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 At The Warfield Theater In San Francisco Saturday Night
Sunday, March 8th, 2009Please be sure to check out the seven videos in the post below. For more fan reviews, please see the comments.
Shirley — JTV’s and TJI’s “Girl From the Valleys” — first saw Tom in 1962 at the Wheatsheaf, the White Hart and the Wood Road Non-Political Club (which, she says, “We just called the ‘Miners’ Club.’”). She saw Tom Saturday in San Francisco and reports:
The theater was very crowded. It’s a 2,200-seat theater built in 1922 — one of Tom’s inspirations, Al Jolson, played there — and it has great acoustics. They’d put two large speakers over the stage. He got a fantastic reception. The audience was very mixed. Old and young; men and women. I don’t know why, but it was a more relaxed atmosphere than in a casino. They let people take photos. Someone handed him a long letter that he started to read. But, realizing it was so long, put it in his pocket and said he’d read it later.
The set list was very good. I heard people talking after the show. One woman, who’s been a fan for years, was disappointed he didn’t sing more older songs. Even though I don’t agree, I can understand that viewpoint. People who don’t see him as often as I do seem to want those. Others said they wanted him to sing Sugar Daddy.
A lot of panties were thrown but he ignored them all. He did pick up a Welsh flag and a bouquet at the end of the show.
I am a fan so, of course, I thought it was fabulous. But it was so nice to hear other people in the audience — who don’t see him as often or who were seeing him for the first time — agree. It was great.
Thanks, Shirl, for the photos, too.
For a fun take on the concert, check out Tangobaby’s blog about “Living in This Crazy Little City By The Bay: San Francisco.” Her review is fine but do check out the photos of the wonderful theater. Just amazing and so worthy or preservation. (When you live in Las Vegas, where imploding buildings deemed “old” is a spectator sport, preservation becomes important.)
March 8th, 2009 at 8:04 am
My wife and I have been big Tom Jones fans for many years. We have all the official DVD’s of his TV show and have enjoyed them immensely. We also have a pretty good vinyl collection, which is a blessing since many of them have yet to be reissued on CD. We’ve come across a few unofficial DVD’s, but they’re from the years when he was sporting sequined jackets and disco-fied arrangements of his songs that didn’t really mesh with his true calling as a soul and R&B singer. In our opinion, Tom is at his best when he sings music that he truly loves, soul and R&B being his obvious preferences. We have had the pleasure of seeing him fourteen times now, at Vegas, Reno, Villa Montalvo, the Marin Civic Center and many other places. Sir Tom is always guaranteed to leave you feeling exhausted yet satisfied, and the performance at the Warfield was no exception.
The crowd was mostly older folks and we’ve always admired that. We’ve always noticed that the majority of the audience swung closer to the retiree side, and that’s always been just fine with us. Why? Because they know how to behave themselves. We saw Tom three out of four nights at the Fillmore in SF a few years back, and the only unpleasant experience was when some self-involved teenage girls pushed their way in front of us to try and get close to the stage. Of course, when you don’t have assigned seats those things can happen, and we decided to move back so we could enjoy the show without having to rub sweaty shoulders with immature kids who were trying be part of the show. Sometimes I think I’m becoming a cranky old codger, but then I realize that I’m just expecting the rest of the world to behave like adults! It was also awesome to see so many people who, just because they have grown older, have not permanently retired their party hats! I certainly plan to be a horny, hell-raisin’ old bastard until I’m buried under the Green, Green Grass of Home, and it was great to be in a room with so many others who are of the same mind!
First, we just have to say that we think it’s awesome that Tom has decided to stop dying his hair. Since the man is 68 years old there’s absolutely no shame is letting his age show! My beard is beginning to show some salt, and I’m cool with that. Like the old saying goes: Old age is a privilege denied to many. I found the honesty in his gray locks quite refreshing, especially when the media gives us so many embarrassing examples of celebrities failing miserably at trying to look younger than they are. It never works! No matter how you nip & tuck, the years will show. Tom has earned his stripes, and the lines on his face are a tribute to his talent and ability to continue to entertain generations of fans across decades. How many other performers can make such a claim? Furthermore, how many performers can get out there and STILL strut their stuff, walk the walk and sing their asses off while the audience screams for more?! Tom has said: “The music keeps me alive!” Amen, brother! It keeps us going too!
Of course we purchased the latest album several months before the show so that we could familiarize ourselves with his new material (we LOVE it). The set list comprised more than half the songs from 24 Hours. The ones I can remember are: I’m Alive (the opening song), If He Should Ever Leave You, We Got Love, Give A Little Love, The Road, In Style And Rhythm, Seasons (my favorite), and Never (he tore this one apart!). Of course, his most popular hits were mixed in as well, but I was particularly thrilled that a song we’d seen him perform last year was still on the set list: Git Me Some. This song, written by Earl Thomas (www.earlthomasmusic.com) is the standout performance for me. Just the acoustic guitar and the Voice belting out a sexy blues number that could charm the habit off a nun! Tom’s voice is perfect for this kind of 2am, juke-joint hip-swiveler, and he knows just how to turn the lyric to make your head sway and your booty gyrate!
Finally, I’d just like to say that I dearly wish that Tom could make an album of material like this. Just stripped-down blues and soul, shakin’ you to the bone with his voice and his history. His country period is likely not recalled fondly by many, but there are some songs there that are so smoldering hot they could burn a city down! I’d love to hear him do: Today I Started Loving You Again and He’ll Have To Go.
What a fantastic experience and a privilege it was to see a living legend work it, sing it and shake it! Bless you, Tom, and here’s hoping we’ll see you again real soon!
—Dave (39) & Nancy (52)
Albany, CA
March 8th, 2009 at 8:07 am
It was a great show last night. This was the first time I was seeing Tom with his new look and the show with all the songs from the CD so Ireally enjoyed the feeling of not knowing what was coming next. Tom displayed top form energy and just seemed to really take great pleasure in the enjoyment of the packed house.
Shirley is right about the acoustics — brilliantly clear. The theater is a SF landmark and is filled with art deco and rococo decorations as well as a mural across the ceiling. The first floor hallway is lined with pictures of the bands and singers who played there as well as posters from the seventies.
My husband really enjoyed the show and he has seen Tom many times but he likes the new songs ands thinks the band is topnotch which it is.
The balcony went back to the rafters and everyone stood at the end for an ovation for an incredible show. The people next to me used to go to Circle Star so we shared our memories of Tom from that time while we waited for the show. A great evening and I am looking forward to Vegas even more now.
March 8th, 2009 at 8:53 am
David: Thanks so much for your detailed review and, hopefully, you’ll post more. Think it’s interesting that you and Shirley saw the crowd so differently. Also, it’s worth mentioning that there was such an album made and it was deemed unfit for release by the record company because they didn’t think it was commercial enough. Pity, because those who have heard it — and it does enjoy an underground life — think it’s amazing. There are many, many people who share your wish.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:22 am
1.) Thank you all for your reviews – I enjoyed reading them – especially when I hear more about the reviewer and his/her connection to TOM and his music
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2.) Great that the venue comes with a story too – hope it will withstand time – too many landmarks are/will be distroyed
3.) I want that album, hahaha
March 8th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
BOTH GREAT REVIEWS. IT IS ALWAYS UPLIFTING TO HEAR HOW MUCH PEOPLE ENJOY THE SHOWS. I AM DYING TO SEE HIS NEW HAIR IN PERSON. KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED HE MAY COME TO EASTERN CANADA THIS YEAR OR NEXT
March 8th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Hey all,
First I’d like to thank Ellen for publishing my review! I didn’t mean to imply that I saw only older people in the crowd as there was definitely a wide range of ages (one of the things I’ve admired most about his fan base and it speaks to his lasting appeal). It’s just that the majority of adults in the audience made for a calmer, more relaxing experience. We don’t go to concerts or to the movies that often because of the possibility of having to tolerate younger people treating the venue like their living room and behaving inappropriately.
Second, I can tell you that my wife and I will be coming to this website on a constant basis from now on! The organization and presentation is superb, and the archiving of video material is a treasure trove. YouTube has some fabulous stuff, but not such gems as the “Tiny Desk Concert” acoustic set at NPR!
If anyone has any information on where I may find the unreleased “non-commercial” album that I’ve heard so much about, I would deeply appreciate it!
Dave S.
March 8th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Really enjoyed these reviews! I wonder if some older fans are expecting to hear Tom sing songs like “Til” or “Danny Boy”–surely NOT—but I just wonder if older people really expect Tom to sing the beautiful ballads he sang way back when? Love those old theaters! Hopefully they will continue to be preserved so that many other people, in the future, can appreciate and enjoy the architectural beauty of the past. Sure would love to hear Shirley talk about what it ws like when she was watching and listening to Tom back at the “Miner’s Club”, as she said they called the “Wood Road Non-Political Club” — wonder if no politicsl discussions were allowed–or why that name? Shirley, do you know the answer to this? AND–I wonder if the panty throwing is just a tradition, now–just something you do when attending a TOM JONES Concert. I do wish people would bring Tom flowers instead–but I think people just throw panties for fun–even if Tom doesn’t acknowledge them anymore. And wonder what that “long letter” was all about, and why Tom started reading it? That was unusual, wasn’t it? One more thing–loved David’s comment on Tom being able to charm the habit off of a Nun—-That’s the truth!! Sandy B.–who is just full of questions–haha
March 8th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
David: “Unreleased” means just that. It’s not available. But that fact does give us something to wish for, doesn’t it?
March 8th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Forgot to mention how much I enjoyed Tangobaby’s blog–and the pix of the little older lady sitting there waiting on Tom, it is just priceless! I hope Tom sees that pix–he is loved by all ages, that’s for sure. Thank you, Tangobaby, your pix and comments were sooooo good–just made my day–along with David’s and Shirley’s reviews and comments–wonderful! Sandy B.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:12 am
“Also, it’s worth mentioning that there was such an album made and it was deemed unfit for release by the record company because they didn’t think it was commercial enough.”
Such a pity, that’s one of my biggest dreams. I would give a lot to hear that some day! And a matching tour to go with it!
March 9th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
WOW! What a lovely surprise to find you’ve linked to my review of the show! I have to say that I did not know about this site, but now will happily add it to my list and let my readers know about it. I’ve been lucky enough to see Tom perform twice now and will continue to see his shows whenever I can. The Warfield was packed and it was obvious that he is beloved in San Francisco. I hope he has a chance to visit us again soon.
After the show, we went home and watched our Tom Jones Show DVDs, just to keep it going!
All the best,
Julie
March 9th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Julie: Thanks for the review and this post. There’s a new DVD coming out soon and, surely, Tom will be near you again soon. Love your site — your attitude is contagious. Thanks for the post, Ellen
March 10th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
David thanks so very much, coming from a guy, your review was top notch. I too would like to hear Tom do some of those smoldering country tunes, you can just imagine how wild that would be. I’ve dabbled in singing a little (of course I’m an unknown) and there’s no one else I rather sing a duet with than TJ; the song I’d pick is “I Just Came Here to Dance”, recorded by David Frizzell and Shelly West, from their 1994 Greatest Hits, Alone & Together CD. It’s slow and romantic, just the way Sir Tom would like it! Ellen thanks again for the website, it’s great being able to share each others feelings about our favorite Welshman. Tom you’re the greatest!!!!!!