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.
Tom Opens In Las Vegas: A Grand Night — With Some Surprises — At the MGM!
Friday, October 31st, 2008Note as of Friday morning: There’s a slight correction in the setlist below. Sorry, it was late last night.
“What a great show!”
That’s our totally unbiased opinion. For real. Well, OK, we’ll tell you about it and you can judge for yourself.
The curtain rose and there was no video — just Tony whipping an already excited crowd into a frenzy. When Tom bounded on stage wearing a red jacket the roar that greeted him was tremendous.
With the video gone there was a large spotlight upstage behind Herman and, in it, a red dragon holding a mic — Tom’s logo. The lights and the graphics in the spot changed throughout the show to suit the songs.
Tom looked wonderful — very healthy and very happy to be there. He was almost glowing. And he should glow. It’s a terrific show.
First up was I’m Alive, a perfect opening song and, next, Help Yourself.
As is his habit after the second song, Tom greeted the audience and explained that I’m Alive is from his soon-to-be-released CD and it was also apt because of the rumors of a couple of weeks ago.
[I didn't post it at the time, but it seems Fox News — that crackerjack, always reliable organization — was calling all over the place — the UK, LA and Las Vegas — "trying to confirm the rumor that Tom Jones had died." I heard about it when I got a call from someone who had been called by someone Fox had asked. I, in turn, called a reporter at the Las Vegas daily paper to see if it was on the newswire and was told it was not. The next two hours were difficult, with attempts to confirm or disprove the rumor flying hiter and yon. Finally, I was told that Sir Tom was safe at home in LA. But as you can imagine, it was scary stuff while it was going on.]
Anyway, after I’m Alive, he mentioned the rumor and how strange it was “to read your own obituary.”
Next was Seasons, a hauntingly beautiful number complete with lush sythesized strings. Delilah, 200 Pounds and End of the Road followed. Then came If She Should Ever Leave You with those haunting last notes. The standard trio (Here’s That Rainy Day, Fly Me To the Moon, Ol’ Black Magic) were up next and Grandma’s Hands and Git Me Some followed.
Then, a snare with a drum. (No, that is not a pun. Well, maybe it is.) So Tom filled the time while Herman was making repairs with a joke. We won’t repeat it, (here at least, but if we see you we’ll tell it) but it was funny. And blue. After he told it he named Don Archell as the source, saying “somebody sent it to him in a text message.
“He got it on his — what is that?”
“Blackberry!” Several audience members supplied the missing word.
“Right. I don’t text,” Sir Tom noted, mimicking hands busily texting. “I like to talk on the phone.”
Joke told, drum fixed, they swung into I’ll Never Fall In Love Again, Green Green Grass of Home and, of course, Pussycat.Then came You Can Leave Your Hat On, Sex Bomb and, of course, It’s Not Unusual.
Tom left, then returned for an encore and it was great.
He began — that’s right, began! — with Kiss and ended with Give A Little Love.
It was terrific.
The audience got to see a man at the very top of his game doing what he loves to do in Las Vegas — a place he loves to do it.One always gets the sense that Las Vegas is a second home to Sir Tom. He can settle in, unpack, be in one place for two weeks while he’s doing what he most loves to do. I’d bet his life in Las Vegas is one he loves.
Also, it’s a good guess that, since Tom had been in the UK for so long, rehearsal time with his band was minimal. Because of that, we’ further bet we’ll see a slightly different show as the run goes on until, toward the end, the setlist is finalized. It’s be great if the finale would, as it usually has, contain three songs and I’d love it to kick off with 24 Hours performed with the same lighting and ambiance as on Jools Holland’s TV show.
At any rate, it was a smashing evening with many more sure to follow.
October 31st, 2008 at 2:53 am
This sounds terrific. I love the thought of the red dragon.This makes me feel Tom is going back to his roots. He has said that the CD is going through the seasons of his life, so maybe this is his way of putting the icing on the cake!
October 31st, 2008 at 3:03 am
This sounds terrific, have really been looking forward to hearing about the new show. I think the songs from the 24 Hours CD are great, so pleased to hear Tom is including them in his show.
October 31st, 2008 at 4:32 am
Good morning Ladies – morning coffee and fresh news from the TOM’s Opening nite – Thanks you’re the best
))) I cannot wait to see TOM live with his new setlist – Maybe Sugar Daddy will be the third song for the encore???
October 31st, 2008 at 4:39 am
What a great review!!!! Love the red jacket to and the way you described the lighting. The setlist sounds great. Thanks for posting great job ladies.
October 31st, 2008 at 6:15 am
Wheee, Dragon! happy dance … erm sorry, I can get a bit over enthusiastic when it come to Dragons
Oh I hope the set list will stay that way for the European tour, it’s just perfect. Ending with Give A Little Love is just what I hoped for! bounce
Thank you so much, you must have posted this mere minutes after the show if not seconds LOL
October 31st, 2008 at 6:43 am
GREAT NEWS!!!
Was there new dance aswell when he sang Give A Little Love? You know Kiss dance kind of thing??
Thx,
Olli
October 31st, 2008 at 7:22 am
The rumours of his death were greatly exaggerated… LOL It is really ironic that this rumour was going around with the news of “I’m Alive” being released.
October 31st, 2008 at 7:34 am
Does anyone know on long he was on stage for?
October 31st, 2008 at 7:58 am
SOUNDS BRILLIANT wish I had been there .
October 31st, 2008 at 8:04 am
Great report and glad he is back in the U.S.A.!!! I first heard the death report on NBC. Finally after checking other news channels, apparently another Thomas Jones had passed away, not our favorite guy.
October 31st, 2008 at 8:10 am
Thanks so much for not telling us about that “rumor”. Sounds as if you girls had a great time. Of course, Tom always does. Wish we all could have been there.
October 31st, 2008 at 8:23 am
Thanks for the great revue! Can’t wait to see him on Monday night!!!
October 31st, 2008 at 9:15 am
Norman: As we’ve said before, Las Vegas shows with few exceptions last about 90 minutes (as the priority is gaming). Last night it was about 80 minutes but, as we said, it’s work in progress and there was a 10 o’clock show in the theater.
October 31st, 2008 at 11:29 am
Thank you girls for getting all the details of last night’s show up on the website so quickly. Pleased to hear you had a great night, and I hope that everyone going to see Tom at the MGM in the next couple of weeks has a wonderful time.
October 31st, 2008 at 12:31 pm
I’m dying to know what the joke was that Tom told last night. If you don’t feel comfortable publishing it on your site, can you email it to me?
Your site is wonderful – you have more information than the official TJ site and it’s always more timely. Thanks for all your hard work.
(You don’t have to post this message – I realize you can’t always respond to personalized requests).
October 31st, 2008 at 3:02 pm
I’m surprised he only included 3 new songs in the set and kept the trio of oldies. We’ll see if that changes.
October 31st, 2008 at 5:38 pm
As always, you guys do a great job! (Haven’t said it in awhile. Thanks for the commentary on the rumor – I’m surprised I didn’t hear it. I’ve been watching mucho news and t.v. lately. Not to dwell, but could you image the commentary IF he had passed with “24 Hours” being the last recording! BTW, I thought the album was to be called “Gemini”? Back to topic, I can’t believe they didn’t keep “I Like the Way”.. Hmmp!
November 1st, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Sounds like a great line-up of songs! Any New York/New Jersey tour dates set yet?
November 2nd, 2008 at 11:18 pm
I don’t mean to be negative, but…It’s Not Unusual, (although I know Tom loves it because of its importance in his career), is getting very old. He has so many great oldies in his repertoire, I wish he would listen to some of his fans requests for his setlist.
And, heaven’s above, I am so glad I had heard nothing of this rumor!!!!!!
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I loved opening night!!! Tom was in extra top form and it was so fresh to have the new set list with songs from 24 Hours. I couldn’t wish for more…oh yes I can…more Tom, more than 2 encore songs, and moving the band back closer to the audience. All in all, it may have been the best show I’ve seen.
November 6th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
WOW, How exciting it is to see Tom doing some of the new songs at MGM Grand at the Hollywood Theater.The songs I’ve heard are absolutely fantastic and Tom looks and acts so happy and excited about the songs he presented to his fans. Saw Tom for 4 wonderful evenings performing for his fans. Oh Yeah.
November 24th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
[...] we told you opening night at the MGM last month, Tom was reported to have died and, after singing I’m Alive he talked about it. [...]
September 17th, 2009 at 8:39 am
[...] you’ll recall, last October this song gained special significance for Tom when a rumor that he had died surfaced and moved quickly between LA, London and Las Vegas. Of course, all was [...]