Last visit: Tickets were the hardest part
By Kevin W. Smith
KSMITH@AZSTARNET.COM
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 08.14.2008
Tom Petty is one of the greatest living American songwriters.
Classics such as "American Girl," "Breakdown" and "Free Fallin' " are as familiar to many as summer barbecues, hot dogs and potato salad.
Here are some Petty songs, both solo and with his band The Heartbreakers, that may help in the journey to see his show in Glendale on Wednesday.
'Into the Great Wide Open'
• Sample lyrics: "Into the great wide open, under them skies of blue."
• Travel scenario: Driving to Phoenix during the day has its moments. Glendale awaits...
'Here Comes My Girl'
• Sample lyrics: "Hey, here comes my girl, here comes my girl."
• Travel scenario: Don't forget to pick up your significant other on the way.
'Even the Losers'
• Sample lyric: "Even the losers / Get lucky sometimes."
• Travel scenario: As you arrive in the greater Phoenix area, you'll wonder how such an awesome band could play such a crummy place twice this year (remember Super Bowl XLII?).
'I Won't Back Down'
• Sample lyric: "You can stand me up at the gates of hell / But I won't back down."
• Travel scenario: When you're sitting in that long line coming off the interstate, don't let anyone cut in front of you as they "suddenly realize this is the exit."
'The Waiting'
• Sample lyrics: "The waiting is the hardest part."
• Travel scenario: Have patience as you stand in line to get into the arena and then sit through opening act Steve Winwood.
'Mary Jane's Last Dance'
• Sample lyrics: "Last dance with Mary Jane / One more time to kill the pain."
• Travel scenario: Enjoy the natural aromas of the live concert experience as Petty rips through his greatest hits.
'Time to Move On'
• Sample lyrics: "Time to get going / What lies ahead I have no way of knowing."
• Travel scenario: Wasn't that an awesome encore, though?
'Runnin' Down a Dream'
• Sample lyrics: "I'm runnin' down a dream."
• Travel scenario: Just make sure the only people dreaming on the way home are the passengers, OK, designated driver?