Tom Petty at the Super Bowl: Going to work

Super Bowl XLII -- 2008

The team: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

The playbook: Tom Petty, one of America's greatest artists, is put on the largest stage of his career. Throughout his 30-plus-year career, Petty has resisted corporate sponsorship and has refrained from licensing his songs to advertisers. He's fought record labels and kept his ticket prices down. But here, one of America's most self-effacing rock stars is featured on the largest promotional stage known to man: the Super Bowl halftime show.

The result: Reviewing these kinds of spectacles poses a greater and greater challenge with each passing year. With 12 minutes of hit songs -- and clipped versions of them at that -- the Super Bowl halftime show is far from a re-creation of a stadium concert. It's more akin to the blockbuster commercials that air during the game than it is a musical event, and it'd be easy to dismiss it as grand Las Vegas theatrics.

Indeed, since the national crisis that was the "wardrobe malfunction" of 2004, it's practically guaranteed that there will be no spontaneity at the halftime show. And this year was no exception, with Petty & the Heartbreakers going through four hits with workmanlike efficiency.

But these kinds of spectacles cannot just be written off. I can't help but think of last year's event, when Prince gave a largely entertaining set in the rain. Watching the game at a local bar, it soon became evident that more than a quarter of the crowd in the bar was there solely for Prince. They showed no interest in the first half of the game and cleared out as soon as Prince's mini-set of medleys came to a close.

It seemed odd at first, but placed in the context of what's happened to the U.S. concert market, it really isn't. After all, arena concerts belong to the rich, and we're quickly approaching an age when the closest the common fan can get to a major artist -- a Tom Petty, a Bono, etc. -- is soon going to be either via Super Bowl halftime shows or 3-D films. This, for better or worse, is essentially what passes for a communal concert experience these days.

Even two tickets to Petty, an artist who deserves plenty of credit for keeping ticket prices down, will run you $140 in Detroit. Again, Petty's ticket prices are on the lower end of the spectrum. Or you can buy a "dream package" for $260 and be guaranteed a seat in the first 15 rows, as well as a coupon for $25 off merch from the Petty store, among other items.

For a large number of Petty fans, this was surely the only Petty show they'll see this year. So how was Petty and team? Taking to a guitar-shaped stage, Petty and the Heartbreakers looked professional in sport coats, and the feel of the 12-minute set was a band going to work, not trying to connect with an audience. The hooks of "American Girl," "I Won't Back Down" and "Runnin' Down a Dream" are downright undeniable, and the nostalgia, romance and classic Byrds-like guitar work in a song like "American Girl" makes it perfect for stadiums.

Yet it never quite connected at Super Bowl XLII. Petty is not a larger-than-life performer. He doesn't ham it up like a Bono or a Mick Jagger, and was out of place on the Super Bowl stage, even in a sing-along like "Free Fallin'." Petty's appeal is in his unassuming nature, a working musician who takes the stage and gets down to business. He's one of the most consistent artists America has to offer, but his appeal sneaks up on you -- it doesn't (thankfully) hit you over the head like a soda commercial featuring Justin Timberlake.

No matter, Petty will be back on the road this spring, where he belongs, and his momentary shilling for the NFL and a tire company, which not-so-subtly sponsored the affair, will be a thing of pop-culture past.

For more Super Bowl halftime reviews, click here.

(Photo courtesy Theo Wargo / WireImage)

Comments

[Bill]

Petty was excellent. Mike Campbell did his tremendous guitar work, and the rest of the band was good too. Much better than Mick, Paul or Janet. I really enjoyed him. He is a consummate musician. Bravo.

[Jennifer]

I enjoyed this year's half-time show better than any in recent memory. It is a delight to see an actual rock and roll band do what they do best...provide a solid performance without resorting to gimmicks. Bravo, and long live the Heartbreakers!

[Mike]

Tom Petty: great songs, great performance, great energy. But "it doesn't hit you over the head like a soda commercial featuring Justin Timberlake." Thank goodness.

[Marge Glaser]

~~~I loved it~~~and you're right, it's all I was interested in SuperBowl-wise~~~I thought it was better than the Stones at the Bowl particularly since it's such pure performance~~~Everyone who saw it with me felt how much the musicians enjoyed themselves and I felt that they were very connected to the audience! The set was fun and the music was as dependably great as it always is with a Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers performance~~~I just love to see true musicians with great heart and loving spirit get the biggest venue with the largest audience ~~~We recorded it and watched it over and over after the game, so we really did feel like we'd had a full concert's worth~~~It's fun to get to wacth one, dance to one, sing with one, analyze one, focus on different musicians and aspects of the performance~~~Their music has such a universally good vibe, I think we should beam it out into space~~~Who knows, maybe that could be an even bigger audience!!!

[RateIt]

Put simply Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers rocked Super Bowl 42! A solid no-gimmick perfect performance, both vocally & musically. Tom Petty is an enormous talent in and of himself. Singer, songwriter...guitar, vocals, harmonica, bass guitar and drums the man can virtually do it all. Add in the mix of his core band, that has been with him since the beginning, lead guitarist Mike Cambell and bass guitarist & backing vocals Ron Blair, it's no wonder it still all clicks. And at 57 Petty vocals are as still as strong as ever as evidenced in this Super Bowl performance.

[Joe Z]

Tom Petty was amazing. Considering the time limits and awkwardness of the Super Bowl setting. I saw him in 1980 on his "Damn The Torpedoes" Tour. And again in '05 and '06. Why again after all those years? My teenage kids. He blew all of us away with his performances. Aside from the age jokes... kids know truly great rock & roll. They don't need adults to tell them what they like. It's about the music. The fans in Philly blew through 20,000 tix in less than an hour this morning. He's adding another show. We hope to see him numerous times this summer. Some things do get better with age. Like rocking out with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers with your kids!

[FrankieR.]

It was a fab performance for just 12 minutes and the stage settings were brilliant..TP & the HBs really rocked...So for next year maybe we can have a reunion of the Who or Led Zep?....because these old guys still got what it takes to put on a show...Justin Timberlake or any awful boy band can never measure up...

[Mister Big]

I've always liked Tom Petty, but have never been passionate about his music. I thought the show was great and the reviewer is off base for criticizing Tom for not being more of a showman. I hate football. So it was a treat to see a band sound so tight, so unforced, so professional, so deserving of a big audience. Notice that Petty doesn't shout when he sings. Doesn't have to. Good songs, good lyrics. Petty is a dignified national treasure. Best superbowl show in years.

[SteveKaus]

I enjoyed it. They were having fun and playing rock.

The "dream package" pricing you mention is sadly contradictory to "The Last DJ," where Petty is a fan in "the nosebleeds" and bemoans the swells in the "Golden Circle" and the loss of true rock and roll spirit.

[Jon S]

We were fortunate to be part of the Half-time cast with Mr. Petty and the Heart Breakers. It was an amazing show and one we keep in our memories forever!

[WowFan]

What show were you watching? I LOVED TPHB! What a refreshing performance - a real ROCK band, playing real music and singing into a LIVE mic! So it was only 12 mins - big deal - it was a HALF TIME SHOW! What did you expect?

[sean k]

hahah... It pretty much looks unanimous. Everyone loved the performance but this guy... Obviously the rest of the world must be totally off base... lol. It almost sounded like this guy WANTED to hear a justin timberlake soda commercial. ugh. Tom petty rocks.

[mike]

I have to totally disagree with you. I had over 30 people at my house yesterday, with half of them being kids 9-18, and everyone of them said that it was the best half time show we've seen in the last 5-10 years. You made the comment that they didn't connect, but once again I respectfully disagree. It was a great halftime show........and I would now like to see them in concert the next time they are in the Bay area. I have to confess that I wasn't really looking forward to seeing them, but I was wrong, and I am glad I didn't change the channel at half time like I had wanted to. Great job Tom......my kids hope you have your music on "I" tunes.

[Craig S]

Your conclusion that Tom Petty did not connect at Superbowl 42 was obviously a peronal and not a professional opionion.

Tom Petty put on the best half-time show since Paul McCartney in Florida. He deserves a lot of credit for brining some sensibility to the half-time festivities.

[kent]

What's amazing is that some of the songs were over 30 years old and still sounded exactly like the record, but live. It was a remarkable performance, although the writer is right, Petty has the dynamism of a xanax. But that singing was phenomenal.

[KTswami]

If you missed or want to see TP jammin' during halftime again...here it is.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=295836104265913721

[Oaktown357]

I love Tom Petty. Big fan. The reviewer was spot on. He wasn't critizing Petty. But pointing out trends at halftime shows, what fit, and what doesn't. I wasn't blown away by Petty's performance, though I did enjoy it. Some folks commenting sound a little too thin skinned, like fans of one of those boy bands. Relax. P.S. The Prince show was the best Super Bowl show ever.

[LindaMO]

Thought the show was great. Purely a great band, playing great music from their repertoire, and no BS. I could understand the lyrics, watch them perform, and just enjoy.

What's not to love?

[Feline]

People, Petty played to a backing track. Pretty obvious -
drum fills not matching what Frone was playing, during TPs vocal interaction with the crowd/adlib his mic was off for the first few words, totally different vocal tones, from the same mic when he was singing versus when he was speaking and lip sync issues with ends of phrases. Wake up people!

[Rev. Smoke]

Are you kidding? Every person at my Super Bowl party and I agreed that this was one of the best half-time performances we have ever seen. Not only was Tom Petty superb but being on stage with *all* the Heart Breakers (sans Stan Lynch) really showed how far they have all come as a band. The sound mix was much better than normal, and it was a great show given the context. Sorry to disagree with you. Well, not really.

[Matthew]

Did Todd Martens actually witness the same halftime show? Sure, the might have been "composed" to say the least, but the evidence is in the fans all singing and jumping energetically to the music. Anyone can see, the music flowed beautifully and was the best half-time show since U2.

[Troy Stewart Portland, Oregon]

To the critic...obviously when you go to a music concert, you go in hopes that there will be fireworks and dancers clad in bikini's and hoola-hoops. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are fine examples of American originals, proper musicians and human beings. Maybe you should start writing about something you know, like liposuction and eye lash extentions.

[different drummer]

Tom Petty is one of America's greatest artists?

I know that overrating people is commonplace in the mainstream media, but that sort of hyperbole is downright embarrassing. If Petty himself agrees with that, I'm shocked.

[Neil Matkin]

Disagree that Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers did not connect. Thought it was best in a decade and actually cannot think of another half time show I liked better. Tom Petty was downright entertaining in the middle of a great superbowl that I will long remember.

[Crissy]

Are you an idiot? Tom Petty rocked and it was an awesome show!