The Ledge - Boston Herald Review

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Petty teaches Hub to fly
By Christopher John Treacy
Friday, June 23, 2006

Tom Petty is an underrated American treasure.

But he explained to the lucky crowd at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield Wednesday night that he’d discovered his American influences by a circuitous route, admitting that he learned about the blues from British bands such as the Yardbirds and early Fleetwood Mac. He then paid tribute to both by playing “I’m a Man” and “Oh Well,” respectively.

And then he invited Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks, a longtime friend and collaborator, onto the stage.

Nicks, a recurring guest on the tour, looked radiant and was in flexible voice. She led Petty and his Heartbreakers through their 1981 hit duet “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” and took charge on a ferocious “I Need to Know.” Later, she returned to raise goose pimples singing harmony on “The Insider,” a song written for her by Petty.

Folks who insist that Tom Petty, 55, isn’t aging well just aren’t listening. Although loose-sounding when speaking, his performance was impressively coherent. Sure, hanging out with Dylan and the Grateful Dead won’t maintain your physique or preserve a clear complexion, but rock ’n’ roll isn’t about skin care.

Bolstered by the familiar ring of Benmont Tench’s organ, Petty, Mike Campbell and latter-day Heartbreaker Scott Thurston created a three-guitars-thick sound that was lush but not overpowering. Meanwhile, drummer Steve Ferrone and founding bassist Ron Blair (who left the band for 20 years only to return in 2002) kept vigilant time.

Dressed in blue jeans with trademark admiral’s coat, Petty grinned slyly through the two-hour-plus joyride, which included all the expected favorites, plus two tunes from Petty’s forthcoming solo disc, “Highway Companion,” due in late July.

Toward the show’s end, he conjured a truly inspired version of “Learning to Fly.” An extended take of Them’s “Mystic Eyes” made for a rousing encore surprise.

“This might just be our favorite place to play,” Petty said, noting that it likely was Boston radio that first played his music some 30 years ago. He then dusted off “Fooled Again (Don’t Like It)” from his debut LP for the first time in more than two decades.

Former Phish guitar god Trey Anastasio demonstrated musical precision and radiated positive spirit in the opening slot. His fans added a youthful spin to the capacity crowd.