SHARING THE SHOWS
Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free - Landmark E Street Cinema - Washington, DC - October 21, 202110/22/2021 My weeknight routine usually consists of me eating dinner, watching TV, and reading, so I like the occasional break in it. I was stoked to see Somewhere You Feel Free. I always liked and respected Tom Petty, but was never a diehard. My first exposure to him was when he released his hit, “You Don’t Know How It Feels,” back in 1994. I was a sixteen-year-old metalhead; my gods were Megadeth, Iron Maiden, and White Zombie, and judging from that song, Tom Petty fell into the “wuss rock” category for me. Of course, I gained a little respect when I heard the rocking “You Wreck Me.” Over the years, as I became exposed, I started to like him, and I witnessed Widespread Panic perform some kickass covers of “You Wreck Me” and “Honey Bee.” I got off at the Metro Center stop to try a pizza place called &pizza. As a New Yorker, I wasn’t expecting tip-top pizza, but I was disappointed. All crust, very little cheese and sauce, and what kind of pizzeria doesn’t sell diet soda? And why wouldn’t they have plasticware? Surely, when one orders a grilled chicken pizza, those chunks of chicken will fall, right? And the patron will want to scoop them up with a fork, or barring that, a spoon? Anyway, I’m glad I tried it, but not my cup of tea. I walked into the theater, and even though I’m a teetotaler, I was pretty impressed by the bottles of wine and champagne they had displayed at the concession stand. The showings were of independent films and sported titles by quirky filmmakers like Wes Anderson and Paul Thomas Anderson (who, as far as I know, aren’t related by blood).
I found a spot in the back of the empty theater, and I was elated to see mostly solo theatergoers. A few couples, one pair of apparently platonic friends, but mostly solo flyers, many of whom were reading something other than a phone screen. During that waiting period, I broke out Robert Boice’s Advice for New Faculty Members, a how-to guide for new professors trying to manage the trifecta of teaching, research, and service. Even though I’m relatively seasoned, I can still benefit from the advice. When the lights went down, we were met by a birthday tribute to Tom Petty from his fans, as well as Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, set to a tear-inducing “Wildflowers.” I had heard that song many times before, but this was the first time my eyes ever got misty from it. The film is a documentary that revolved around the conception and production of his 1994 Wildflowers album, which spawned “You Don’t Know How It Feels.” It was compiled of found footage, which was edited in black-and-white (most films that go with B/W go up on the “hip” scale from me). I learned that it was symbolic of a transitional period Petty was going through. He wanted to break off from his Heartbreakers, at least for that album, so he could stretch himself artistically. He was also going through a divorce; his daughter Adria cited “Time to Move On” and “To Find a Friend” as having been inspired by his disenchantment in his marriage. Rick Rubin, his producer (as well as cofounder of Def Jam Recordings), showed up frequently to talk about the album and his friendship with Petty. The artist described Rubin as “not having a musical bone” in his body, but he loved music anyway, which has spurred a great career for him. A very interesting dude. We also got to see footage of Petty’s concert performances, which included “You Don’t Know How It Feels,” “Refugee,” and the little-known “Girl on LSD,” a cautionary tale that plays like an upbeat ditty. Speaking of which, we also saw part of an alternate version of “I Won’t Back Down” that sounded like a nursery rhyme. I love movies, especially movies about rock music. I viewed a Petty performance in preparation for the film, and I do regret never having seen Petty live. But…I’ve seen all these other groups, so I suppose that cancels it out. But I’m glad to have gotten a deeper look into an album I had only listened to while driving in rural areas. It’s complex and appears to have left behind a legacy that is still appreciated and loved. All in all, a great cinematic experience. Next time I go to that theater, though, I think I’ll try Harry’s for the preshow eats.
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