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Ever Wonder What Tom’s Audience Looks Like From the Stage?
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009Some interesting stuff in the post from yesterday below. If you haven’t seen it, you might want to check it out and join the discussion.
If you’ve ever wondered that, here’s an idea of what three audiences looked like on three occasions a few years ago when Tom sang Delilah. The third group, pictured here, was photographed from behind. But the idea is clear: Tom looked out onto that sea of people. I wonder if one ever gets used to that.
These are once again from Lampie (who I sincerely and deeply thank for everything he sends). He says, “American audiences don’t understand the energy of the European audiences. Three clips, from 3 venues, of three choruses of Delilah. The last is Edinburgh Palace.”
I’d have to differ, as here in the US Tom rarely if ever plays such large venues. I’ve seen Elvis, Springsteen, U2 and others in similar ampitheatres (the Meadowlands, MSG and the MGM Grand Garden Arena, for instance) and the audiences probably looked just like this from the stage. They sure sounded like this. It must be amazing to perform in front of all these people.
Also, when Tom plays the terrific clubs like HOB, Terminal 5, Belly Up and the Hard Rock — for the audience they’re much better than any huge venue — the audience enthusiasm is difficult to contain.
The problem is that in places like the Hollywood Theatre in Las Vegas and other “regular” theaters like he just played in Florida, the staff sometimes treats the audience as if they were hostile forces and people aren’t left alone to have fun. And that’s a pity.
Anyway, here’s “Three Delilahs.” As usual, if you cannot view it, you know what to do.
May 12th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Ellen, I totally agree about how the theatre/club/showroom contributes to the energy of the show. Although i have been to pretty ‘good’ shows at the MGM (Tom was always great), the ones in the past year have been very tame. Not too much of that audience energy that Tom really seems to react to and enjoy. But shows at other venues during that time (Humphreys, Belly Up, Orange County Fair) have been loud and wild, with fans singing, yelling and dancing!And at those shows, he was REALLY “ALIVE!!!”