Fan Fare, What's New, Pussycat?
Here’s where you’ll find TJ photos and stories that don’t fit into any other categories. It is, as its name says, just for fans — and, hopefully, for fun.
Night 2 At MGM: A New Song; A Better Performance?
Saturday, January 23rd, 20102 a.m., PST, Sunday morning, January 24: Look later in the day for a post about tonight’s show. Some news, some views and, if I get them, a photo or two. See you later.
You may have heard or read that Las Vegas has had an unprecedented run of rain and cold and I know for a fact that many tourists canceled their plans to come here because of the weather. Several people tonight were worried that the house was only about half full. But, again, this is an issue around the world. Acts like U2 and Bruce break attendance records but most are having the same economic problems — granted, in a more rarefied way — than the rest of us. You can even get those highly prized Garth Brooks tickets at the last minute. I went to a movie premiere tonight. It had all the trimmings — a real red carpet, a cast/filmmaker Q&A after the movie and a party. It wasn’t full. And it was free and well-publicized.
At any rate, in the country segment, Tom added the Jim Reeves classic, He’ll Have To Go. When he left the stage later in the show to change his shirt his cuff link got stuck so he had to begin singing the next song off stage. Many who had been there both nights said tonight was even better than the first. After opening night, that’s difficult to believe. I must note that a friend who is a fan and who will be here Sunday wrote me that I hadn’t written about opening night with much passion. I was very passionate in my belief that it was an extraordinary show. I apologize if that didn’t come across in my words.
One thing not mentioned here was that on opening night the lights in the first segment tended to hurt the eyes of people in the front row — probably because the lighting was designed for large arenas, not for people sitting next to (touching!) the stage. That was not the case tonight and people who had been subjected to the lights opening night were grateful the change had been made.
Several people have emailed me and asked about the band and, again, I ask those of you who have seen them in Las Vegas to comment. I shall not. From what I’ve heard, those who are familiar with the way things were, don’t like the group bow at the end as they say the band should take a back seat to Tom and let him take a bow on his own.
He is very generous and I know the band members are doing what they’re told. But, when you see, for example, people like U2 and Springsteen — people whose bands are an integral part of the act in the sense that you go to see all the members of U2 or Springsteen and the E Street Band — even take bows separate from the others on stage. What people say (and I don’t disagree) is that the audience comes to see Tom Jones. His band at the show is always — unlike in U2 or the E Street Band* — subject to change and are not a draw, as much as fans may like them and get to know them. People just feel that with the closing as it is, Sir Tom is not getting his due.Remember, they do as they’re told, so they might be faulted on some things, but surely not that last bow. But Tom’s still wonderful.
More on the shows tomorrow.
Meanwhile, please be sure to let us all know what you think of Tom at the MGM Grand and of the new official website.
*Guess Max Weinberg is grateful he didn’t give up his E Street gig when Conan went to California.
January 23rd, 2010 at 9:28 am
This is an opening night comment but I couldn’t get to a computer until now. So, for those who longed for a new setlist or a change attire, you will be happy to know that, after five loong months,Tom returned to Vegas with a whole new show. WOW!! He was hot, energized and rock hard….The man was sweatin’
Tom looked fabulous — the best since he dropped the hair dye. His clothing complimented him perfectly — trendy, yet classic. And, yahoo!! that black sequin-dotted shirt is out of here:) The show was fast-paced with only a little banter with the audience. Gone are the “standards” which I thought slowed the show in the middle. The new lighting design is smokin’.
The jury is till out on the band. I like the new arrangements but I sincerely believe the previous band could have played them better. The previous back up singers, too. Cannot imagine this group doing the beginning of Grandma’s Hands. These four (including the keyboard guys) absolutely don’t hold a candle to the last three.
I also definitely didn’t care for the group bow at the end. Unlike at the end of an opera, play or any kind of collaboration such as those mentioned by the moderator above, this show is TOM JONES AND HIS VOICE. The musicians are there merely to support it and help it show to its best advantage. They didn’t need to be in front of Tom as he sang or standing as his peer in importance at the end.
January 23rd, 2010 at 9:43 am
On the UK tour Tom introduced all the band members individually before they took the group bow, maybe he doesn’t have the time to do that in Vegas, but my own personal opinion, and that is just my opinion ,is that I like it, I think it’s fun. I remember Tom doing this group bow on his 1994 UK tour with the musicians that he had at that time
January 23rd, 2010 at 9:46 am
Doesn’t Tom get a chance to bow alone for a couple minutes before the band comes out to join him?
January 23rd, 2010 at 10:11 am
No.
January 23rd, 2010 at 1:07 pm
I was at Thursday’s (opening) and last night’s show and will be there again tonight before leaving town. (BTW, long time lurker here, first time poster.) I’ll agree that the bow-with-curtain seems out of sorts. I wonder if it is mostly because I (and others) are used to his show’s ending with the curtain falling on music? I miss the old band terribly (like others) and while the new band is good, and Tom sounds greater than ever himself, this band seems less versatile to me. The bass player looks very much like the actor Seth Rogen, which made me chuckle a bit. My favorite song in this set list is ‘Hard to Handle’, which seemed to have a great energy to it. Ok, that was my two cents!
January 23rd, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Thanks Susanne PDX for your review. Gives me a little insight on what to expect to see tomorrow night. Tom sounds hot (as usual) and my take on the band remains to be seen. Personally, I am glad the standards are gone too. Looking forward to feasting my eyes tomorrow! Thanks for posting.
January 23rd, 2010 at 8:40 pm
just checked out toms official site it is better than before they even copied the name, mail website thing on tji, ha, still not as good as this site.
January 25th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Hi Ellen ,I’m not sure about the new official site first it would’nt accept my password then it gave me a new one and would’nt accept that one either took two days before it let me log in. Easier to use the jury is still out on that one .
Great that Tom is smokin