TomFest

I already have most of Neil's material, but not everything. I hope there are some new things in there. I keep waiting for the "Time Fades Away" stuff to be re-released. I have a needle-drop recording from vinyl, but I'd love a pristine new copy. Neil Young is absolutely one of the greatest artists of our lifetime. Period.

It's real purty. But I'd have to feel the neck, and see how it plays and how it sounds. The guitar I'm currently lusting after is a fireglo Rickenbacker model 1993 Plus. A 12 string with the wide neck like the 660.

A Wilbury tune seems certain. I'm bummed he's not coming to Seattle.

That download doesn't work for me. I've downloaded it a few times and when I try to unzip, it says the file is invalid.

I haven't seen a setlist but there was a pretty solid review over on the TPATH site.

This is very cool, thanks. I don't think this is the same recording that has been available for years on Mudcrutch outtake bootlegs. This one is in a different key (G -vs- F#) although that could be because the tape speed was messed with on one or both of them. But I think I just hear other differences in the performance. I really like this song. Regarding the photo - who is the guy above Tom, and who is on the far left. I assume one is Danny Roberts.

I was never quite sure about the band's first trip into Seattle. There's never been a Seattle stop shown on these Tom Petty lists of gigs for 1977. It has Yakima by itself, but there's no way the band comes up here and only plays Yakima. Since the one gig in Washington State for 1977 shown on the list is opening for J Geils Band, I looked for their tour stops in 1977 and found some! I'm still not sure that was the first time in town. I'm thinking they were here in the spring of 1977 playing a smaller venue than the Paramount. But I have no evidence. The Paramount did have this series of "Rising Stars" concerts for $1. I went to several of them, but not Tom Petty. If they had one, I missed it. ============================================================== 10/27/77 – Paramount Northwest Theatre, Seattle, WA – w/ Tom Petty (*) 10/28/77 – Paramount Theatre, Portland, OR – w/ Tom Petty (*) 10/29/77 – Yakima Valley Community College, Yakima, WA – w/ Tom Petty (*) 10/30/77 – Eastern Washington St. College, Cheney, WA – w/ Tom Petty 11/23/77 – Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – w/ Tom Petty Source: http://thejgeilsband.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_2.html ===============================================================

I love that first song. Too bad the recording is so poor. Or maybe they just didn't have time to get the soundboard mix right.

Yeah, all of that. It's about a feeling when you're at the show. The band is in a zone. It's the mojo....

Thanks for the tip on the Gram Parsons book. I just ordered it.

I'm really sorry, Szafira. This band in their prime on stage was exhilirating to experience. Really something amazing. I'm sorry you didn't get to experience that in person.

I've been looping Echo in my car, to and from work. I've always loved this record.

^ There you go - The Black Crowes might be my all-time favorite opener for Tom Petty. Back to back shows and they didn't repeat a song. Another great one was Joe Cocker. Tremendous performance by Joe Cocker.

I don't know the number, but it's gotta be at least 20.

So the tennis shoes with no laces were a thing with Tom. This is a different pair than he wore to the Oval Office, but no laces again. What's that about? Too lazy to be bothered tying them? Or is it just a style thing? How do you keep them on your feet? I guess move slowly and shuffle your feet? But........ nice guitar. And cool song.

I was at this one!

I have a TC Electronics "Polytune" on my board. I had a Korg on my board for years until it quit on me, and I researched it a little before grabbing the Polytune. I guess it's OK, but I sometimes scratch my head. If I was buying now, I'd give serious consideration to.... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Peterson-VSS-C-StroboStomp-Classic-Pedal-Strobe-Tu-/401416309416?epid=889802067&hash=item5d7646caa8:g:pMcAAOSwqF9Z082d Here's an excellent stompbox tuner that lets you take the precision and flexibility of strobe-style tuning onstage in a way that's comfortable and familiar. Based on the look and basic operation of the famous ST-11 tuner, the Peterson Stomp Classic is more than just an ordinary stompbox tuner. The Stomp Classic gives you absolute control over your tuning, offering 0.1-cent accuracy, and including support for 7-string guitars, electric violin and mandolin-family instruments, and more. Select, organize, and store your tuning presets on your Mac or PC for instant recall when you prefer. Select from even-tempered scales or "Sweetened" Tunings for a variety of instruments. True-bypass ensures that your Stomp Classic won't affect your tone when not engaged. A mutable active DI output makes the Stomp Classic perfect for recording, but its rugged design, pedalboard mounting lugs, and ultra-bright display also make it invaluable onstage.

Don't know the story, but I'm going to venture a guess that Tom is the only person that ever wore his Converse all-star Chuck Taylor tennis shoes with no laces to a meeting with the President in the Oval Office. LOL

That is something you would hang on the wall just to look at. So in that sense, it's a piece of expensive art, if you have that kind of money laying around. You certainly wouldn't play it.

Hey gang, I thought I should follow this up and not leave you hanging. In the midst of a horrible day on Monday with the news of Tom's death, my little grandson made his way into the world. A new life. He's 2 months early and quite small at 2 pounds, 10 ounces - but healthy in every way and doing fantastic. Fully breathing on his own and eyes open at times. I won't get to see him for a couple more days -they're extremely cautious with preemies, but we are over the moon. Talk about an emotional roller coaster the last few days. I still can't put my feelings about Tom's death into words, but we have this amazing little miracle that we can focus on now. Thanks for the good wishes and prayers. I'm certain they helped. And my condolences to all who loved Tom Petty. May he rest in peace.

Benny: Could you adopt me? Please? Dad?

I have a Custom Shop Historic R8 Les Paul, and the recently acquired ES-335 - both Gibsons with humbuckers, so I probably wouldn't be interested in another one. But I do sense a Les Paul junior with a P90 in my future. I've never bonded well with the Bigsby, but I could try again I suppose. :-)

I have purchased Epiphone instruments in the past and I have a couple now - a Casino Coupe, and an electric ukulele that looks like a mini Les Paul. The uke doesn't get much time, but the Casino Coupe is a cool guitar - small, lightweight, and it can scream. Think opening riff of "Revolution".

Seems likely, but so far away that it would be unreachable. At least by any laws of physics that we know about.

Nurk - that would be awesome. You build that, and I will drive across the country to come see it. Go for it!