As the world continues to mourn the sudden and unexpected loss of the great Tom Petty, many musicians have come forward with their own tributes to the American singer-songwriter. Last week, Louisville’s Headliners Music Hall hosted their own tribute to Petty with a night dubbed “Into The Great Wide Open: A Celebration Of Tom Petty”. The lineup included My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, Patrick Hallahan, and Tom Blankenship, along with Tony Esposito, Nick Wilkerson, Dante Schwebel, Adam Turla, Kate Toupin, Dawn Landers, Johnny Berry, Joe Manning, Cheyenne Mize, David Bird, and more. Attendees were asked to bring a jar of peanut butter for Dare To Care Food Bank, and the concert was in benefit of Strive.
Jim James Announces New Tribute Album, Shares Beach Boys Cover
The group played through Tom Petty favorites, like “Here Comes My Girl”, “Refugee”, “Breakdown”, “Mary Jane’s Last Dance”, “American Girl”, “Free Fallin'”, and so many more. Thanks to YouTube user Darkstarflashes, you can watch select videos from the “Into The Great Wide Open: A Celebration Of Tom Petty” below.
Following his 2009 Tribute To George Harrison EP, Jim James recently announced a special reissue of the album as well as an exciting follow up Tribute To 2 that will cover a vast array of musicians–both due out on December 8th via ATO Records. The new album, recorded over a number of years using all different equipment, features the My Morning Jacket frontman’s solo renditions of “Baby Don’t Go” by Sonny & Cher , “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight” by Bob Dylan, “Wild Honey” by Diane Izzo, “Funny How Time Slips Away” by Willie Nelson, and “Lucky Man” by Emerson, Lake & Palmer, among others.
“It gave me the idea to unite the music of these two different worlds,” James explained in a statement about Tribute To 2. “I believe that if people really listened, they would love so much music outside of the genre they normally listen to – and that alone could start to unite people.” As he continues to tribute artists on his own solo tours and with My Morning Jacket, Jim James also opens the minds of those who will listen. Thanks JJ!
[H/T JamBase]