The Nicks Fix - Stevie Nicks Fan Reviews

Tom Petty with Stevie Nicks 2006 - FAN REVIEWS

9/21/06 O'Connell Center Gainesville, FL

Suzi Mancil
Since I moved to Gainesville two years ago, rumors went around about Tom Petty coming to perform a "homecoming" concert. When I found out when, I couldn't wait to get tickets -and then- I found out that yes, my favorite singer was going to be there too. Someone pinch me I must be dreaming! No I wasn't. Last night, I was very happy to find out that the seating chart provided by the university for the concert was innaccurate and guess what-I was a whole lot closer to the stage than I anticipated. I mean really close. (Its a small venue, so if you went, you had good tickets.) I was able to see Stevie come off and on the stage. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were absolutely amazing. The crowd just went crazy when Stevie Nicks came out. She looks great. Stevie was full of energy and her voice was beautiful. It was powerful during "Stop Draggin My Heart Around" and sweet high notes sung during a beautiful performance of "Insider" that brought out so much emotion I started to cry. Her and Tom's voices are so beautiful together. She's in great shape and looks happy. She did her kicks, shawl swaying, and tambourine playing reminiscent of the WWD tour(what I have been able to see on video-I never saw her live until 1997 with FM The Dance). When she danced with the tambourine under the strobe light during "Don't Come Around Here No More", the audience was in awe at the site. It was pure magic. I am purposely trying to be vague as to leave all of you who are going to see this concert in anticipation. Those of you who have seen the show know what I'm talking about. Stevie was part of the band. It was wonderful. It was the best performance of hers that I have ever personally experienced. I will never forget it.

Tawnie
What can I say...I am still reeling in disbelief that I actually got to see my two favorite performers together last night at a sold out show!!! I had been watching for months to see if Tom was coming to Gainesville, as it had not been listed in the first 2 legs of the tour. Then, of course, it was added to the third leg and tickets went on sale... the very day I was on a flight accross the country! I had heard tickets sold out within 30 minutes (some say 10 minutes) of going on sale. Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers were finally coming home to perform after 13 years....so it's no wonder! I was bummed and had pretty much given up hope, though still occasionally looking on ebay for tickets. Well, the week of the show, I miraculously scored 3 tickets on ebay...and practically at cost, believe it or not! I figured it was too good to be true and just waited for it to fall apart, but Wednesday I met the seller and had tickets in hand for Thursday's show!!! I had high expectations that Stevie would be there, since I'd read it on The Nicksfix, but again....afraid of disappointment, I tried not to bank on that. Then I read on Tom Petty's website that they were broadcasting the live performance on over 100 FM radio stations all over the country and filming the concert for an upcoming television special. Then I KNEW Stevie would be there!! So my daughters and I got to the show early to be sure we could park, not an easy task at the O'Connell Center. We sat through The Strokes, who were pretty good to my surprise, though not really a good match for fans of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers...I'm sure they were there for the college crowd. So almost an hour after they had performed..the hometown boys took the stage! The crowd went absolutely crazy..clapping, screaming, stomping..it was electrifying! They opened with "Listen To Her Heart", then played "Mary Janes Last Dance" with the crowd singing along. Then after the song Tom graciously said "What can I say, it's so nice to be here...I really feel like I've come home". Over 10,00 fans cheered and reciprocated the feeling. As the set went on they played "I Won't Back Down", "Free Fallin'"(both great sing-a-longs with the crowd),"I'm a Man"(a Bo Diddley song),"Oh Well"(by Fleetwood Mac), and "Handle With Care" (from the Traveling Wilbury days). Then Tom went about introducing the band...and at the end when it seemed the crowd couldn't get any louder he said "and an honorary Heartbreaker, our little sister Miss Stevie Nicks!" I screamed my head off...it had caught me totally off guard with the way he introduced her! She whisked onto the stage and everyone went nuts. She greeted the crowd and went over to a ribbon bedecked microphone stand they had quickly brought out for her. She looked absolutely gorgeous, in her trademark black layered dress and beautiful waistlong blonde hair. Oh....and THE BOOTS!!! No platform Reeboks! And let me tell you, she was getting around in those boots like she did 20 years ago! Stevie and Tom got right into "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" and KICKED IT!! Then Tom let her have the spotlight for her version of his song "I Need To Know" which she ROCKED with her tamborine, ribbons just a flyin'! After that song, she left the stage and Tom consoled the crowd saying "Stevie will be back in just a little bit". He and The Heartbreakers then went on to slow things down a bit and mellow us out with "It's Good To Be King" , a song I was not really familiar with but now LOVE after that. Then as an ode to their roots, they performed "Down South" and "Southern Accents". While we were still in a mellow mood, he brought back Stevie (who now wore her infamous Gold Dust Woman shawl) to sing "Insider" which gave me chills, it was so beautiful. At this point I had to call my friend Nancy and let her listen via cellphone, my moonsister in NY who I wished could be there to hear it with me...it wasn't the same without you Moonsister! Stevie stayed to sing back up on "Learning to Fly" and "Don't Come Around Here No More". She did this awesome crazy woman strobe light dance for the middle jamming part of that song! I think it took alot out of her because she left the stage for a song after that, but was it ever cool!! The next song was "Refugee", then "Running Down a Dream". The band left the stage and, after a very rowdy and lengthy plea, came back for an encore with "You Wreck Me" (my favorite!) and then "Mystic Eyes" and "American Girl". Stevie came back on stage to sing back up in cute black bootleg pants with rhinestones and her famous black top hat with feathers.....LOVED IT!!! She looked so good! They all looked really great. The thing I appreciated about her was that she respected and appreciated the fact that this was a Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers show and she was the guest, she never tried to put herself in the limelight unless Tom placed her there. There is such a wonderful chemistry between them, you can tell they have tremendous affection and respect for one another. I have to really say that about the whole band...can you belive those guys have been together 30 years?? It was such a treat to see it in person. This was truly one of the best shows I've been to, and I've seen Stevie and Fleetwood Mac many times over the years. I felt I saw a different side of her this time. The whole night was memorable and actually, something historical, since it was recorded for the whole country to experience. I think being in Gainesville, this show was unique from the others on the tour. The band spent a couple days here before the show, visiting friends and places and reminiscing. The day of the show was officially called "Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Day" by the city of Gainesville and they were presented with the Key to the City and a Distinguished Achievement Award from The University of Florida. They were very humble and gracious throughout thier trip, and especially during the concert, constantly thanking the fans and bowing their heads. True Southern Gentlemen!!! It was a night I'll never forget and I'm so happy my daughters got to experience seeing these legendary performers with me. I can't wait for the TV special to relive it again!!!!

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