Show & Venue Reviews, Sir Tom In the News, 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.
An Honor & Elvis; Some Nice Words About Tom From Another Singer; Fan Review From Dallas
Sunday, February 7th, 2010Wow! I forgot to note that today, February 7, is the 42nd anniversary of the debut of This Is Tom Jones on ABC-TV in the USA. Darn! I need to git me a calendar with significant dates in Tom’s career so I have them handy to post!
Tom’s In South America: The Mayor of Viña del Mar Chile Saturday night designated Tom Jones “a distinguished visitor” to the city.
So That’s What Elvis Wanted! A newspaper in Valpariso, Chile, added something new to Tom’s story of Elvis singing to him at Caesars while Tom was in the shower: Jones said he let Elvis into the bathroom “but warned him sing to me looking into my eyes. He did it and then nobody believed me that Elvis sang to me in the shower. I believe that the song was an excuse, maybe he wanted to observe and compare,” {Jones} said laughing.
Here’s a really nice tribute to Tom from Carlene Carter,the country music singer who’s the daughter of June Carter Cash, stepdaughter of Johnny, half-sister of Roseanne. She was interviewed for South Coast Today, a regional newspaper in New Bedford, MA. She spoke of dealing with the losses of her parents, stepfather and a sister over the last several years. In a brief sidebar to the article she spoke of what gets her through:
Now that’s unusual
Carlene Carter says that while she has some eclectic musical tastes, the one artist she really loves to listen to is Tom Jones.
“I’ve got to tell you, now this may come as surprising from me, but I think he is fantastic. I went to see him at that music stage in Hyannis (Cape Cod Melody Tent) when I happened to be on the Cape and he just knocked me out.
“Now I love to listen to his music, and he’s got it all. I love the songs and his voice. His stage show was terrific. What a great performer. Yeah, I would say Tom Jones what a knockout. You wouldn’t guess that, right? But there it is.”
Sandy, a Dallas fan, saw Tom’s show there. She sent the review just below and expressed concern that she was too harsh. I believe it is an honest assessment of the show as she saw it.
Sunday night Dallas loved Tom Jones and Tom must like Dallas as he has appeared there at least five times in the past few years.
Tom was wonderful, Tom was fabulous, Tom was Tom!
His set list was the same as Vegas with the addition of Never. He explained what the song was about in his amusing way and the crowd loved it. He did sing Its not Unusual.
I understand the changes they have made, even though I don’t totally agree. The new musicians are very talented & add enthusiam to the show but they are lacking in professionalism. At times they seemed to be competing to see who could play the loudest and nearly drowned Tom out several times.
Three of them sang harmony standing behind Tom on Green Green Grass and they sounded off and the back-up singers sounded weak, so they didn’t add anything. If we had never seen the show before we would not have realized the polish that was missing. The lead guitarist, who is very talented, picked panties up and threw them at the other musicians and draped one over the microphone.
Tom ignored all of it and seemed to be having a great time.
Last time Tom played here I complained about the lights at the venue and Tom’s management was very gracious about the issue. This year we were sitting mid-orchestra and the lights were flashing on us more than on the stage. Whomever was in charge of lights must have thought they were in a large stadium instead of a lovely Symphony Hall. If they keep this up we will have to sit in the balcony to avoid the lights. At least it will be cheaper.
Despite all of the above, Tom Jones is a Force of Nature and yes, we will continue to attend his shows but, please, these new people need to learn who the Star of the show is.
February 7th, 2010 at 7:20 am
I agree with you completely. I think you are saying, as I felt, that if Tom wants this type of party show the other band was too good and too professional. This concert setting is too sloppy for the quality group he had before. I enjoyed it but have since listened to some concert recordings with the old band and this is much more shallow musically. Give my preference, for the long term I would prefer the old sound. Fun only lasts so long. First-class music will last forever.
February 7th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Hi: As much as anyone, you all have to know that I understand that feelings about the US band run high.
But to be fair, I have to say that the professional credentials of the new group cannot be doubted. Team TJ can afford to hire the best and they do. Once again it must be stressed that the musicians and back up singers (and I am separating the two groups deliberately) behave on stage as they are told to behave. I believe Tom and the musicians who play instruments behind him are all first-rate. (When I get around to it, the page on The Band and Staff Today will be updated so all can see what I’ve scrounged up about these guys.) They know their music.
Their antics? Well, again, they don’t do anything they’re not allowed or instructed to do. What puzzles me is that we know from everything we’ve read and heard that Management discourages this kind of behavior and Tom generally ignores what gets thrown Maybe someone thinks this will attract a younger crowd or something.
Last summer at Westbury, when I counted more than two dozen undergarments littering the stage, there were at least another dozen in the pit with the musicians. I remember that the guys in the horn section each decorated their instruments (that doesn’t sound right, does it?) with a pair. But that was one night and the flying objects landed on one instrument and the other musicians just followed suit for a few minutes. If they’re doing this every night, then it must have the approval of all involved.
February 7th, 2010 at 9:02 am
Carlene Carter got it exactly right. I am very happy that a musician with credibility said this and that it got into print. Thanks for posting.
February 7th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Well said, Bonnie. I hope management does not want a juvenile feel to the show because that is what we got. Though it was entertaining that evening I wouldn’t want to see it time & again.
February 7th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Ellen, Thanks. Yes the band is only doing what they are told or rehearsed.it takes a little time to get the kinks out if there are any. Also no one band member has that kind of control over their volume if any. So I don’t think anyone is trying to compete with the other for who is the loudest. Tom and his management not just his management have decided on this show and how it is presented. I think it all sounds refreshing and new. Tom’s show needed a refreshing for a long time. I can’t wait to see it. Tom has never let us down so I think we should be happy for the changes, new band, new show etc. This all means Tom wants to be performing for many years to come. That is great for us fans. Let go of the past and lets move forward with Tom.
February 7th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Tom does change his show ,but the one thing that never changes is that wonderful VOICE …
February 8th, 2010 at 1:19 am
Sorry,but I don’t like the sound of this at all.I may be old fashion but can’t see the point of Tom’s managment wanting this. I like a laugh and joke as much as the next,but to me this is making Tom look small, and taking away his class act!
February 8th, 2010 at 6:02 am
Prior to seeing Tom on his UK tour last year, the last time we saw Tom was in Las Vegas in 2008, and of course Tom and his old band were wonderful, and we thoroughly enjoyed the shows. However after seeing several shows on the UK tour last year I realised how much more the new band has brought to the show, they have brought everything bang up to date with the new arrangements, lighting etc, and they are all terrific musicians. I also enjoyed the backing singers who I thought were totally professional. By the way Abbie Osman played Eva Peron in Evita on the London West End stage a couple of years ago and she was excellent, I remember going to see her in that.
I don’t know what happened in Dallas, but there were no silly antics on the UK shows that we went to see, and I found that everyone on stage acted very professional.It would be great if people stopped throwing underwear anyway, really can’t understand why fans still do that, Tom has said many times how much he hates it.
I agree with Nick please let go of the past and move on, if Tom is happy then we must be too. Tom will always be a class act.
February 8th, 2010 at 7:18 am
I couldn’t agree more Ellen, Patricia and Nick, it’s time to let go of the past. The show in LV last month was truly amazing. The relationship between Sir Tom and his band, definitely gave me the feeling that they were having a great time together, and I was wishing that the party could have gone on all night. As for the panties, ladies it’s time to give it a rest, we all know how extremely sexy TJ is,and throwing panties just seems to cheapen our affection for him.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:07 am
Patricia: I knew that Abbie understudied the lead role of Evita on the West End and that is puzzling to me because (1) one must ask why is she doing this now and (2) if her voice is truly that good — and I’ll believe the die-hard Evita fans who liked her — if she has an Evita-suitable voice, why isn’t she given a bit more to do with Tom? Sharon Hendrix’ amazing voice had ample opportunity to be shown off. One hopes she will have the same opportunity. From what I’ve read her reviews were pretty good, if not quite mature enough to play the part. The way the back-up singers are used in this show doesn’t give them much of a chance to strut their stuff. Maybe soon. (And now that I think of it, one voice that would be a great match with Tom is the definitive Evita, Patti LuPone.) I know the economy has cut into entertainment on every level, but it seems a bit sad and strange to me that from West End alternate lead in 2007 to basically unbilled back-up singer in 2009 is quite a contrast. Now that you reminded me, I’d really love to hear her sing.
February 10th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
LOL Ellen with the horn section
– I had the pleasure to see TOM with his “New” Band in Vegas in January and I agree with Bonnie “Fun only lasts so long. First-class music will last forever.” I have seen countless shows with the “Old” Band” and after every show I was longing for MORE …. oh boy do I miss Darelle, Sharon and Tony as back ups 
…the “New” band and show brings a different sound, lightshow and much energy – much more a party on stage reaching for the new and younger audience – the fans will come for TOM whoever the plays with … I saw 3 shows/parties and I am not longing for MORE