Tom Petty – bendingtheneedle

The Breakers are Coming to Newport

See The Breakers in Newport, RI!

I’m not talking about the Gilded Age Mansion located on the posh Bellevue Avenue, but the fantastic Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tribute band, which has built a reputation as one of the most authentic live tributes to Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers—no wigs, no gimmicks, just pure rock ‘n’ roll energy and sound.

My younger son and I are true fans of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. We drove from RI to Philadelphia to see the band on their final tour in 2017. We were utterly devastated at Tom’s untimely passing.

When we took our seats for “The Breakers” tribute band at The Park Theatre in Cranston, RI, a few months back, my son and I were both a little apprehensive: “God, I hope these guys don’t do a disservice to Tom and the band.”

Most true music fans are suspicious of Tribute bands. The potential for vaudevillian schmaltz to descend upon the stage is real. But I’m here to tell you there’s nothing schmaltzy or vaudevillian about The Breakers. This band does more than pay tribute to a legendary rock and roll band; they embody the spirit of the band they pay homage to – you can feel it in their performance. The Heartbreaker vibe is palpable.

If you’re a fan of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers or appreciate rock-solid musicianship, check out this band.

Get your tickets on the Jane Pickens Theater website – You won’t be disappointed.

The Best Concert I’ve Been to in Years

On April 3rd, my son and I attended a concert by The Breakers, a tribute band to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. My son and I are diehard Tom Petty fans – me from when they hit the airways in 1976, and my son through parent-to-child musical osmosis.

The Breakers concert was my first tribute band experience, and to be honest, my expectations were low. I envisioned a cheap and costume-themed knockoff of what I consider to be one of the best Rock and Roll bands of all time. For me, the night was more about spending time with my son than the show itself.

The Breakers started the show with Love Is a Long Road from Tom’s 1989 solo album, Full Moon Fever. That song was an interesting choice because it’s not a Tom Petty “hit, ” and non-Petty enthusiasts might even consider it a deep cut. The Breakers performed a blazing rendition of the song, and when they finished, my son and I just looked at one another, each of us with a “holy shit” expression on our faces.

The Breakers went on to perform brilliantly and passionately. Their musicianship was jaw-droppingly good, and you sensed they were true fans of the band they were paying homage to. Their performance was joyful and soulful with zero pretense. The songs were not “cookie-cutter” versions of Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker albums. There were elements of creativity and artistry in every song they delivered that evening.

At times, I felt myself getting emotional watching and listening to the band play—I’m not sure why. Perhaps that’s the power and mystery of true art—it touches us in ways we can’t put a finger on. Or maybe a spiritually communal experience occurs when the musicians on stage and the fans in attendance connect emotionally through mutual love and respect—in this case, love and respect of Tom and his musical genius.

If you’re a fan of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, see The Breakers, you won’t be disappointed.

R.I.P Tom Petty

Some artists stick with you, through good times and bad, like a trusted friend you’ve never met.

I remember the first time I heard Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was 1979, and I was a junior in high school — the song was Refuge. As soon as I heard that song, it resonated with me. I loved the musical snarl and punch, Petty’s drawl and attitude, and everything about it.

It’s a curious thing how we connect to artists – musicians specifically. For me and Tom Petty, it was a convergence of things — a perfect storm of his aggressive-edged rock and roll and my teen angst, bottled-up energy, insecurity, and the malaise of adolescence.

When I first heard Refuge in 1979, it felt like a chemical reaction in my mind. For three minutes and twenty-two seconds, I felt clarity, like the song physically pushed shit aside in my head – so it was just me and the music – I remember there was something pure about the experience. I suppose that’s why I kept returning to Tom Petty for 38 years – and he never disappointed. That’s what was so special about Tom Petty – he grew as an artist and aged gracefully, which allowed me to grow with him – as much as I loved Refugee as a teenager, listening to that song as an adult was mainly a way of reconnecting to my youth. As Tom matured, he became a master songwriter, tapping into the complexities of human relationships – doing so with sparse, straightforward language – clarity.

When I heard Tom Petty had died, I cried — sitting alone in front of my laptop. With a conference call a little over an hour away, I got up, found my iPod, connected it to a Bluetooth speaker, turned up the volume, hit shuffle, and cried a little more.

Later that afternoon, I went into my son’s room. He was staring blankly at his laptop. I touched him on the shoulder, and he broke — we both did — had a real good cry – together.

From adolescence to fatherhood, Tom Petty was an integral part of my life; he was my go-to artist — always a drop of the needle away, a CD shuffle away, or an iPod click away — he never failed to lift me and help me through.

R.I.P. Tom Petty.

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