Show & Venue Reviews, What's New, Pussycat?
Please share your Tom Jones shows with other fans. Setlist? Audience? Energy? What was it like being there? We’d love to hear from you.
And, while you’re telling us about the shows, please let us know what you think of the venues where Tom plays. Clubs, theaters, casinos — Tom Jones performs in all of them. Which venue do you think is the best? The worst?
So that other fans will know what’s in store when they buy their tickets, please tell us a little bit about the venues you know. If possible, try to use the format below so others can tell at a glance what you think. The best venue will merit ****. More than one review of a venue is welcome.
Great Review From MGM Las Vegas
Friday, January 25th, 2008Here’s a terrific review from our hometown daily. The reviewer, Mike Weatherford is, as you can tell from his knowledge of the setlist, a real fan of Tom’s (and a really nice guy) who deeply appreciates the artist. It’s so great to read a smart, informed review, isn’t it?
By MIKE WEATHERFORD/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL• who: Tom Jones • when: 8 p.m. today-Wednesday • where: MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South • tickets: $92.40 (891-7777)• rating: A-
Part of this review is printed below. To read it all, follow the link above.
Still Going: Repeat business no problem for singer Tom Jones
Bless ya, George Jones. You saved Tom Jones.
You never know how these things would have played out. But to hear Tom tell it from the stage of the MGM Grand, there was one song that might have cemented his success on the country charts and I hereby extrapolate — could have derailed his current status as the heppest cat on the Strip.
Jones’ initial glory years had leveled off by the end of the 1970s, but he would have a short stretch of country radio success in the early 1980s.
Songwriter Curly Putman, who had penned Jones’ big 1967 hit Green, Green Grass of Home, had a new one called He Stopped Loving Her Today. But the song ended up giving the other Jones a comeback in 1980. Tom had to tread water another eight years, until the fluke success of a flukier song, Prince’s Kiss as mashed up by The Art of Noise.
It all evens out in the long run. Today, Jones uses He Stopped to stretch out, one of the many detours afforded to him by his 67 years and his long-term survival in show business.
But Kiss and its brethren are what make the singer remarkable for his 40 years on the Strip come March. You can’t say most of the people on hand this night weren’t in his age range. But while Barry Manilow panders to retirees by crooning Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing, Jones hits ‘em with the Sex Bomb.
The great thing about Jones is that he doesn’t always slam the brakes before hitting the wall of camp. This is a man who can make the innocuous phrase “at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas” sound lascivious, by adding the proper blend of eye-rolling and lip-licking. The fans still eat it up.
……………
A lot of us will be patient to wait for that new set, and to see just how long this cat can go.
Review-Journal Photo by Craig L. Moran
January 25th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Excellent review and a great photo it is always nice when a reviewer says something good about Tom
January 25th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Excellent review, indeed!
January 25th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
How refreshing to see Tom Jones get the kudos he deserves (and not one mention of knickers). Sir Tom has lasted because of his voice, his energy, and refusal to stay in a rut. I emailed the reviewer and thanked him.
January 26th, 2008 at 5:39 am
This is good: nice to read a review that acknowledges Tom’s talent from someone who is clearly well-informed.
January 26th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Awesomecool! I’m jonesin’ in Toronto on a cold Saturday night. This helps. LOL
January 27th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Tom is such a great entertainer and he knows his audience. When he sings, whichever song, we believe him!!!! This cat’s gonna stay for as long as he can still meow!!! And that I predict will be for a long long time!
January 28th, 2008 at 6:13 am
As Tom once said “I’ll be around until they turn the green green grass into a car park.”
January 28th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Fantastic review. So glad to se ethat Sir Tom is still be recognized for his unbeatable talent !!!! He is a true showman. You can see the passion. There is no doubt that every time he performs he is giving right from his soul. So nice to see that recognized. Great article.
January 28th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
“The Rolling Stones get more credit in the active-horny-senior department.”
Now THAT is funny……………great review and very accurate I must say.
January 29th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Good thing the Daily “Rag” isn’t reviewing his performance, huh?. I thought this was a very postive review, reflecting his talent and not talking about underwear tossing.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Wow – Wonderful review – it captures the atmosphere in the mgm/Hollywood 100% – THE TOMcat can go on and on and on…