By Tony Wilbert, WNS PR
ATLANTA (Aug. 6, 2010) - Warning: Today's post has only a thin connection to commercial real estate. It's more about rock 'n' roll.
But first, the CRE connection. When Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers play Philips Arena for the first time Wednesday night, you can expect lots of CRE types in the audience, including Avison Young principal Chet Koenig and his wife Debbie, who runs NAIOP Georgia.
Also, Petty has a long history of writing songs with real estate overtures ("One Story Town," "The Apartment Song," "Century City").
To celebrate Petty Week and the Mojo Tour's local stop, I dug up an article I wrote seven years ago for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. At the time, the show at Arena at Gwinnett marked the 35th time I'd seen Petty & Co. live. Next week's concert will be No. 44.
Rock 'n' roll's 'Everyman' appears tonight at Arena
BY TONY WILBERT
13 August 2003
The Atlanta Journal - Constitution
When Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers take to the stage for tonight's concert at the Arena at Gwinnett Center, it will mark the 35th time I've seen the band live.
I've traveled coast to coast to see Petty and the Heartbreakers, rivaled only by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and Aerosmith for longevity among American rock 'n' roll bands.
While Springsteen often is hailed as a working-class hero, Petty appeals to rock's Everyman.
Petty, 52, postures, dances and urges the audience to sing along throughout his concerts. And his backers, the Heartbreakers, are one of the tightest rock groups around.
I first saw Petty in the summer of 1980 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md. I was a 15-year-old high school freshman.
Petty made a lifetime fan out of me that night.
He has put on many memorable shows over the 23 years I've seen him. But the June 2, 2001, show at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas ranks first among the Petty concerts I've seen. Petty played loud and hard that night, and then he got married the next morning.
I've never met my guitar hero, but I've talked with him on the phone.
During summer 1991, I got through to a call-in radio show where Petty was taking calls from fans. When my turn came, I stumbled a little and asked Petty how he would like to be remembered. He was quick with a succinct answer that went something like this: "Like Roy Orbison once said, 'I just hope I'm remembered,' " Petty said.
I taped my one-question interview, and I listen to it every now and then. My wife can't believe I still have the tape around. She'll be with me tonight when Petty plays his first show in Gwinnett County. I'll make a Petty fan out of her yet.
As for the near future, it's off to Nashville for the show Saturday night, No. 36 and counting.
Tony Wilbert is a staff writer for the Business section of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Photo Tom Petty urges the audience to sing along throughout his concerts. / Associated Press
Crosstalk performers try to use funny conversations to make the audience laugh.
Posted by: Jordan Hydro | August 07, 2010 at 02:12 AM