CORVALLIS, Ore. — There was a wide variety of people in Gill Coliseum Wednesday night with one thing in common: to see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform the first show of their new summer tour. Parents brought their kids, high schoolers and college students flocked in groups, and older couples held hands as they turned out to hear Petty’s timeless songs.
Oregon State University’s basketball court was filled to the rim with anxious fans, ready to be carried away by the band’s mellow songs and rocked by faster ones. While waiting for Petty’s appearance, the audience warmed up to the sounds of The Wallflowers. Jakob Dylan took the stage and got the audience on its feet and singing to Wallflower hits, including “One Headlight.”
But the crowd held their enthusiasm for the main act. Teasing onlookers even more, the set crew took its time preparing the stage for The Heartbreakers.
Well worth the wait, Tom Petty finally entered the Coliseum, walking past red, velvety curtains drawn back to reveal a psychedelic red, yellow and blue design that resembled a stained-glass window. Glittering chandeliers with soft orange lights hovered above. The front of the stage was covered in burgundy oriental rugs to complete the scene. The crowd screamed and whistled as it took in Petty’s shaggy blonde hair and scruffy beard, tinged with gray.
Petty first played “Runnin’ Down A Dream,” and then the old favorite, “Mary Jane’s Last Dance.” He paused to say a few words to the audience. “This is my first time to Corvallis,” Petty confessed. The audience went crazy, cheering and clapping.
The Heartbreakers have not been on tour since their 1999 Echo tour, and they appeared enthusiastic to be back on the stage. Petty announced that they were going to play an old song, “Here Comes My Girl,” and so he hoped that he remembered it all.
“We don’t have teleprompters up here,” Petty said. “We’re strictly old-school.”
The concert covered a wide range of the band’s albums, playing hits such as “It’s Good To Be King,” “Even The Losers” and “You Don’t Know How It Feels.” After a set of slow songs, the group played an instrumental song called “Guitar Boogie Shuffle,” before which Petty invited the audience to relax, dance around, and yell.
Petty had an incredible stage presence, and seemed to exhibit a true connection with his audience. His vibes told the fans that he was happy to be there and was having a great time. This attitude, combined with Petty’s killer smile and the little dance moves that drove the fans to applaud, resulted in one great musician who captivated his audience for two and a half hours.
The band was coaxed back onto the stage for an encore with a clamoring of whistles, applause and flickering lighters. Petty and The Heartbreakers came back to play their classic “Free Fallin’” and the well-known “American Girl,” before leaving a cheering, satisfied crowd.
Corvallis is one of 15 cities in which Petty will be performing this summer, before heading to the studio to record a new album. The group will be performing Saturday at the Gorge Amphitheater in George, Wash., which promises to be an outstanding show: If a Petty concert in a basketball gym is great, imagine how one would be with the backdrop of the setting sun and the breathtaking Columbia Gorge.