Show & Venue Reviews, 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.
Tom at the MGM Friday, 1/19; And A Shout-Out To A Fan With A Sign!
Saturday, January 20th, 2007Lookin’ good. Soundin’ great. Or, lookin’ great. Soundin’ good. Or, more accurately, both great.
Tom is back and in great form. He just has so much fun on the stage, as do the band and back-up singers. They bring the audience along so that the entire concert is a joyous event.
Sir Tom is really good at what he does. Which is a good thing, seeing as how he (and we) love it so much. But the thing is, of course it’s true that there could be a set (like Manilow), a surprise element or two (like wondering what time Prince will actually start his show). Perhaps there could be dancers (but that’s so Canadian TV series). The point is, there could be a lot more stuff, but that would only serve to detract from The Voice (although a set wouldn’t be a terrible thing).
When you see a show more than once, you notice the smaller things. His band is, we say again, so talented. And it’s funny to see people in the audience really enjoying the horn section’s choreography. The singers are all given a chance to shine throughout the show, but especially during the amazing intro to Grandma’s Hands. The sound and lighting at the MGM are terrific as they enhance the event.
OK, Tom Jones is amazing. And, sometimes, his audience is surprising.
Tonight there were the usual flying underthings. And, as usual, people held up signs. But one sign — about one-third of the way back in the theater — was terrific:
It said:
It was great to see that sign because, while fans devour every word of every book about Tom, most of them — all of them — are terrible. But, in the general thirst for information, fans read them and, unfortunately, too many take them as gospel. They paint, at best, an incomplete picture of a man’s life and, at worst, just scurrilous gossip, not any kind of gospel. (Gotta admit, though, the pictures are usually good.)
And, it must be said that it is only an extraordinary performer who has fans discriminating enough to think about and comment via sign on books.
So if the person (or people) with the sign reads this — you are so right!
Meanwhile, let us know what you think of this set of shows at the MGM.
January 20th, 2007 at 5:41 am
Which boook are they talking about??
January 20th, 2007 at 7:27 am
Tom Jones: The Biography, by Robin Eggar. First published in 2000. An interesting read … but, no doubt, shouldn’t be taken as gospel (well, only the complimentary bits if there are any!)
January 20th, 2007 at 10:35 am
Maybe they hadn’t read Lucy Ellis and Bryony Sutherland’s book (but that would be a much longer sign).
January 20th, 2007 at 11:29 am
I think Eggar’s book set the standard for mean-spirited and awful. The book By Ellis and Sutherland is bad mostly because it (1) says nothing that Eggar didn’t say and (b) says it at great leangth in bulky, terrible prose style. (”In 1978 Tom….blah, blah, blah.” “In 1979 Tom…blah, blah, blah.”) It is boring.
—Ellen
January 20th, 2007 at 11:50 am
I agree completely; the Ellis and Sutherland book was dire and Robin Eggar’s was dreadful. I get particularly annoyed that he touts it as Tom’s ‘official’ biography when to my knowledge Tom has never endorsed any biography, least of all Eggar’s. Well done to whoever held up that sign!
I’m delighted our Tom is back in such fine form; thanks so much for keeping us less fortunate souls informed and cheering us up! I just love that man……..
January 20th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Friday nigh’ts show at the MGM: Wow wow wow wonderful. He always comes back better than ever. FANTASTIC! Keep up the good work, Mr. Jones.
January 20th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
Do you know if Tom saw the sign? Did he comment on it? I’m sure he appreciated it if he did.
January 20th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
The only good thing about the book was the pictures.
January 21st, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Ann: No, I don’t know if he saw it and do not recall him commenting on it either.
I haven’t read the Eggers book so I can’t comment. I did read another and thought afterwards, “So who made you the moral police?” The writing and tone were very English and very tsk, tsk. And I thought, “And if you were male and had the life he’s had, what would you do? If it were all true?” I think he’s done quite well, balanced the stardom and his private life as best one can. Avoided many of the pitfalls many celebrities get stuck in and stay in. And I think he’s done just fine - he’s apparently turned out to be quite the gentleman, seems to be more receptive to fans than other performers. How likely is Prince or Bono or (fill in the blank) going to walk through a hotel lobby or hangout in a hotel restaurant/club that they are performing at? I haven’t heard of any.
I was curious to know since the subject is biography, what’s happened to the one he was writing. I recall reading somewhere that he said he was working on it; not a tell-all to set the record straight, but instead, “this is who I’ve met and worked with and its been a fun life” book.
I needed a mini-vacation so I took a couple days to go to Vegas. I was considering some other shows besides Tom’s, but after looking at prices.. decided instead to see him twice. So I saw him opening night and on Friday. He was in fine form. He seemed very pleased to be back, well rested, and having fun. More talkative than usual. Wished everyone a happy new year on Thursday. I was several rows back in the center. I have to say, these seats are great. Friday I was upfront, off to the side. On the one hand, it was nice to be able to lean on the stage and be so close, but you don’t quite get the whole perspective of the show as you do being back a bit and more centered - plus he tends to stay more in the center of the stage and prefers stage left. (And the thumping of the speaker in your ear can be a bit much for those who are sensitive.) Both nights were great though. He seemed a bit dry on Friday, he commented on how dry it is in the showroom and was drinking lots of water and I really noticed it myself since I was up front. I think alot of it has to do with the smoke effects on stage or he may have stayed out a bit later than usual!! Personally I think he should drop Stoned in Love. It sounded like he was going out of tune, but he wasn’t. I was really listening on my 2nd night for it and it was the same. I don’t know if it’s the arrangement but it didn’t do anything for me, and I think it’s a song that doesn’t do anything for him. It’s just a chance for him to say, “This is a single we had out in Great Britain last year with Chicane,” so he sounds current and up to date. I would prefer he’d drop it and instead put in, “This is a song we’re considering for my current album I’m working on, tell me what you think?” The blues number Git Me Some is great! Fantastic. He does The Reason” well, but I prefer Hobanstank’s version. But it is a nice addition to the show and I Like the Way is just incredible — AWESOME. He knows it; the band knows it; and when you’re there, you know it. Go to the show just to be a part of this song!
As usual it would be nice to change the large screen video outside on the strip, the marquees around the hotel and to change the photos used in magazines hyping him - he’s had an updated look for several years now; it would be nice to have a different opening introduction video. How often can folks say this before “mgt” listens and then implements? As I’ve said, I don’t bother with the “official” site anymore, they’re not interested in listening. (Ellen and Ursula — great site, you both do a fabulous job. They should pay you for it. And it was nice meeting you, Ellen. It was just so loud, I couldn’t understand what you asking..) For those folks who are interested, one or two items (were tossed onstage) on Thursday, a bit more on Friday. A bouquet of flowers from the same woman upfront each night. He wore a black suit with the black sequined shirt Thursday and on Friday he wore a purple pinstripe with the same black sequined shirt. You know I’ve been thinking… he could go back to leather pants. Loose fit, tapered leg, in a light brown/tan/ with matching half boots with a long shirt similar to the one he wears only in blue or white or maroon or ??? Can we all not say enough — THE BAND is just awesome! If you’re curious as to where one band member gets his energy, check out In ‘N Out Burger after the show! I spied one Mr. Herman Matthews there to my surprise after the show on Friday. And talk about getting there quick!! I spent about 10 minutes in the lobby and then 15 minutes in the parking getting to my car and then just a short drive down Tropicana. I was heading back to my hotel when I decided to stop to get my double-double fix! And hmmm.. is that who I think it is? I was going to go over and say hello, great show, etc. but it didn’t feel appropriate and I didn’t want to interrupt his conversation or his privacy. Throw the sticks in the bag, out the door, hop in the car and at In ‘N Out before the audience disperses from the showroom! You go Mr. Huckabuck!!
January 21st, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Wow, thanks for the review Dana. Now I’m even more excited about March. Can’t wait to see him in Vegas.
January 22nd, 2007 at 6:14 pm
You’re welcome Anna. You will enjoy the show - especially if you see it in Vegas. The acoustics, I think, are very good and everyone (The Voice and The Band) seems very relaxed and comfortable there.
Note - I hope the computer or server doesn’t mess up my typing this time. I re-read what I wrote and thought, “My grammer and spelling wasn’t like this when I hit the send button!”
Anyways, enjoy the show in March. Don’t forget to enjoy yourself while you are in Vegas. And I and others look forward to your review of his show.
February 22nd, 2007 at 5:31 am
Nice site you have!