Tom Jones International

The one facet of Tom Jones’ week in Las Vegas that was crystal clear is that Las Vegas missed Tom Jones. Yes, other places — places where he’s recently played or to which he’s going over the next two months — also missed him but Las Vegas has been a home-away-from-home for him since March 1968 and it’s a habit for all involved. The city loves Tom, loves to see him and, probably, he loves it, too. After all, where else can he stay in one place, so as he wishes during the day and then sing every night? And, along the way receive the accolades he gets from his audience here? An audience, by the way whose members travel literally from around the world to see him. So, let’s look back at a terrific week in Tom, at the show and the fans.

The Show: At any rate, this fans in the USA got to see the newest incarnation of Tom Jones’ band and singers and set list. Do I miss the old band? Yes! As both musicians and as quality people so many of us came to know they are missed The new band? It’s fine….got to talk to some of them and they absolutely know music, know what they’re reaching for. Like all of the musicians who have been with Tom over the years, they are very talented.They’re not the last band he had, but if you can get by that and be objective, they are certainly good. Most missed, according to the people who saw them this week (and as one person who already commented on an earlier post here) are the back-up singers. The trio who sang with Tom for the last several years were so strong as to be unmatched. You tended not to realize it until they were gone. The new singers fit very well with the new show, however, where the vocal requirements seem not to be as stringent.

Tom, as noted here several times by several people, looks and sounds amazing. He is in top voice and top shape. Many fans expressed concern about his rigorous upcoming tour schedule, but it appears that he can pull it off. Tom Jones is amazing.

This new show is enormous fun. It’s good to hear Thunderball (A completely ridiculous, meaningless song that is sung tremendously well) and Mama Told Me again. The closing song, take Me Back To the Party is a keeper — an absolutely perfect show closer, leaving the audience ready for more and on a terrific high.

The lighting designer is also to be congratulated. Lights are terrific and bring an element long missing to the show. From 2005 until this show opened, TJI always expressed a desire to see Tom onstage with a “real” set with evident thought and work put into it. We have that now and it is wonderful. The show, at last, looks glorious, as befits someone of Tom’s stature.

The Fans: As noted, fans came from all over and many stayed for seven nights. There were old friends of Tom’s who had been seeing him for 40+ years and there were lots of new fans. They generally had fun at the shows and, after the shows, catching up with each other. But there was some interesting stuff going on.

For example, late in the run a woman showed up, sat in the third row center and with great abandon showed off her — um — assets that seemed all shiny and very new. Tom couldn’t miss her and did nod and laugh. After the show she and the man she was with tried to get backstage (“Don’t you know who I am?” he asked. Obviously no one knew or cared) and failed. Walking by, I couldn’t help smiling at the abundance of what was before me. One of the ushers was also smiling at the sight. We caught each other’s eyes and I said quietly, touching my necklace (which was actually not new but I wanted to make a point), “Wow, this is all I bought to wear to the show. Look at what she bought!” and we laughed.

Then, as many of you know, there was The Stalker. She flies in like an ill wind from the southeast, stays at a nearby seedy hotel and bothers everyone. She tries to accost Tom and the people around him, she threatens people — other fans — whom she perceives as close to him and spreads a lot of filth about them. For example, she’s threatened to sue me or “get me” when I dared to post information about a TJ-related campaign I’m undertaking. She contacts people with emails filled with lies and posts these lies on myspace, facebook and various other places under a variety of names with avatars looking nothing like her.. You may well and rightfully ask why I am writing about this.

I know I am not alone in my belief that this woman is dangerous and poses a real threat to anyone she wrongly perceives getting in the way of her and Tom (as if there were or ever will be a “her and Tom”). She implies an intimate relationship (“we partied all night”) where none exists and reminds me and several other people of John David Chapman. So, please, before you respond to pleas under any one of her several names to help her get Tom into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or before you believe anything she writes under any name, take a second look. She has some computer facility and knows how to hide her identity in an email. She has several names on facebook and other websites. She lives on the east coast of the US (although she often claims to live in N’Orleans) and should be watched and avoided like the Swine Flu.

Of course, there were lots of fun fans who did their thing with Tom during the show. The Georgia Peach danced “with” him, that great gal from Florida danced in her seat and Miko, who came all the way from Japan, kept him sweat-free. It was a blast.

I also feel very fortunate to have met so many people who read this site. It is one of the real rewards of doing this and I thank you all for taking time to introduce yourselves.

As mentioned over the weekend, on Saturday night Tom did an unrehearsed version of the song Rip It Up, the Little Richard/Bill Haley/Elvis song. Someone sent me a recording of it (I do not ever record and had no camera this time because my camera’s in the shop) and, now, you can hear Tom’s version of Rip It Up. He sings this music like no one else today does and it is so good to hear.

Coming Up On TJI: Over the next several days there’ll be some news, some terrific video, some “Rumor or Reality” posted here. Please come back and continue to comment. And, if you are new at commenting, check out the rules at About TJI.com.

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RIP: JD Salinger.