The following review is from the Tampa Tribune's Curtis Ross. If you were at the show, please give your opinions in the comments section above or below or email something longer to Hildi@whtq.com!

TAMPA - A great band with a set of great songs is all well and good. But Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers also know how to play.

Jamming seems like the wrong word -- Petty and his band aren't The Grateful Dead, willing to go out on -- and sometimes off of -- a limb in search of sonic nirvana.

But, man, when the Heartbreakers break it down, they break it down. [story continues after video clip...]

TP & Heartbreakers doing "American Girl"



"Saving Grace" was where Petty and right-hand man Mike Campbell took flight Wednesday night before a St. Pete Times Forum crowd of 16,543.

The song, from Petty's 2006 solo album "Highway Companion," is built around a Slim Harpo riff, but rather than indulging in some predictable blues soloing, the guitarists headed in another direction, droning and chiming away into Byrds-like controlled psychedelia.

Maybe they do that every night. But it sounded fresh and spontaneous. It's a moment not on the recorded version. It's why we go see great bands play live instead of just staying home and listening to the albums.

Besides, if Petty played nothing but the hits, you'd barely hear him. The crowd's singing -- and yours, too, most likely -- was just as audible as the band on favorites such as opener "You Wreck Me," "Mary Jane's Last Dance" and "Listen to Her Heart."

Petty also dropped in a true obscurity, a European B-side called "Sweet William," a slow but stomping blues with a double-time break a la The Yardbirds. Benmont Tench accented the tune with some dirty, soulful organ fills.

Add "Breakdown," "You Don't Know How It Feels" and "Even the Losers" and, well, if you're a Petty fan there still are probably a dozen songs you wish he'd played. But not so much that you're complaining.

Even in the nosebleed section, opening act Steve Winwood's distinctive voice was instantly identifiable.

Winwood mixed in tracks from this year's "Nine Lives" album with familiar cuts from his 40-plus year career. That the newer material didn't pale terribly in the presence of the mighty "Can't Find My Way Home" or "Dear Mr. Fantasy" suggests Winwood is in no danger of having to rest on his laurels.

Even "Higher Love," from his slick, '80s hit-making days, was given a percussive roughing up, and sounded all the better for it.

The following YouTube clip is from the Boston show in June but it's soooo good, ya gotta see it. Steve joins the Heartbreakers, while Tom Petty just sits back, playing rhythm and enjoying Winwood's greatness as he plays and sings "Can't Find My Way Home." Make sure you click "watch in high quality" once you get to YouTube if you have highspeed. Big difference. Oh and don't worry, the people with the camera will shut up once the song gets going ; )



Review from WHTQ Workforce listener/Petty fanatic Bill Spencer:

First of all I have to say, and I might be a little biased, but Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers have to be coolest Rock and Roll band around. It ain't fancy, it ain't flashy, it's just rock-n-roll played to perfection and played loud!

Steve Winwood opened and I think the word is spreading to those who don't know because the crowd was almost full when he came out. I've been a long time Blind Faith, Traffic, Winwwod fan and he was truly amazing. He played for a little over an hour. Alternating between keyboards and guitars, he played a sweet blend of his new music and the old ones we all love. One of the highlights for me was 'Can't Find My Way Home'. His voice sounded superb. I thought his new stuff sounded great. It was kind of like a jazz-rock-fusion with a hard edge to it. The classic stuff you would recognize were, "I'm A Man", "Higher Love", "Dear Mr. Fantasy", and the set closer "Gimme Some Lovin". His set had the crowd jumpin' and energized for Petty.

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers took the stage and opened with juiced up version of "You Wreck Me" which set the pace for the rest of the evening. And the hits just kept coming. They pulled out, as Tom said, "one we did way back in '79, "Even The Losers".

Michael Campbell, once again just plays his a$$ of on every song. Petty was once again the showman, playing to the crowd, gesturing and the occasional swivel of the hips for the girls up front. We had pretty good seats, 12th row floor seats right on the aisle with plenty of room for groovin'. There would be no collaboration with Winwood but it didn't seem to matter. I was talking with my buddy after the show and we both agreed that they were in such groove that it could have messed up the flow of the set. (Just an opinion.)

I did get my first "Breakdown" in about 7 or 8 years. There's something about hearing that song live that is so much fun. They always seem to change it up a bit, keeping it fresh. Another highlight, for me, was "Refugee". The bass and the guitars seem to hit you right in the gut. And Petty sang it with such emotion, it was really cool.

Here is the set list. I feel a nap coming on.

1. You Wreck Me
2. Listen To Her Heart
3. I Won't Back Down
4. Even The Losers
5. Free Fallin'
6. Mary Jane's Last Dance
7. Sweet William (B-side European release)
8. End Of The Line (Traveling Wilbury's)
9. Saving Grace
10. Breakdown
11. Honey Bee
12. You Don't Know How It Feels
13. Learning To Fly
14. Don't Come Around Here No More
15. Refugee

Encore:

16. Runnin' Down A Dream
17. Mystic Eyes
18. American Girl

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