It is this sort of misleading that has inspired Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on their current venture, which was a test for touring without corporate sponsorship.

In an age where bands are taking off on tours sponsored by beer companies, fitness clubs and god knows what else, Petty and the Heartbreakers decided they would bring their show on the road on their own terms. As Petty stated during the set, “We think of our rock band as a small business that we own and operate.”

Rebellion does have its price. After shunning music promotion super-giant Clear Channel Entertainment, a few seats were left unfilled as Petty and the Heartbreakers took the stage. However, these seats were those located as far from the stage as you could get. All the seats near the stage were filled with people who remembered when rock meant something beyond self-hyping and selling products.

Opening with the title track from his latest release, The Last DJ, Petty began his lyrical assault on the music industry. With a tale of a hero who would not compromise his values and beliefs to please greedy radio station owners, Petty shined like a man with hope.

Clean-shaven and dressed like a statesman, Petty delivered his message with the feeling of sincerity and class. The message of The Last DJ was the heavy theme of the night as Petty performed the majority of the tracks, omitting some old favorites.

However, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are one of those bands that has more memorable, meaningful songs than can be fit into one set, especially in the tightly controlled concert environment of the current age.

Delivering gems like Free Fallin’, Won’t Back Down and Refugee, Petty kept the audience’s attention between the newer corporate America assaults.

The standout track of the night was Joe. On album the song has a strong bite, but with the raw, overdriven sound it contains live, Petty seemed to spit venom as he told the story of a CEO, who’s goal was to find agreeable “artists” to make into stars while lining his pockets. As Petty sang, “You get to be famous, I get to be rich.”

Visions of new-age pop rocker Avril Lavigne came to mind during the line “Some angel whore could learn a guitar lick.” Especially since the new trend of pop singers with instruments has come into play as “creditable” artists, by industry standards.

As the night was coming to a close, Petty took the role of an evangelist as he “answered the phone” to a distressed young woman who was worried about the way money has began to control the world. As he called out to her, trying to save the woman’s belief in humanity, Petty beckoned on the audience to scream their delight and belief in rock n’ roll.

As Petty ended his “conversation,” he began Last Dance With Mary Jane, which seemed to take on a new meaning on this night. One could envision the images from the video of Petty dancing one last time with the corpse of Kim Bassinger, only this time, it was creditable rock music Petty was holding on to.

Don’t feel alone in this Tom, we are all trying to keep the memory alive.