Tom Jones International

Tom will be interviewed on Australia’s 60 Minutes Sunday on February 28. The online preview promises: ?He’s the coal miner’s son who hit pay-dirt with his great voice. The original, hip-swivelling smoothie from the swinging sixties. Now he’s pushing seventy, but Tom Jones is still a sex bomb and hard at it, singing, that is. He says his days as a serial philanderer are over. But on stage, Sir Tom, yes he’s even scored a knighthood, can still bump ‘n’ grind with the best. And as Liam Bartlett discovered when he caught up with him on the eve of his Australian tour, there’s still no shortage of knicker-hurling fans.”

By Al Jones/The Press, Christchurch, NZ/February 26, 2010

Sir Tom Jones justified the moniker of The Voice beyond a shadow of a doubt in Christchurch last night.

The Welsh singing star took the stage at the Town Hall to a deafening roar from a crowd that was there for a good time. So was Tom actually. He smiled, joked, winked, danced and of course sang, non-stop for just under two hours.

Jones, who turns 70 this year, didn’t miss a beat. Apart from the 10-piece backing band being slightly overwhelming a few times, the show was slick, tight, professional and heaps of fun.

Hitting the stage with Sugar Daddy, (written for him by U2′s Bono), the Welsh singing legend revelled in the lyrics which are essentially a mickey take.

Things quickly warmed up on stage and off. A size 24 pair of knickers were being waved around at one point. They looked as though they had something written on them; it might have been a phone number but on size 24 undies? Maybe it was an international number.

As the sweat poured and the songs flowed, Jones asked the audience, is it hot in here? Or am I just having a hot flush? He was really enjoying himself and so was the audience.

Delilah had us on our feet singing and waving. Leave Your Hat On, Mama Told Me Not To Come, Hard to Handle, What’s New Pussycat, Put your Sweet Lips — they were all here and they were stunning.

After answering the demanding audience and returning for an encore, he blew the roof off the Town Hall with another two songs, including the Prince hit, Kiss.

Sweet and strong support was provided by the very talented Auckland musician Anna Coddington.

You must read comments from people who attended the concert! My favorites are that Tom’s a “70 year-old twenty-something” and a very enthusiastic: “What A Man What A Show What A Hornbag!!” Click here to

Some readers comment:

• What a rocking night ……..fantastic shame about the overwhelming backing at some points….awesome figure.

• Concert was great. Tom was great. The support act didn’t match Tom Jones at all

• Well I went to see the man himself, have been a fan since I was a kid. My brother is only in his 20s & saw him play at the Napier Winery a few years ago & told me that he puts on a great show. And guess what? He was right, I was just blown away by the mesmerising way he drew in the audience of all ages. The place was rockin & the crowd roaring like they were ready to rip his & their own clothes off. He has this aura that make woman weak at the knees & the men what to be him. He really is Mr.Sexy Cool. I have been to a lot of concerts of different genre’s & had never seen anything like this before. I couldn’t believe the energy that Tom still had after all these years, he surely is a professional. It’s true age has no barrier, the new 70 is the new 40. His techno set was fantastic it didn’t feel like I was at a Tom Jones concert more like a nite club but for him to have such a great range & style of music & be able to carry on thru the generations & draw a younger audience is absolutely brilliant. What A Man What A Show What A Hornbag!! As for the support act Anna Coddington she was brilliant she’s got a bright future ahead of her & her songs are being played on the radio as we speak. I feel it’s a great opportunity & a great honour for kiwi music acts to get the chance to play before a Main act & to get that recognition. Some of the support acts that the Main acts have are sometimes big acts themselves. So it is a really good thing, you do feel like you’ve got your moneys worth!

• Agreed – great show and brilliant to be part of an audience who were fully engaged and lively – Sir Tom still has a huge voice and plenty of charisma and showmanship. An excellent night. I for one was thrilled to see Anna Coddington in support, I have been a fan since seeing her perform in Fly My Pretties – her version of Walk On By was stunning )(as was the rest of her set) I also think it’s important to have kiwi artists up there – what a great opportunity to be exposed to such a large and diverse audience, I hope she does well out of it )

• Tom was brilliant……. what a great night out. He is a 70 year old twenty-something!!

• Great show I have to say. Didn’t expect it to be so darn good.

• More than I expected and even “the reluctant accompanee” was up on his feet, singing along. Sir Tom proved ‘age’ is not a barrier when gifted, focused and active – an inspiration who proved 70 can be middle-aged today. Not wishing to detract in any way and the supporting act was good, but why do we have to have one? Or couldn’t the main act go first leaving us able to leave if we wished. Those who didn’t go missed one of THE best performances

• What a night of entertainment – magnificent. What a voice!