Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Live At The O2

Looking like an impish undertaker’s assistant from a Tim Burton film, Uncle Tom walks on, plugs in and lets the jingle jangle chime of his Rickenbacker ring out the first chords of ‘Listen To Her Heart’. The outlaw preacher, and covert punk is back on these shores after a 20-year hiatus. He delivers a heartfelt performance that at times achieved a state of grace. ‘You Wreck Me Baby’ has ‘oh ohs’ and ‘yeah yeahs’ supplied by the worshipping throng, ‘Free Fallin’ is dedicated to a group of Spanish fans met earlier that day, and ‘Learning To Fly’ is stark and vulnerable in its acoustic reworking. But this is no mere greatest hits laurel resting. Rarely played tracks are dusted off and brought blinking into the light. ‘Something Big’ off 1981’s Hard Promises is a highlight. Its rockabilly slouch, bayou bounce and Black Lodge solo emit a grinning gothic glow. Newer material off current album Mojo takes its place comfortably among the back catalogue hierarchy. ‘Good Enough’ has Mike Campbell spill ominous heart ache all over the fretboard whilst the sleazy honk of ‘I Should Have Known It’ is all shrugging shoulders and life lesson learnt. Benmont Tench’s swelling Hammond B3 introduces a storming version of ‘Refugee’ before the twin Firebird attack of ‘Running Down A Dream’ let’s Petty and Campbell spar on workin’ out a mystery and goin’ wherever it leads. A rapturous encore allows for a last dance with Mary Jane and wistful dreams of an ‘American Girl’ bringing a truly wonderous evening to a close. Dear Tom, Please come around here some more. Yours sincerely...