"What song would you perform on stage with the Heartbreakers"? Katie told me she's sing The Waiting and went on to deliver this incredible, succinct reason why. "It's so good. It's got this aphoristic chorus that is towing that wonderful Petty line; not joyful, not sorrowful, but that sort of tense, bright line that is the rest and most of our human experience." This is the second in my "10 Questions with" series as I've started breaking those out from the main episode (mainly to keep the episod...
Jan 06, 2023•32 min•Season 6Ep. 9
In this episode, I share the fantastic conversation that I had with writer, editor, music critic, and Tom Petty fan, Katie Moulton. In June of 2022, Katie released her memoir "Dead Dad Club: On Grief and Tom Petty" on Audible and forever changed the way most of us (or me at the very least) are going to want to listen to this type of story. Katie was incredibly easy to talk to and we quickly dropped into a very natural conversation about her book, how she came to write and how it came to take on ...
Jan 04, 2023•59 min•Season 6Ep. 8
Welcome to the first "Non Petty" bonus episode folks. I think these episodes might focus on slightly-less or smaller artists who either I listen to and other people may not or are close to me in one way or another. The timing of Jake's first full studio-released single was perfect as I was thinking about doing this for the past few weeks. With Tom’s music, I have an invaluable resource in Paul Zollo’s superb book Conversations With Tom Petty, in which we hear Tom discuss his songs in his own wor...
Jan 01, 2023•18 min•Season 6Ep. 7
"It has lots of elements that I like but it definitely does feel a little cobbled together at times. The minor key changes and the sometimes awkward chord progression just feels very slightly off. And where Don’t Come Around Here No More and You’re Gonna Get It took the Heartbreakers into new territory in which they planted their flagged and owned the space, I just never feel like their living in the bones of this song, more wearing it like a light fall coat." Check out the song here: https://yo...
Dec 28, 2022•18 min•Season 6Ep. 6
This episode is dedicated to Gwen and to her family, especially her daughter Patricia and her Granddaughter Leila, who she spoke of so fondly and with so much love and pride. It’s also dedicated to the community of decency and love that she built and that will go on in her memory as long as we stand by Gwen’s principles. My favourite author, Sir Terry Pratchett once wrote the following lines: “No one is dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away, until the clock wound up winds down,...
Dec 25, 2022•25 min•Season 6Ep. 5
"There’s so little instrumentation to dig into that I was initially thinking that it would be a fairly short episode. But I’ve ended up realizing that the power of this song is in how you connect with it. Yes it’s brilliant in its arrangement and beautifully played, but the emotion of the song is what carries it, along with one of the most perfect vocal performances Tom ever put onto vinyl." Check out the song here: https://youtu.be/po8RCVlQZGc Here's the live version from the Gainesville concer...
Dec 21, 2022•19 min•Season 6Ep. 4
"Who would ever have thought that Dave Stewart’s underwear would be responsible for one of the highlights of one of the most iconic songs of the 80s? ... Yes it doesn’t really “fit” Southern Accents in the original concept that Tom had, but it soars as a piece of music, is elevated in video form, and perfected in one of the most brilliant live arrangements of all time." Check out the song here: https://youtu.be/WldDwR1UTYM Here's the music video, just in case you've been living under a rock for ...
Dec 14, 2022•29 min•Season 6Ep. 3
"It’s another radical left turn for the band sonically and obviously is the first Heartbreakers song to be co-written with someone other than Mike Campbell. The introduction of Dave Stewart into the Heartbreakers tight little circle definitely rocked the boat and was a precursor to the restlessness that culminated in Tom working with Jeff Lynne, thereby capping the first phase of the Tom’s career" Check out the song here: https://youtu.be/MKiaaPd5RLY And if you want to listen to the live version...
Dec 07, 2022•18 min•Season 6Ep. 2
"I suspect that it’s the last verse that is appropriated by Confederate sympathizers and used out of context of the rest of the song. The last three lines of this verse though are sheer poetry of the very highest calibre. “I can still feel the eyes of those blue-bellied devil. Yeah when I’m walking ‘round at night through the concrete and metal” And all over the world, there are parochial attitudes like this that like to churn up simmering resentment and use it justify all manner of behaviours."...
Nov 30, 2022•25 min•Season 6Ep. 1
In this special episode, Kevin is joined, once again, by co-host John Paulsen. Today's album wrap up episode covers the fifth studio album, Long After Dark. Lots to talk about on this album and a song that both guys picked out as a favourite, with some interesting differences in their alternate track listings. The EPs will be posted this week (Kev is sick and hasn't had a chance to finish all the admin for this ep!) but you can check out John's alternate take here: https://spoti.fi/3XrZIUI Kev's...
Nov 23, 2022•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 15
This bonus episode is my first "Ten Questions With" feature. I ask my guests ten questions ranging from who their favourite Heartbreaker is other than Tom, to which song would they love to perform onstage with the band. It's always surprising and Corey was fantastic with his answers! Look out for more bonus episodes featuring past guests trickling out over the next few weeks. Go find Corey on Twitter at @cdmorrissette and check out his shows here: And The Podcast Will Rock: https://podcastwillro...
Nov 19, 2022•23 min•Season 5Ep. 14
Today's episode is a fan chat I had with one of the best indie podcasters, and all round genuinely nice fella, Corey Morrissette. Yes, that's spelled correctly, Alanis doesn't spell her name properly! Corey is the host of the superb podcasts And The Podcast Will Rock (dedicated to breaking down the catalogue of Van Halen with his brilliant co-host Mark Camire), Back Tracks: Aerosmith Revisited (with the ever-sardonic John Mariano) and Back Tracks: Theme Music (again with JM). I'm a huge fan (and...
Nov 16, 2022•53 min•Season 5Ep. 13
"Completing the -Iovine Trilogy-, Long After Dark closes in a similar way to Hard Promises before it and Damn The Torpedoes before that. All three songs drop the tempo on each successive album but all three are more “mood”-oriented rather than really hanging on any of the band member’s virtuosity. I actually think this one might be the pick of the three closers. I would say that Louisiana Rain is probably a quote unquote better song, but this one feels just absolutely right closing out this at t...
Nov 09, 2022•15 min•Season 5Ep. 12
"I’ve made no bones about the fact that I think Long After Dark is a better album than it often gets credit for and I think this is a deep cut that can have a tendency to be overlooked. Just a good groove, a great riff and given it was basically recorded live, a shining example of why this group of musicians formed such a brilliant band that was so much more than the sum of its already impressive parts." Check out the song here: https://youtu.be/4y3YGUy_KFQ If you are able to donate financially ...
Nov 02, 2022•17 min•Season 5Ep. 11
"The song opens with Mike’s crunchy blues riff and some percussion in the background, most likely a woodblock. One thing that’s slightly surprising is that it’s in C. Most blues riffs are in G or E as they’re way easier to play on guitar, but hey, this is Mike Campbell!" Today's episode is dedicated to the greasy, the sleazy, the Stonesy track from side two of Long After Dark; The Same Old You. You can listen to the song here: https://youtu.be/lGPxPxO111c Check out the live bootleg version here:...
Oct 26, 2022•16 min•Season 5Ep. 10
"Tom tells Paul Zollo that “Sometimes it takes a lot of work. Sometimes the songs won’t reveal themselves to you until you find the right sound and the right recording of it. And this one was like that. You couldn’t really get everybody grooving the same way until we went over to the piano, and then everybody instinctually found what to play. But that’s part of working with a group.” Today's episode is dedicated to the sublimely brilliant Straight Into Darkness; track two from side two of Long A...
Oct 19, 2022•19 min•Season 5Ep. 9
"We Stand a Chance is a fantastic way to open the second side of an album. Tom and the boys had a knack for starting side two strong. I Need to Know, Don’t Do Me Like That were side two openers and hey, those are pretty great songs! There’s more than enough going on here to make me really curious why this was never dusted off for a few outings on tour". Today, we’re talking about the first track on side two of the Heartbreakers fifth studio release; We Stand a Chance You can listen to the song h...
Oct 12, 2022•16 min•Season 5Ep. 8
This week's episode is my wonderful conversation with Dan Spiess. Dan is the Producer the Tom Petty Weekend, which has run in 2018, 2019, and again this year (and has its origins in an impromptue tribute show in 2017). Dan was very kind to spend a couple of hours online with me and share his experience of Gainesville and most importantly, the details of how this year's festival came together and what Tom Petty fans can expect. Dan also gave me an overview of his long term goal of creating a trul...
Oct 05, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 5Ep. 7
There’s also another one of Tom’s clever lyrical twists in this one, in that first verse, when he sings “I must be looking over something” rather than “overlooking something”. A simple little bit of wordplay that subtly changes the impact of the line and changes the cadence of how it bounces along. Overall though, it’s definitely a hopeful, positive song and resolves in the bridge with the line “You have pulled me from this river of loneliness” If you want to listen to the track before we dig in...
Sep 28, 2022•14 min•Season 5Ep. 6
Tom tells Paul Zollo that it’s “Not one of my great songs. But it’s a good rock song.” I think that simple doesn’t necessarily mean "not great". The beauty of this song is at least partially down to the economy of it: Let the riff drive the melody. Let the rhythm section keep the tempo high and danceable, and let the lyrics tell a story of disenfranchisement and loneliness. Today’s episode looks at Change of Heart, which is the fourth track from the album we’re currently listening to; Long After...
Sep 21, 2022•17 min•Season 5Ep. 5
"It’s one of those sneaky Tom Petty tracks that really burrows its way into your brain and sits there playing itself in the back of your mind. It definitely follows a trusted template and because of that I think it might be slightly overlooked in the catalog." Today’s episode looks at the third track from Long After Dark; Deliver Me. If you want to listen to the track before we dig in, check out the official video: https://youtu.be/4sXP17MbvBQ If you want to hear Tom singing on the Joni Mitchell...
Sep 14, 2022•18 min•Season 5Ep. 4
Hello you lot! I mentioned on social media that this episode would be slightly delayed and that turns out to be correct, but thankfully I’m still getting it posted up on a Wednesday for you! I switched gears a little and decided to publish a conversation I had last week with Megan Volpert, whose new book, Straight Into Darkness, Tom Petty as Rock Mystic is available right now at fine retailers everywhere as well as online. You can find her book here (use 08STRAIGHT to receive a 30% discount!): h...
Sep 07, 2022•1 hr 27 min•Season 5Ep. 3
When I think about the arrangement of this song, with the synths leading, Mike filling in those gaps with artfully placed licks, and Tom soulfully ripping his heart out for the audience, I think he’s dead on with that assessment. Today’s episode looks at the second track from Long After Dark, You Got Lucky. If you want to listen to the track before we dig in, check out the official video: https://youtu.be/_QZixvUjNH4 If you haven't seen the fantastic video for this track (living under a rock???)...
Aug 31, 2022•19 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening, my fine friends. Welcome to the first episode of the fifth season of the Tom Petty Project Podcast! I am your host, Kevin Brown. This is the podcast that digs into the entire Tom Petty catalog song by song, album by album and includes conversations with musicians, fans, and people connected with Tom along the way. The first song we’re digging into is the lead track from the album, A One Story Town. If you’re new to the podcast, first of all I’m glad...
Aug 24, 2022•16 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Today’s episode is the incredibly fun and wide-ranging conversation I had with Jeff Slate. Jeff is an ASCAP-award-winning singer songwriter from New York City who has fronted several bands including the 80’s mod punk band the Mindless Thinkers, has worked with musicians such as Earl Slick and Carlos Alomar, has opened for Sheryl Crow, toured Europe and has released numerous albums and singles both as part of different bands and as a solo artist. He’s also a prolific journalist, writing for publi...
Aug 17, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Season 4Ep. 13
In this special episode, Kevin is joined, once again, by co-host John Paulsen. Today's album wrap up episode covers the Heartbreakers' fourth album, Hard Promises. In the episode, the guys both picked their top three songs from the album and both (once again) picked the two heavyweight tracks from the album, but different third tracks. You can find a combined "EP" on Spotify here: https://spoti.fi/3QOgSI3 . As with the other album wrap episodes, the boys chatted about the track listing and agree...
Aug 10, 2022•46 min•Season 4Ep. 12
Today’s episode is a fantastic conversation I had with Janet Lovell back in early July. Janet will be well known to members of the Tom Petty Nation and it was great to spend a couple of hours in her (virtual) company and geek out over Tom and his music. If you are able to donate financially to humanitarian aid relief efforts in Ukraine, the Red Cross is coordinating a large-scale effort which you can contribute to by visiting their website here: https://donate.redcross.ca/page/100227/donate/1 Th...
Aug 03, 2022•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 11
Hello my fine friends! Today we're taking about the final track from 1981's Hard Promises, the beautiful You Can Still Change Your Mind. If you want to listen to the track before we dig in, check out the official video: https://youtu.be/k5XHrJ1A0WI If you want to hear the 2018 remastered version that was included on the An American Treasure compilation, you can find that here: https://youtu.be/HNY2W54_QG8 And if you want to hear Benmont's wonderful stripped back piano version, go check it out he...
Jul 27, 2022•15 min•Season 4Ep. 10
Hello my fine friends! Today we're taking about the penultimate track from Hard Promises, The Criminal Kind. If you want to listen to the track before we dig in, check out the official video: https://youtu.be/qWjN4VVVxx4 If you are able to donate financially to humanitarian aid relief efforts in Ukraine, the Red Cross is coordinating a large-scale effort which you can contribute to by visiting their website here: https://donate.redcross.ca/page/100227/donate/1 The Tom Petty Project is a proud me...
Jul 20, 2022•13 min•Season 4Ep. 9
Hello my fine friends! Today we're taking about the best song any band never released as a single; Insider. If you want to listen to the track before we dig in, check out the official video: https://youtu.be/x7bjXWzms5I If you want to watch Tom play Insider on acoustic for the Heartbreakers, check out this great clip: https://youtu.be/JXaKYn8qHEQ?t=96 If you want to watch Tom and Stevie perform the song live at the 30th anniversary show that was included as part of the Runnin Down a Dream docume...
Jul 13, 2022•19 min•Season 4Ep. 8
