Mar 1, 2013 at 4:00 PM | MusicNews | By Rock Square

The rock 'n' roll anthems of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are basically built for arenas, but when Petty and the boys play intimate residencies in New York and Los Angeles this summer, Petty is hoping fans will come to appreciate just how tight his band actually is.

"We have this great little rock & roll band,” Petty said in a recent interview. “I want people to see it in a setting other than a big arena."

The small-scale version of the Petty Experience will go down at the Beacon Theater in New York on May 20th, 21st, 23rd, 25th and 26th before skipping across the continent to take over the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles on June 3rd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 9th and 11th.

"This is a good thing to do every now and then,” Petty said of the residency. "It gets the band members in tune with each other in a way that you don't get on a big tour. There's a different challenge than you're used to. We got together the other night, the band and I, and everybody is up for this. There's no telling what we'll do."

Might Petty and the Heartbreakers trot out a few new numbers during their multi-night stands? They are working on a new album after all.

"I'd rather people heard the record before we perform the songs," Petty explained. "But I also like the songs and want to play them. If they're sounding really good and I get the okay from the head office, I'll do it."

Tour dates:

5/16 Evansville, IN – Ford Center

5/18 Gulf Shores, AL – Hangout Music Festival

5/20 New York, NY – Beacon Theatre

5/21 New York, NY – Beacon Theatre

5/23 New York, NY – Beacon Theatre

5/25 New York, NY – Beacon Theatre

5/26 New York, NY – Beacon Theatre

6/3 Los Angeles, CA – Fonda Theater

6/4 Los Angeles, CA – Fonda Theater

6/6 Los Angeles, CA – Fonda Theater

6/8 Los Angeles, CA – Fonda Theater

6/9 Los Angeles, CA – Fonda Theater

6/11 Los Angeles, CA – Fonda Theater

6/15 Noblesville, IN – Klipsch Music Center

6/16 Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival

6/18 London, ONT – Budweiser Gardens

6/20 Pittsburgh, PA – Consol Energy Center

6/22 Dover, DE – Firefly Music Festival

6/23 Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center

6/28 Milwaukee, WI – Marcus Amphitheater/Summerfest

6/29 Minneapois, MN – Target Center

Get the latest music news in the Rock Suqare Community here. 

• Bob Dylan Announces Spring Tour Dates
• Bon Jovi -- On Repeat