if Tom was coming to
Gainesville, as it had not been listed in the first 2
legs of the tour. Then, of course, it was added to the
third leg and tickets went on sale... the very day I
was on a flight accross the country! I had heard
tickets sold out within 30 minutes (some say 10
minutes) of going on sale. Tom Petty and The
Heartbreakers were finally coming home to perform
after 13 years....so it's no wonder! I was bummed and
had pretty much given up hope, though still
occasionally looking on ebay for tickets. Well, the
week of the show, I miraculously scored 3 tickets on
ebay...and practically at cost, believe it or not! I
figured it was too good to be true and just waited for
it to fall apart, but Wednesday I met the seller and
had tickets in hand for Thursday's show!!! I had high
expectations that Stevie would be there, since I'd
read it on The Nicksfix, but again....afraid of
disappointment, I tried not to bank on that. Then I
read on Tom Petty's website that they were
broadcasting the live performance on over 100 FM radio
stations all over the country and filming the concert
for an upcoming television special. Then I KNEW Stevie
would be there!! So my daughters and I got to the show
early to be sure we could park, not an easy task at
the O'Connell Center. We sat through The Strokes, who
were pretty good to my surprise, though not really a
good match for fans of Tom Petty & The
Heartbreakers...I'm sure they were there for the
college crowd. So almost an hour after they had
performed..the hometown boys took the stage!
The crowd went absolutely crazy..clapping, screaming,
stomping..it was electrifying! They opened with
"Listen To Her Heart", then played "Mary Janes Last
Dance" with the crowd singing along. Then after the
song Tom graciously said "What can I say, it's so nice
to be here...I really feel like I've come home". Over
10,00 fans cheered and reciprocated the feeling. As
the set went on they played "I Won't Back Down", "Free
Fallin'"(both great sing-a-longs with the crowd),"I'm
a Man"(a Bo Diddley song),"Oh Well"(by Fleetwood Mac),
and "Handle With Care" (from the Traveling Wilbury
days). Then Tom went about introducing the band...and
at the end when it seemed the crowd couldn't get any
louder he said "and an honorary Heartbreaker, our
little sister Miss Stevie Nicks!" I screamed my head
off...it had caught me totally off guard with the way
he introduced her! She whisked onto the stage and
everyone went nuts. She greeted the crowd and went
over to a ribbon bedecked microphone stand they had
quickly brought out for her. She looked absolutely
gorgeous, in her trademark black layered dress and
beautiful waistlong blonde hair. Oh....and THE
BOOTS!!! No platform Reeboks! And let me tell you, she
was getting around in those boots like she did 20
years ago! Stevie and Tom got right into "Stop
Draggin' My Heart Around" and KICKED IT!! Then Tom let
her have the spotlight for her version of his song "I
Need To Know" which she ROCKED with her tamborine,
ribbons just a flyin'! After that song, she left the
stage and Tom consoled the crowd saying "Stevie will
be back in just a little bit". He and The
Heartbreakers then went on to slow things down a bit
and mellow us out with "It's Good To Be King" , a song
I was not really familiar with but now LOVE after
that. Then as an ode to their roots, they performed
"Down South" and "Southern Accents". While we were
still in a mellow mood, he brought back Stevie (who
now wore her infamous Gold Dust Woman shawl) to sing
"Insider" which gave me chills, it was so beautiful.
At this point I had to call my friend Nancy and let
her listen via cellphone, my moonsister in NY who I
wished could be there to hear it with me...it wasn't
the same without you Moonsister! Stevie stayed to sing
back up on "Learning to Fly" and "Don't Come Around
Here No More". She did this awesome crazy woman strobe
light dance for the middle jamming part of that song!
I think it took alot out of her because she left the
stage for a song after that, but was it ever cool!!
The next song was "Refugee", then "Running Down a
Dream". The band left the stage and, after a very
rowdy and lengthy plea, came back for an encore with
"You Wreck Me" (my favorite!) and then "Mystic Eyes"
and "American Girl". Stevie came back on stage to sing
back up in cute black bootleg pants with rhinestones
and her famous black top hat with feathers.....LOVED
IT!!! She looked so good! They all looked really
great. The thing I appreciated about her was that she
respected and appreciated the fact that this was a Tom
Petty & The Heartbreakers show and she was the guest,
she never tried to put herself in the limelight unless
Tom placed her there. There is such a wonderful
chemistry between them, you can tell they have
tremendous affection and respect for one another. I
have to really say that about the whole band...can you
belive those guys have been together 30 years?? It was
such a treat to see it in person. This was truly one
of the best shows I've been to, and I've seen Stevie
and Fleetwood Mac many times over the years. I felt I
saw a different side of her this time. The whole night
was memorable and actually, something historical,
since it was recorded for the whole country to
experience. I think being in Gainesville, this show
was unique from the others on the tour. The band spent
a couple days here before the show, visiting friends
and places and reminiscing.
The day of the show was officially called "Tom Petty
and The Heartbreakers Day" by the city of Gainesville
and they were presented with the Key to the City and a
Distinguished Achievement Award from The University of
Florida. They were very humble and gracious throughout
thier trip, and especially during the concert,
constantly thanking the fans and bowing their heads.
True Southern Gentlemen!!! It was a night I'll never
forget and I'm so happy my daughters got to experience
seeing these legendary performers with me. I can't
wait for the TV special to relive it again!!!!
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