Benmont Tench recently announced a solo show at Largo at the Coronet in Los Angeles, and true to form of the venue’s famously freewheeling, musician’s-club vibe, the show is booked as “Benmont Tench and (hopefully!) Friends.” But when a fan asked on Twitter whether some of those friends may include fellow members of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers — such as Scott Thurston, Mike Campbell or Ron Blair — Tench was adamant it would “definitely not” be a reunion of the late singer’s legendary band.
Absolutely not. It means I hope some of my friends show up to play along, but who knows? It definitely does not mean any Heartbreakers. https://t.co/YNpDKVnU1N
— benmont tench III (@benchten) March 16, 2018
The band has not performed together since Petty’s death in October.
Largo has been home to a diverse cast of comedians and musicians at both its current location at the Coronet Theatre and its old building on Fairfax Avenue since 1989. A recent Watkins Family Hour performance at the famed nightclub featured Tench as well as other Largo friends and family, including Sondre Lerche, Sara Watkins, Blake Mills, Mike Elizondo and more.
So a curious fan should expect a loose cast of regulars in a casual setting, not a tribute to the late Petty. As Tench expressed in his first statement since the news of his death broke, “That tribute is taking place in my heart, for now; it’s too private, it’s between me and Tom and the great whatever-there-is.”
Regardless, you can bet that night out at Largo will be uniquely warm, improvisational and full of good vibes — not a literal tribute by any means, but perhaps a spiritual one. You can purchase a ticket here.