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

[j. smith]

It's sad that we've become so used to spectacle as opposed to performance (spectacle: syrup-sweet boy bands, manufactured pop acts, and get-rich-quick American Idles) that a solid and authentically talented performer like Petty is supposed to do more on stage than play music and have a good time doing it. What else was he supposed to do? Shoot rockets from his beard? The guy connects and holds the audience's attention without being ridiculous (or manufacturing scandal) and that's admirable in an age of music where most acts can't hold the stage without the added spectacle of nearly-naked dancers.

[Lisa]

Tom Petty (and band) was incredible. He has always been classy and he showed his true colors at the halftime show. Congrats to a wonderful performance of pure music with no fuss.

[Tom A]

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were fantastic. Commenting on some previous postings: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are a performing band who would never use prerecorded music or lipsync. What you hear is real and great musicianship. You may not like the music but to deny that Tom Petty is one of the greatest American artists is to show a distinct ignorance of American Rock and Roll.

[Katiep]

I'll admit that I'm not a huge fan of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. I only knew of Free Fallin' so I wasn't THAT excited for the Halftime show. Boy, was I wrong. They were awesome and really clean, without all the ridiculous extra crap. Just plain Rock n Roll. I disagree with the critic that their performance didn't connect. I enjoyed it a lot and I find myself searching for more music by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

[Frankie R.]

For future Super Bowl Half-time shows, aside from hoping to see Rod Stewart, the Police, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Parliament, Stevie Wonder, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Led Zep, The Who ever perform...it's time the Super Bowl allow the ladies to perform (sans wardrobe malfunctions and bubblegum, no talent Pop tarts like Justin Timberlake)...bring on Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Bonnie Raitt, Chaka Khan, Madonna, Patti LaBelle, Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Annie Lennox, Bjork, Chrissie Hynde, Fleetwood Mac or Stevie Nicks, Heart, Garbage, Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crow, Joan Jett, Sleater Kinney, the Dixie Chicks, Cyndi Lauper, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Cher, Beyounce, Whitney Houston (post crack), Gretchen Wilson...
Or have some country rock of Lynard Skynard, Dwight Yokum, Clint Black, k.d. lang, Vince Gill, Steve Earle, Garth Brooks
Or some Latin flavor sounds of Shakira, Ricky Martin, Mana, Santana, Gloria Estefan, Los Lobos, Ozomatli, Lupillo Rivera, Marc Anthony, Los Tucanes de Tijuana (a Banda band who rock out with their song "Aqua de la Vida") and the urban reggaton sounds of Calle 13 and Daddy Yankee ...let's showcase some great talent out there...or else the Super Bowl can retreat to its beginnings of Up with People cheesey half-time shows...

[Amanda Kennedy]

I have to say, I'm only 16 years old and I was wondering, who in the world is TPBH? Well, my Dad always played the radio when I was younger and I sang along with this Classic Rock band's music. I am GLAD that the Superbowl had Tom and the hearts play. Most people don't see what a good band is, and how they move with the audience. I appreciate their connection. I was standing in the front row in PHX and I loved it. I was connected. =]