Petty concert gifts crowd with special guest Stevie Nicks

BY HEATHER ZIEGENBEIN, Black Hills Pioneer August 11, 2006

GLENCOE NATION - Thousands of people crowded the stage as Tom Petty emerged from the darkness Wednesday night at the inaugural Rock'N the Rally Music Fest.

"I'm Tom Petty and these are the Heartbreakers and I got a whole lot of great songs I want to play for you tonight," the headliner yelled. Through the fog of cheers, "Won't back down," started to blare. It was show time!

Petty, along with Joe Cocker, Foghat and the Georgia Satellites made last night's lineup at Glencoe Nation and campground.

Cocker played a strong set with nearly everyone dancing near the end and Foghat and Georgia Satellites were well received by the early birds looking to catch a great patch of grass.

"This is amazing ... I can't believe this is actually happening," yelled one concert attendee as she inched her way to the very front row for Petty's opening set. Following his recognized hits "Free Fallin'" and a few selections from his newest album, Highway Companion was something completely unexpected.

With the full moon shining down, Petty, 55, had quite a surprise up his sleeve when he introduced Stevie Nicks with whom he collaborated on "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" and several other hits. Adorned in her classic, free-flowing black dress she wooed the crowd with her vocal talents.

After two hours of intense musical bliss, he left the stage. After the longest five minutes in history, the champ changed gears and charged the stage with the classic hit, "You Wreck Me."

A few more songs and he parted by saying that the Rally really is something. "And, this is the loudest bunch of people singing that I remember."