Tom Jones International

Scoop was with Tom in Albany, NY and commented on that show the other day. Scoop was also at Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY on February 25 (where everyone got a taste of winter in upstate NY) and in Rochester on February 26 as Tom finished up the northeastern leg of his tour before heading to MGM in Las Vegas for two weeks. Here, Scoop talks about those shows with the focus on the reviewers and once again — because it cannot be said enough — on the security guards at shows. And, lacking photos from these shows, we’ve posted the Turning Stone promo for your viewing pleasure.

Now — Here’s Scoop!

First, Turning Stone:

Turning Stone’s Theater is a lot like the Hollywood Theater at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and the Superstar Theater at Resorts International in Atlantic City. The main — and huge — difference is that Turning Stone Theater is way newer and much more updated. It’s actually a very nice wide layout, but not especially deep. Obviously it is made to accommodate Vegas style shows. And that’s pretty much how the night went. Good venue, good show and good audience response.

Mr. Jones earned and did receive a standing ovation at the conclusion.

It was a little intimidating to note that Martina McBride was playing at about the same time in the casino arena next door. The arena holds many, many, many more people than the theater. Consequently, getting to the theater was like salmon swimming upstream. Trying to avoid the legions of McBride fans going the opposite direction was exhausting, but not the least bit daunting.

The weather this entire day in Verona can only be described as winter at her near worst. Single digit temperatures, high winds and blowing, drifting snow made for treacherous going to and from the casino. Many, many, many did brave the elements to be entertained. Once again Mr. Jones was impressive!

Now, Rochester:

I just love it when I read the reviews and they do nothing more than confirm that Tom Jones is as awesome as ever! Tame, he is not. Ready to retire, he is not. He rocks the house every show, and even the critics, who can be very vicious, can’t fault the power of the Jones!

Writer Jeff Spevak got it right in his review. I would love to tell you that he’s a little overblown in his praise, but I’d be wrong. I especially liked these comments: “It was a riot for the middle ages, with women streaming toward the undulating center of their adoration, dancing and twirling their underwear overhead like lariats as a couple of security guys needlessly tried to hustle them away from the stage. Is Jones supposed to be afraid of some grandmas — really, there were a couple — armed with empty brassieres?”

I have commented on this time and time again. These security details need coaching on how to be kinder and gentler. It’s comical to watch these hulking men enforce their “no tolerance” bra throwing policy against ladies who look at them as if to say “are you kidding me?” Note to huge security guy’s boss: Bras are not weapons, they are necessary enhancements! Most men enjoy them. Catch on brawny bucks. Just sit in your security chairs and let the “rockets red glare”!

Following Mr. Jones this past month has been such a pleasure and such great fun. Each audience is new and unique, as are the venues and the cities. The ingredients making up this incredible show are consistent each night. The added spice comes in as the doors open to a different venue each night and a new audience is added to the mix.

This is a diet that I intend to stay with because it’s working! Try it, you’ll like it, over and over and over again.

Mmm, Mmm GOOD!

See you in Las Vegas!

Scoop… out!

Concert review: It’s not unusual: Jones, 65, still a tomcat

Jeff Spevak Staff music critic, Rochester (NY) Democrat & Chronicle

(February 27, 2006)

What’s new, Pussycat?

Not much, because Sunday night at the Auditorium Theatre, Tom Jones showed he can still deliver the goods.

You would have been disappointed if you had been looking for a train wreck of a 65-year-old singer, who admitted during the show that he enjoys dangerous habits like drinking champagne and smoking Cuban cigars with Jerry Lee Lewis.

A little puffier, with a goatee and hands darting daringly close to his erogenous zones, Jones is still throwing hip-checks at middle-aged women. He wiped the sweat from his brow, purred like a big cat, shook his butt and blew away 1,800 people in a show way, way better than the rest of you could ever dream possible.

She’s a Lady got the women trickling down the aisles to throw underwear onto the stage. But by Sex Bomb, it was a riot for the middle ages, with women streaming toward the undulating center of their adoration, dancing and twirling their underwear overhead like lariats as a couple of security guys needlessly tried to hustle them away from the stage. Is Jones supposed to be afraid of some grandmas — really, there were a couple — armed with empty brassieres?

But plenty else is new, kitties. Among his several career makeovers, Jones has increasingly turned to the idea of remaking smartly picked contemporary pop songs. In 1988, he had a nice hit with Prince’s Kiss, a Sunday highlight. As were Randy Newman’s You Can Leave Your Hat On — with Jones ripping off his tuxedo jacket to the challenge — Lewis’ “End of the Road,” Howlin’ Wolf’s Three Hundred Pounds of Joy (slimmed down to 200 pounds by Jones) and Newman’s Mama Told Me (Not to Come), better known as a Three Dog Night hit.

And Jones’ musical adventurousness showed through on one of the highlights of the night, a bluesy St. James Infirmary.

Jones survives being buried in an avalanche of cheese because he has an impish sense of humor about himself, prancing around like a kitty for What’s New Pussycat?” Those overblown vocals resonate life experience: He grew up in a coal-mining town in Wales, where bellowing was the only way to be heard in a pub. And you could hear that he hasn’t lost a note on hits like It’s Not Unusual and Delilah. He overpowered his 11-piece band.

But ultimately, the music is romantic. During Green, Green Grass of Home, the guy next to me whipped out his cell phone and yelled into it, evidently to his wife sitting closer to the stage, “THIS IS YOUR WEDDING SONG!” And what a fine relationship that must be, if they were indeed strolling down the aisle to a ballad about some guy stuck in prison.

Tom played the Kirby Center in Wilkes Barre, PA, on February 12. He had just come from Connecticut by bus on the night of the huge blizzard in New York. I don’t know how they got through it. Even though the show was late starting, he met 10 of us BEFORE the show. I, fortunately, know the person who is head of the Kirby Center so we were included in the backstage visit. When my daughter Meredith and I went back, I left two of the pictures that we had taken with Tom at Resorts last November (the ones that are posted on this website). He autographed each in gold pen, and now we have them proudly hanging in my office and in my daughter’s apartment.

The new show is great. He added St. James Infirmary Blues. (I actually emailed him last December to add it, as it is such a great cut and showcases the band. But I am sure that had nothing to do with it being added.)

What a guy! My daughter loves him. I never appreciated him when I was younger, but to hear his voice and his range — it is incredible.

I still can’t believe Tom met anybody before his show, being a little late as he was. It just shows what class he has. I gave him a little present, a book by Ed McMahon on Johnny Carson and during the show, a lady gave him some Welsh cookies that he ate on stage for energy!

—Dr. Dave

After reading this review, Inside Scoop suggested that we post it in its entirety, noting, “I couldn’t say it better. That guy really respects Mr. Jones. ” So, here it is. And look for Scoop’s comments in the comment section where, Scoop tells us, “Britain’s latest knight is right at home in the Palace.”

Tom Jones delivers it all live

By GREG HAYMES, Staff writer, Albany (NY) Times-Union First published: Saturday, February 25, 2006

ALBANY — Frank Sinatra was The Voice. Elvis Presley was The King. Jackie Wilson was Mr. Excitement.

They’re all gone now, but it seems as though Tom Jones is ready to take on each of their titles — even at the age of 65.

At the Palace Theatre on Friday night, the powerhouse Welsh singer uncorked a flat-out blockbuster performance. Despite the fact that you won’t find Jones anywhere on the pop record charts these days, the man certainly knows how to deliver the goods live.

For the record, the first item of women’s unmentionables hit the stage at 9:05 p.m. in the middle of the towering ballad, I’ll Never Fall in Love Again, and by my count, the final underwear total was four — with three more launched during the prowling oom-pah of What’s New, Pussycat?

But the whole feminine-undergarments-as-flying-missiles-of- adoration thing has always served only to undermine Jones’ true talents as both a vocalist and an entertainer.

That’s not to say that he isn’t still a mighty sexy guy. Gyrating in the spotlight during the high-kicking Delilah, the hip-swiveling braggadocio of She’s a Lady and the flashy footwork of the final encore, Prince’s uber-sexy Kiss, Jones was every bit the sex symbol that he was 40 years ago when he won the Grammy Award as the best new artist of the year.

His booming, brassy baritone sounds as powerful as ever, as he romped through his oldies from the ’60s (like growling It’s Not Unusual and the country-gospel wail of Green, Green Grass of Home), more recent dance-floor hits ( the disco detonation of Sex Bomb) and a welcome batch of old blues tunes (the jazzy barrelhouse of St. James Infirmary Blues and a swaggering sashay through Willie Dixon’s 200 Pounds of Heavenly Joy).

He was at his best, however, when he managed to meld all three of those elements together. He perfectly blended the old with the new on his scorching cover of Rise Robots Rise’s If I Only Knew, unleashing a hell-bent scream alongside a punchy R&B horn figure from the four-piece horn section. Heck, he even pulled off a bit of rap with a sly, self-aware sense of humor.

Dressed all in black and sporting a goatee, Jones made it work on a pair of funky Randy Newman covers — Mama Told Me Not to Come and You Can Leave Your Hat On, which has never sounded as brash and bawdy. And he made it work on the more subtle finger-snapping country soul of Charlie Rich’s Who Will the Next Fool Be?, too.

While the eight-piece band and trio of backing vocalists served him well, he didn’t really need them, as he proved during the pared down blues of What Am I Living For?, his robust voice backed only by Brian Monroney’s acoustic guitar and saxophonist Kenny Anderson. The old Kittie Kallen ballad, Love Letters, was also given maximum impact by honing the focus of Jones’ heart wrenching vocals.

Tom Jones has still got it. No question about it.

The crowd: A crowd of approximately 2,600 made the show a near sell-out.

Highlights: The swaggering You Can Leave Your Hat On and the razor-sharp If I Only Knew

Length: 85 minutes

Panty total: 4

The first time I took my wife Diana to see Tom Jones was January 20, 2005 at MGM. That was her birthday present. When I suggested it, she said, “I’d love to see Tom Jones, I’ve always wanted to.”

We arrived a half-hour before show time and we were able to move up front to Table 5, right in the center next to the stage. It was so incredible. It was the first time we’d both seen him in person. I shook hands with him as he was leaving the stage. We went again May 6 and, so far this year, we’ve seen him three times.

On January 21, a friend took Diana backstage to meet Tom. He took a picture with her and was just terrific.

Then on January 30, we were both able to go backstage again with that friend.

That night, Sandy took us backstage and then Don came in. When Tom came in, I was elated. I thought it was a wonderful experience meeting him. He is the only living legend left.

I showed him the photo of himself and Diana and I said, “Tom, I want you to see this picture of this guy who’s running around with my wife.” He laughed and signed the picture. Tom and I were set to take a photo together.Don took the camera and, then, Tom called Diana over to join us in the photo.

While we were taking the picture, I told him how great he was. He said, “Yes, I see you out there. And I hear you.”

He was very gracious. I said to him, “Tom, you’re the best there is and I want to thank you,”

He thanked us for the good wishes and we left anticipating the next show. It was an amazing night!

—Tom T.

Here are photos of Tom sent in by Lois. He’s meeting fans in Atlantic City after a show. Be sure to check out what Inside Scoop — and other fans — thought about the shows AC, Stamford and, hopefully, the last few shows on the winter tour of the northeast.

A day before his show in Albany, here’s what is arguably the best article about Tom Jones written in a long while by a writer who does his homework. Enjoy! Feel free to add your own reasons.

Tom cat
Here are 10 reasons why, many years later, women still flock to see Jones

By GREG HAYMES, Staff writer
First published: Thursday, February 23, 2006

With his sonic boom of a voice, ’60s pop star Tom Jones is still making great music…and still making women weak in the knees.

Not only is Jones still hip-swiveling, but he’s still hip.

And as he returns to the Capital Region for a concert at the Palace Theatre on Friday evening, here are 10 reasons why:

1. The hits: Throughout the ’60s and ’70s, Jones was a veritable hit machine, rattling off 18 Top 40 tunes, including such smashes as It’s Not Unusual, What’s New, Pussycat?, Green, Green Grass of Home, Delilah, Daughter of Darkness and, of course, She’s a Lady. And while he’s certainly best known as a pop singer, Jones is — like the late, great Ray Charles — one of those rare singers who has also racked up Top 10 hits on both the country and black music charts. “When it comes to music, I like to do a lot of different kinds of things,” Jones explained during an interview a few years ago.

2. The knight: Heading up the list of names on the Queen’s New Year Honours, the Welsh singer began 2006 with a new title — Sir Tom Jones. “For the last 40 years, I’ve traveled the world singing and entertaining, bringing a bit of Wales and Great Britain to my friends, colleagues and audiences,” Jones posted on his Web site last month. “For me, to accept a Knighthood is a great and humbling honour.”

3. The lingerie: In his heyday, Jones was a larger-than-life sex symbol, igniting quite a combustible reaction among his fevered, predominantly female fans, who often tossed their underwear and hotel keys to the singer in the midst of his frenzied performance. “The whole panties thing really got out of hand,” said Jones. “I used to not exactly encourage it, but go along with it. Pick them up, wipe the brow and do the business, you know? But if people throw things at me now, I don’t pick them up. They just stay where they land. And believe me, sometimes the stage is quite littered.”

4. The voice: “I think that in my case, the image overshadowed the talent in a lot of people’s eyes,” Jones said. “Sometimes, the reviewers were so busy documenting the crowd’s frenzy that my voice would not even be mentioned in the review. The writers would be reviewing the audience’s reaction instead of my performance.” Make no mistake about it, Jones has a voice as big as an ocean liner — remember his towering rendition of I (Who Have Nothing)? — and he still knows how to use it. “I dread the day that I can’t sing,” he confided. “When my voice doesn’t work as well as it does, then I’ll have to stop.” Just don’t expect him to hang it up anytime soon.

5. The duets: As a duet partner, Jones is nothing if not fearless. He’s gone note-for-note with some of the best veteran vocalists around, including Tina Turner, Van Morrison, Dusty Springfield, Gladys Knight and Chaka Khan. But he isn’t afraid to share the microphone with more contemporary hitmakers such as Tori Amos, Portishead, Robbie Williams and Barenaked Ladies.

6. The songs: “If I hear a good song, I want to be able to record it without worrying whether or not it fits my particular musical style,” Jones insisted. And since his prime hit-making days, Jones has managed to maintain his contemporary edge by working with cutting-edge producers (Wyclef Jean produced his 2002 disc, Mr. Jones) and delving into some surprising song bags to tackle such songs as Prince’s super-sexy Kiss, Iggy Pop’s tumultuous Lust for Life (and not the sanitized Royal Caribbean Cruise Line version, either) and an absolutely scorching treatment of the Talking Heads’ Burning Down the House.

7. The catch in his voice at the end of the third verse of I’ll Never Fall in Love Again: ‘Nuff said.

8. The pop culture icon: Jones’ self-deprecating sense of humor has served him well over the years, and he’s scored big points by spoofing himself in The Simpsons, Sex and the City and Tim Burton’s sci-fi flick, Mars Attacks! Currently, you can hear Jones belting out his 1968 hit Help Yourself in new TV spots for Diet Dr. Pepper. And his signature song, It’s Not Unusual, pops up on the big screen in the soundtrack to Pierce Brosnan’s new film, The Matador. Of course, Jones’ music has long been a favorite of filmmakers. Who can forget his appropriately bombastic James Bond theme song, Thunderball?

9. The bluesman: Tom Jones, bluesman? Don’t laugh. Jones was one of the stars of Red, White & Blues, director Mike Figgis’ contribution to the 2003 PBS miniseries Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues, which is now out on DVD. Spurred on by guitar master Jeff Beck, Jones wailed through soul-soaked R&B nuggets, including Goin’ Down Slow, Lawdy Miss Clawdy and Ray Charles’ classic Hard Times. “Basically, I consider myself to be a soul singer,” Jones pointed out. “No matter what kind of music I’m singing, there’s always some element of soul in it.” And on his latest CD, Tom Jones and Jools Holland, Jones teams up with the former Squeeze keyboardist for such blues gems as Willie Dixon’s 200 Pounds of Heavenly Joy and My Babe, as well as Doc Pomus’ Mess of Blues and the standard Saint James Infirmary Blues.

10. The entertainer: While many in the audience at the Palace on Friday will be the longtime faithful Jones fans, the singer is well aware that some of the younger generation might attend simply for the kitsch ‘n’ camp factor. “Oh sure, I know that some people come to the show thinking that it’s going to be a bit of a novelty,” Jones says matter of factly, “but I’m not going to let them go away thinking that.”

[NOTE: A fan named Elaine also critiqued Tom's New Brunswick show and his Stamford CT show on Wednesday. See Scoop's comment on that (#3 in the "comment" section below) and note the good idea about a "spotter."]

“The State Theatre is a magnificently renovated 1921 1800-seat vaudeville theater presenting a diversity of world-class events including international orchestras, Broadway musicals, jazz productions, dance ensembles, touring operas, country music, educational programs, children’s events, world music, a film series, and more. The concert hall attracts over 300,000 patrons each year from all 21 counties in New Jersey as well as from Pennsylvania and New York.” (from the State Theatre official website.)

With such a rich, distinguished and diverse history it’s no wonder last night’s concert by Mr. Tom Jones was a smashing success.

A full house showed up at the State Theatre in New Brunswick New Jersey Tuesday night to celebrate the return of Tom Jones. Hats off to this very sophisticated and supremely appreciative audience. This group was clearly head and shoulders above the rest. Of course Mr. Jones fit right in to this august setting, and the party was definitely on!

Individual fans showered Tom with more rose bouquets than panties on this night! How can such a large group be so excited yet easily approachable at the same time? This above-average enthusiastic behavior allowed Mr. Jones to interact much more closely with his fans than usual. It was thrilling for the audience, and made for a more intimate show, despite the size and grandeur of this historic facility. Tom signed photos, took several rose bouquets, signed one rather large bright red bra (D-cup I’m quite sure), and accepted a large wonderfully framed pencil sketch of himself complete with goatee and microphone in hand.

Yes, New Brunswick, you did it right last night!

Mr. Jones delivered a powerful show in the fashion we’ve come to expect from him. His voice was strong, his command of the stage complete. Not only did Tom’s signature songs garner standing ovations, but the strength of his voice on any given song caused sporadic cluster groups to stand at the completion of more than a few tunes. This artistically superior crowd was especially fond of the ballads.

It appeared that Tom’s band was raised up on risers that were higher than we are used to seeing. This definitely added to the pleasing overall visual effect of the show. Tom’s interplay with his band is fun to watch. It comes across as sincere and well-reciprocated. And the band and backup singers! They are hip, polished and right in step with this amazing 65 year-old.

The lighting and sound also added tremendously to the overall success of the show. The final ingredient in this delicious musical martini was of course the audience. After the last tune of the regular set, this amazingly hip crowd knew that cell phones are indeed the modern day encore candles of this technically advanced time we live in. As I looked around, I counted more than two dozen cell lights waving back and forth from extended arms and excited hands. Very cool! I suspect a few of those cell phones were active calls. It’s Not Unusual.

Mr. Jones and company were here at the State Theatre just last year. Apparently that wasn’t enough judging from tonight’s turnout and reaction. I have a feeling that a return trip may already be in the works.

All of my champagne wishes, Tom Jones swishes and caviar dreams came true in Brunswick.

It must be good to be Tom Jones!

Scoop… out!

To tomjonesinternational.com from a source in London:

“Sir Tom Jones’ Investiture is at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday 29th March, but the Palace will not say ‘for security reasons’ who will ‘dub’ him.”

You can check the Buckingham Palace website to learn how the investiture ceremony works. It’s a dry, but thorough, explanation.

[Editor's Note: The concert calendar is free from March 16 to April 5, so this looks like it may be accurate. If we hear anything further, we'll let you know and, please, do the same for us. Thanks.]

Seems like the only thing right at Resorts this past weekend was the fact that Tom Jones was there. Otherwise this hotel remains inept and understaffed as usual (This writer’s opinion of course). Waiting in line to check in was like a trip to the the DMV. Simple staff courtesy has gone the way of the Miss America Pageant… out of Atlantic City! Seeing our man Tom Jones would indeed be the hot spot in this otherwise frigid place.

I relied on feedback from my many TJ friends who also frequent Tom’s appearances to fill me in on his first two nights at Resorts. All indications are that tonight, Sunday, was clearly the best of the three nights. Tonight’s audience was custom-built for Mr. Jones. He was gleefully returning the abundant energy and enthusiasm he was getting from his veteran fans. Atlantic City regularly brings out the most loyal of Tom’s east coast followers.

Elvis’s All Shook Up made its way into the setlist tonight. This happens only when the audience has made it clear that they want all that Tom has to give, and then some! Mr. Jones was clearly in a giving mood. Not only did he do the Elvis tune to the hilt, but he talked about it for a while after finishing. The enthralled audience ate up his every word. Tom was relaxed and in control. He clearly sensed that tonight was a splendid combination of all the best circumstances coming together at precisely the right time. A good “knight” indeed!

Like an Olympic skier securely and confidently crossing the finish line at the end of a record-breaking run, Tom Jones easily worked his musical magic all over the stage. Perhaps the extreme cold outside (and behind the front desk) helped to fuel the inferno that erupted inside the Superstar Theater tonight.

Thus, another successful Tom Jones Resorts engagement has come to a satisfying conclusion.

Inside Atlantic City’s casinos, one senses the presence of power and opulence that the gaming industry creates. Meanwhile just outside of the casinos one can’t help but wonder what happened to the rest of Atlantic City. The economic dichotomy that continues to exist here is at the very least appalling. This disparity is very slow to change. I remain optimistic for the sake of those who call Atlantic City home.

Scoop… out!