641 Miles to Tom Petty

This August, my wife and I are going to drive 641 miles and across three states to see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers live in concert. Well, I’m going to the concert. She’s not a fan of Tom Petty, so she’ll probably be reading by the pool or treasure hunting at old book stores.

Does such a journey sound strange to you? Does it sound obsessive or pathetic? I’m not sure what people will make of such an action. All I know is—and I say this to Lindsay all the time—when you’re me, and you like something, you’ve got to embrace it. And embrace it I will, at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington on August 15^th.

I enjoy Tom Petty’s music more than any other group or artist. The effortless melodies, exceptional musicianship, and reflective lyrics have created the perfect soundtrack to my life. I even named my comic strip, Learning to Fly, after one of his songs.

With all the mindless, corrosive, and rotten drivel that is churned out under the label of entertainment these days, you’ve got to hold fast to an artist like Tom Petty. For over 30 years he has paid no mind to the greed and fads of the music industry and contributed priceless material to the art form. And I’ve got to experience at least a taste of it in person during my—and his—lifetime.