Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.

I always thought Petty and the boys had some classic hits, but it wasn’t until I saw the film, “Runnin’ Down a Dream” that I became a fan boy. This was only 2 years ago. I never thought he’d tour again after the 2008 tour, but low and behold, they released a new album and stopped in our town last night. The show was fun and the new stuff was worth paying attention to, since it looked like they were trying to push their sound (pretty impressive for a band nearing their 60’s).

It was cool seeing all the guys on stage who I know now a little bit about due to the documentary. There’s a life story behind the songs that made the whole experience of seeing them live that much more compelling. You could feel the history where you heard the classics. You could see the crowd of boomers being transported to their youth.

After the show, it hit me why I became such a fan. As much as the songs matter, just as important is who Petty is as person (or at least the perceived impression I get). The documentary highlights not only the music but the lives of the band as they created their careers. You get a good sense of the character of all the guys and I can’t help but dig how Petty comes off as a guy who speaks the truth and really “Won’t back down”.

Lesson for all aspiring artists? The art is important, but people feeling a real connection to you as as the creator will keep them coming back.

Hoover

Take Control of Your Music