Tom Jones International

Reno: Tom’s last show in the US (until January?) was Saturday night in Reno, NV. We don’t have video or photos but we do have reports from Beth and Shirley of a show that was “lots of fun. The audience was great. When he was announced and came out he got a standing ovation and the audience remained that enthusiastic throughout the entire night.

“Tom did his set list as usual and was terrific. Lots of stuff thrown on stage and, at one point, he picket up a red thong, did his usual thing and then tucked it into the front of his pants so that, every time he lifted his shirt, there it was.”

Shirley adds, “I could have done without that, but you should have heard the audience roar. And, I have to say, the band and singers were great as usual. They really work well together.”

Outside Lands and the Water in Wales: The photo here is from the Festival. It was taken by Lee de Broff, and is from tangobaby2′s blog.

[Moderator's Note: One thing I like about all the Outside Lands photos is that the daylight and the general set-up mean that the musicians and singers are in just about all the photos and the viewer gets a good sense of their interaction.]

Tangobaby captioned the picture: “Despite the heat San Francisco was the coolest city on the planet last night, thanks to Sir Tom.”

(Moderator’s 2nd Note: What “heat?” San Fran was cool. It was about 109º here in Las Vegas. But the sentiment was spot on!)

Of the concert, she said: “All in all, Tom had a wonderful set. I have decided that if I never hear What’s New Pussycat one more time, it won’t be too soon, but all the other songs… whew!

“What do they put into the water in Wales? Are all the men in Wales that sexy?”

There might be one more review and there are lots of photos from which to choose for that post (have to go through them) if it comes in.

Meanwhile, there is video of five songs — some, sadly, only partial songs — that allows the viewer to get a taste of what it was like.

You can watch the it in the TJI.com Video Library.

Jeremy sent this review of Thursday night’s show — along with the photos — and it’s really interesting, as the perspective is different. I really thank him so much on behalf of all the visitors to TJI.com. Terrific review!

I am used to traveling hours, not minutes, to see Tom. When I found out that he would be at Table Mountain Casino, which is 20 minutes from my house, I was thrilled. Tickets went on sale last month and I decided that rather than try to get a couple of seats up close (this was going to be my 10th Tom show, with most of those in the front), I was going to get a dozen tickets so that as many of my friends as possible could see him. I wondered whether I should wait in line in person, or whether I could just take care of it online. Good thing I decided to go in person!

After waiting in line for about three hours, the tickets went on sale at 11:00 AM – the online demand immediately sent the computer system crashing down. The casino looked a little panicked and a spokesman came out to tell us that they were working on the problem, but couldn’t tell us how long it would be – we ended up waiting an extra hour before I got my 12 tickets in Row S – and I was one of the first ones in line!

Tickets never were available online as those in line snapped up all of the tickets before the online system was working again. The demand for this show was crazy and scalpers in this area were asking $1,000 a ticket.

Showtime arrived and I had people with me with ages ranging from 30′s to 60′s…a nice cross section for opinions. A very funny comedian opened the show and then it was time for The Voice. Tom came onstage in his black sparkle shirt and looked healthy and fit. The sound system wasn’t as powerful as what I have experienced at the the MGM and House of Blues in Anaheim (my last two shows), but then again, I wasn’t as close.

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Moderator’s Note: Happy Sunday! There will, hopefully, be a review of Tom in Reno last night — the two people I spoke with after the show were bowled over by how terrific it was — and lots, lots more on Outside Lands, including video and photos. A post about Tom’s Thursday night show at Table Mountain in Friant, CA (near Fresno, I’m told) will be posted in awhile. Meanwhile, if you’ve missed ‘em, check out the posts below and the video. And have a good day!

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The Times of Malta announced Tom will play the archipelago nation in the Mediterranean on November 15 and, judging from the comments on the article, the few locals out of the population of 400,000 who bothered to comment aren’t up on his career and, thus, aren’t very happy: If you go to the article itself (link just above), feel free to comment and correct their misconceptions. To do so you have to go to “Create Account” on the top left of the page.

Sunday, 30th August 2009
Tom Jones to perform in Malta in November

Welsh superstar Tom Jones, who has sang classic hits like Sex Bomb and Delilah, will be performing live in Malta on November 15.

Jones will be performing at the MFCC in Ta’ Qali as part of his current tour in support of his critically-acclaimed album 24 Hours.

Promotions director of concert organisers NNG, Anton Attard, said: “Tom Jones transcends generations, and research shows he is very popular in Malta. His shows are packed with energy.”

With sales of records in excess of 100 million, Jones is known as one of the greatest performers of the last 40 years, and is widely recognised as one of the godfathers of modern soul. His cover of Prince’s Kiss gained him a new generation of fans back in 1988.

In his heyday, it had become customary for female fans to throw their underwear at Jones, considered by many as a sex symbol.

His plea to the female fans to stop their concert gestures four years ago seems to have fallen on deaf ears. Only last Friday, the 69-year-old singer saw women throw their underwear at him when he performed in the US.

A ticket pre-sale (€10 discount) for the Malta concert starts tomorrow at 9 a.m. for all those registered on www.nngpromotions.com. Official ticket sales, starting at €35, kick off on Friday.

Later, or tomorrow, we’ll have fan reviews, photos, maybe a bit of video.

For now, here’s Tom singing Mama Told Me Not to Come. It gives you a great sense of the ambiance and probably makes you, like I do, wish you’d been there. (For example, if they’d bought the weather it couldn’t have been more perfect.)

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Some blog posts about Tom at Outside Lands:

First up from Consequence of Sound is this.

Moderator’s Note: I hope that Tom, his musicians, singers and management (the latter with him at the Festival) all see this particular review and the one from MTV below. This one, particularly, speaks to the talent of all involved and to the entire issue of Las Vegas which, today, is not what it was. Today Las Vegas is a place where the very best entertainment has to offer will play. “Las Vegas entertainer” is today an honor. Please note all the stuff in bold type (my bolding, for emphasis). But why is that guy in the photo at right pawing through the dainties?

Tom Jones: Sutro: 6:50-7:50 p.m.

“Tom Jones is too bad ass to sign anything.” “Tom Jones gets poon everyday.” Two fan written facts well-established 15 minutes before the Welsh legend graced the stage. For reasons unknown, organizers pitted the poor guy against the Seattle headliners and even worse…on the smaller Sutro stage, tucked away in the Lindley Meadow. At the time, it was questionable how many fans would show up, save for the dedicated many. “I still have no regrets waiting up here,” protested one fan. “We want you, Tom!” That’s precisely what happened five minutes later: Sir Tom Jones strutted across the stage, carrying a grin, a swanky chain, and some hefty soul.

For photos, great reviews (and one not-so-great) (more…)

Don’t forget to check out the video link in the post below! 50+ minutes of Tom at Glastonbury reformatted and fun!

From the Irish Times comes this preview of Tom’s show in Ireland next month.

It’s not unusual to be loved by all

There aren’t many singers who are selling almost as much in the Noughties as they did in the 1960s, but Tom Jones’s voice and charisma are ageing well — as a Dublin audience will get to experience next month

UNLIKELY AS it may seem — or, indeed, sound – 69-year-old lad Tom Jones is still on top of his game. It’s unlikely because Jones has been for so long on the outskirts of credibility. Here is a man, a bloke’s bloke from Pontypridd in Wales, who once revelled in a racy reputation with the ladies, selling vacuum cleaners door-to-door in order to make enough money not to work, who made his name with a series of ballads and mid-tempo songs in the 1960s, and who then based his career in the west coast of the US, from where he carved out a highly lucrative career as a consummate supper-club performer and entertainer.

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“Oh sure, I know that some people come to the show thinking that it’s going to be a bit of a novelty, but I’m not going to let them go away thinking that.” —Tom Jones

As far as TJI’s research could reveal, the Outside Lands Festival in Golden Gate Park at 6:50 this evening is the first such event Tom Jones has played in the US. Thus, his legion of fans can hope that people who go to the festival not knowing Tom or, as above, “thinking that it’s going to be a bit of a novelty” will in short order become fans.

It happened at Glastonbury in 1992 and, again, in June. Watching video of that last Glasto appearance (couldn’t find much of anything from 1992) is like watching lightening strike: you don’t see it often but, when you do, it’s unforgettable.

Tom’s setlist at the Festival was: 1 I’m Alive; 2 Hard to Handle; 3 Help Yourself; 4 Give a Little Love; 5 Green Green Grass of Home; 6 Delilah; 7 If I Only Knew; 8 I’ll Never Fall In Love Again; 9 If He Should Ever Leave You; 10 Mama Told Me Not To Come; 11 St. James Infirmary; 12 She’s A Lady; 13 What’s New Pussycat; 14 You Can Leave Your Hat On; 15 Sex Bomb; 16 Stoned in Love; 17 Venus ; 18 It’s Not Unusual; 19 Kiss; 20 Unbelievable

I’ve put together more than 50 minutes of video from that June 28 event — the songs included are in bold face above — and you can watch the it in the TJI.com Video Library.

If you have video of other songs, please send it and I can add it.

You may want to check out Youtube, as the site will be streaming the Outside Lands Festival live. Looks like Tom will not be part of the stream, but if you’re able, it’s worth a tune-in. We’re also going to get a first-hand report from the festival who, despite the silly press reports, is in agreement with me that “This crowd won’t be throwing panties, to be sure.” We’ll see. Stay tuned.

Moderator’s Note: It is, indeed, a sad week when the voices of Ted Kennedy, Dominick Dunne and Ellie Greenwich are stilled. May they rest in peace.

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Outside Lands, held in San Francisco’s beautiful Golden Gate Park, begins tomorrow. The Outside Lands website page on Tom pretty much ignores his recent music. (On the other hand, if they don’t know about it, how can they write about it?)

One blog proclaims “Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder is the biggest star on Friday’s lineup. But guess who will have the most panties tossed in his direction?” (Of course, more mainstream press — as is expected — have lauded his presence, but I think this perspective is so interesting and am interested in seeing what they say after they watch him perform.)

And the cute Outside Lands Promo mentions Tom.

This, boys and girls, is the kind of crowd Tom Jones loves. It’s fair to say that to many of them his work is something they’ve only heard of, rather than something they’ve heard. So it’s a challenge and, if precedent is any judge, he’ll wow them. He is not on the most main stage but, rather, the second most important one. Pearl Jam, on the main stage, closes the festival’s first day right after Tom ends his set. But, since this is not a Tom Jones crowd, it’s great that he’ll be there. Just like his first time at Glastonbury, when he played to a crowd who mostly didn’t know him before and converted them to fans. Surely he’ll do it again.

Tickets, by the way, go for between $199.50 and $595 (VIP). Pricey, but Glastonbury tickets began at £175 ($283.58 at today’s exchange rate). It looks like some tickets are still available.

Youtube will be streaming the Outside Lands Festival live this weekend. Tom is on from 6:50 to 7:50 tomorrow night, but they haven’t said whose performance will be put on the live feed and there are at least two other bands performing at the same time.

To get a taste of TJ in Festival mode, come back here tomorrow for 50+ minutes of Tom Jones at Glastonbury 2009 — a newly put-together-as-one video that will be posted here.

Nancy sent this review and photos from Tom’s show at Harrah’s Rincon outside San Diego Sunday Night. Hopefully, people at his show at the Greek Theatre in LA (another beautiful venue) will send their reviews, as will those at Table Mountain, the Outside Lands Festival and in Reno. Meanwhile, thanks so much to Nancy. Check the post below for a brief, but brand new, interview in which Tom talks about recording a new CD “after he completes another tour through the U.K. and Europe.”

This was my 20th TJ concert since the first in October 2003. On a scale of 1-10, it was an 11. Now, to the review: some of you will empathize with this statement; some will not, and might dismiss me as a starstruck groupie, or worse: Sunday night I cried at the Tom Jones concert. Yes, right in the midst a song, I started to literally tear up. I caught myself, and tried to figure out why in the world I was behaving that strange way, and it was simply because…. Sir Tom was right there in front of me (well, 11 rows away), looking so very healthy, handsome and contented, and was singing so strongly and beautifully. His voice was magnificent.

I was also touched that from the very start of I’m Alive, he was enthusiastically received by the audience of about 2,000, who wildly applauded, whistled, etc. after every song. This seemed to pleasantly catch him off-guard a few times when he was not able to proceed with his regular shtick, but responded with lots of smiles. And I must say that he looked extremely well and very fit in his regular sparkly shirt and suit of grayish blue (the jacket came off, of course.)

The night was beautiful. At this open-air amphitheatre out in the country about 50 miles from downtown San Diego, the stars and gentle breezes came out and complimented the balmy, mid-70’s night air. Tom even commented about how he was enjoying the evening air. The large stage was nicely set up, and the fabulous back-up band and singers were just perfect. The music was just fabulous.

Unfortunately, woe to the fans (and there were many) who attempted to dance in the aisles or approach the stage, for the diligent security guards protected the stage front and kept the aisles clear (for the most part) even though Tom encouraged people to get up and dance. Though our small group never gave up, and actually, to Tom’s delight and attention, did dance right up to the barriers early in the concert (pushing security guards aside!), we were told to return to our seats. That did not deter many from dancing at their seats and generally having a wild, enthusiastic time during the entire show. Panties were being tossed through the air around the theater from person to person like Frisbees.

When Tom reappeared for the encore, he said something like, “You can do what you like now; the show’s almost over.” But security still attempted to keep us from the aisles and stage front. But then, as we all went wild during Venus, something really awesome happened!

The people in the first five or so rows motioned to everyone in the aisles to crowd in with them by their seats so that we would all be ‘up front’ and security would leave us alone! It was like one happy, joy-filled family! And you could see by the smiles on Tom’s face that he loved the response.

When he finished Kiss Tom did something I hadn’t seen before; he sort of danced around the stage , then lingered quite some time just smiling and gazing at the audience while we continued to yell, scream, and applaud wildly.

And then it was over. I’m looking forward to number 21. Hope it’s soon.

Outside Lands: Tom Jones
Sir Tom still has the goods
BY SEAN MCCOURT/Wednesday August 26, 2009/San Francisco Bay Guardian

PREVIEW/INTERVIEW Though he may be one of the oldest performers to take the stage at this weekend’s Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, Tom Jones will undoubtedly be one of the best. For more than four decades the Welsh singer’s rich vocals and electric stage presence have propelled a career that continues to produce hits even as he is less than a year away from turning 70. As he proved to a full house at the Warfield earlier this year, Sir Tom (he was knighted in 2006 by Queen Elizabeth) still has the goods when it comes time to entertain a crowd, singing old favorites such as It’s Not Unusual, She’s A Lady, and What’s New Pussycat? along with more recent hits like Sex Bomb.

Jones pulls in a wide variety of people to his shows, ranging from kids in their early 20s to original fans near his own age. The singer still loves connecting with an audience, be it at a Vegas nightclub or an outdoor festival like Outside Lands.

“If there are people out there and they’ve come to see me, I’m going to give it the best I can — whether it be 5,000 people or 10,000, or 100,000,” Jones says.

“I don’t change the show from Las Vegas to a festival because I don’t do a ‘Vegas’ act anyway. I don’t use any dancing girls — it’s a concert I’m doing. My show is basically the same, [though] I maybe make sure I cover the stage a little bit more,” he laughs.

Jones, who released his latest album 24 Hours (S-Curve) last year, is already gearing up to work on a new record after he completes another tour through the U.K. and Europe. As for the tradition of female fans flinging their undergarments at him while on stage, the man known as “the Voice” looks at it from a couple of different angles. “It depends on what song I’m singing at the time. If I’m singing a serious ballad, it can break the mood,” says Jones. “But I don’t think it’s for an entertainer to dictate to an audience what to do — the entertainer does what he or she does, and hopefully the people get it.”

TOM JONES At Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival. Fri/28, 6:50 p.m. Golden Gate Park, SF. $89.50–$225.50. www.sfoutsidelands.com

Tom will be at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Hall in Dallas, TX, at 8 pm on Sunday, January 31, 2010.

No word yet on exactly when tickets will be on sale, but the box office says to check back in early fall.

The venue holds 2,000 people. Tickets will be priced at $165 for Loge Boxes (Remember, this was designed as a classical music venue so the seats with the premium acoustics are considered to be worth the most money); Orchestra, Orchestra Terrace and Floor will be $90; Dress Circle, $85; Grand Tier $65 and the Choral Terrace, $50.

You can order tickets online at The Dallas Symphony website or by calling 214-692-0203.

Tickets will be on sale to season subscribers before they go on sale to the general public. (The postcard above left offering a free ticket to see Tom with every subscription was sent to potential subscribers.)

Caution! Two websites are already scalping tickets at prices ranging from $250 to $305. Do not buy these, as they do not even exist!

Remember, the gig isn’t official until you see it on tomjones.com

Thanks to the fan who emailed me about this. You know we’ll expect a full report by February 1.