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.
Finally, The August 9th Opening In Las Vegas — On August 12th
Monday, August 13th, 2007This photo and four others from August 12 at the MGM Grand are now in our flickr set, The Many Faces of Tom Jones. Please note that, as has been said many times before here, photos are not “legal” in the Hollywood Theatre, so these were taken on the sly and the quality of some may suffer as a result..
With a crowd that was more enthusiastic than most, it was a very interesting evening. Many in the audience had been here four or five days, arriving in time for Tom’s scheduled opening on Thursday. They were here from Europe, Canada and assorted locations in these United States. And some had waited the full four days.
So, was it worth the wait?
“The Voice,” better than other voices even when he’s not singing, was a bit rough and slightly hoarse when he talked. But it was a terrific show, full of energy and the love pouring onstage was palpable.
The setlist is pretty much the same, with With These Hands replacing The Reason and Stoned In Love eliminated. He changed a couple of words in 200 Pounds, so now he says, “200 pounds of natural man,” instead of “200 pounds of muscle and man
He’s also much trimmer than he’s been in a long time and, at the end of 200 Pounds he didn’t say, as he has been for ages, “I”m on my way to 200 pounds.” He said, “I am 200 pounds.” And he looked it.
We must comment that, while the canceled shows were upsetting to many fans, some really took advantage of the “free time” in Las Vegas. They went to other shows, did some sightseeing. Many of these people have been coming to see Tom here for a long time and a surprising number of them said it was the first time they’d ever been out of the MGM when they weren’t coming from or going to the airport. Most of them seemed to enjoy seeing our city — there’s lots to see — and a few told us they plan to add some days on next time they come.
This is one of several photos from tonight’s show. Someone gave Tom an inflatable plastic hand with the Welsh dragon on it. It’s what he wore to wave to the crowd as the curtain came down. We’ll post the rest on our flickr set. Meanwhile, it’s 2:30 a.m. here and tomorrow is a work day.
So we bid you all a good night in the knowledge that, with Tom onstage at the MGM all is once again right with the world or, at least, the Tom Jones corner of the world.
August 13th, 2007 at 8:12 am
So, did Tom take out The Reason?
August 13th, 2007 at 8:35 am
Yes, Jared, he did.
August 13th, 2007 at 10:12 am
While I missed not getting to see him this trip, I’m thrilled he is recovered and back in fine form. Thanks TJI…can’t wait until September.
August 13th, 2007 at 10:55 am
I want to see him!!! I’m Jonesin’ for a fix ; ))) Thanks for the update.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Thanks for the review and I’m glad Tom is back! Stoned In Love is one of my favorite songs. I’m sorry he eliminated it. What did he replace it with?
August 13th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Lori, he hasn’t “replaced” it with anything. It was not in the AC setlist either.
August 13th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Hope tom fells better now.We miss you tom.fan of you.
August 13th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Soooooo. What is the set list from his show? I always heard the TJ International and it was a fab opener. I also loved the Stoned In Love song .I wish he would do more of the songs he sang on the 2002 Cardiff DVD Any news about a new DVD where we can see “the man” would be greatly looked forward to by ALL OF US TOTALLY ADDICTED OUT HERE!!!!
August 13th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
Why is the trumpet player dressed like the UPS man in this pic?
August 13th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Stoned In Love was in the Thursday AC set. Also there was Cry For Home.
August 14th, 2007 at 12:44 am
Actually, “Anon,” he — like the other members of the band — was dressed all in black…..the lights made it look brown. We’re betting you already knew that.
August 14th, 2007 at 6:12 am
anon writes “Why is the trumpet player dressed like the UPS man in this pic?”
Well now, that’s because they’re always known to deliver! D’oh!
Just like Tom’s big hand in this pic. You know what they say about big hands now, don’t you?
Big gloves. ; ))
August 14th, 2007 at 7:55 am
Thanks, Fay.You are always able to state the obvious with such elegance and we appreciate it.
August 14th, 2007 at 8:16 am
Thanks for the review ladies. I would of love to been there to hear “With These Hands” one of my many favorite songs. ” Boy From Nowhere ” must be my # 1 song that I want to hear live that I haven’t heard then “I Who Have Nothing” followed by ” With These Hands”. There are many more but I’ll be here all day naming songs that I would love to hear TJ sing live that I haven’t heard. Once again thanks for keeping us updated with whats goiung on at the shows a always the wonderful reviews.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:03 am
It’s so good to hear that Tom is better and back on stage. There’s lovely!
Thanks, as always, for the prompt and heartening news.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:15 am
I am glad God put his loving hand on our Tom and helped him recover,since it was God who gave us this incredible man we all admire and the VOICE we all LOVE to hear. The VOICE that has brought pleasure to millions of people all over this planet
August 14th, 2007 at 11:19 am
I am also VERY HAPPY that Tom was well enough to sing on Sunday. We had tickets for both Saturday and Sunday. We were thrilled that he we got to enjoy him at least one night. I took 2 long stem roses for him and when I gave them to him he graciously accepted them and I blew him a kiss and he returned one to me! OMG!…. I thought I would die happy right there! LOL! Really! My husband was right behind me with a broken ankle (you may have noticed him hobble in ) I think he was as excited for me as I was to receive such a gift from Sir Tom. I am back home, but still floating in Tommy Heaven.
August 14th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
I just checked out the flickr photos and it does look like TJ lost a few pounds…his pants are toooooo loose! He should get a new wardrobe so the he can have that “tight” fit fans have become accustomed to over the decades.
August 14th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Where are the pix from Vegas this week..cant find them in flicker…Thanks
August 14th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Rica: Follow the link above. They’re the first (top) five photos in that set.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Hi All:
I just got back from Vegas. On Thursday night just as I was boarding my shuttle to the airport, I got a call from a friend who informed me that he had cancelled due to a throat infection. I was so disappointed, but I was much more concerned about Tom’s health. Due to all of this, I did some other things and probably had one of the best times since starting these Vegas jaunts in 2005/2006. I saw some familiar fans and met some new fabulous ones as well. Tom’s voice was not the same as I am used to, but he still put on one heck of a show. The man is a machine!!!
August 15th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Thanks gals. You would think even I could have figured that out!!
August 24th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Sir Tom at the Hollywood Theatre at the MGM. I have never seen Tom in such an intimate setting before!! Reminded me of the old Hollywood glam you see in the movies! I have always seen Tom in very large theatres (stadiums) so this was a real treat! It felt so much more personal!! You are so close to him! It truly was magic for me! I got to go right down front. I had a linen towel from Pontypridd that Tom noticed during the show and acknowledged. Later, Tom signed my towel and chatted with me briefly! I even got a kiss on the cheek and a little hug. I’m still in heaven! I’m sure Sir Tom would have rather been resting as he was still not fully recovered from his illness, but he took some time out for some of his fans. He is a wonderful human being and he will never know how much that meant to me! I shall carry it with me always. Tom is a true gentleman. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Sir Tom!!!
August 25th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
“Was It Worth The Wait?” - YES!YES!YES! TOM is always worth the wait - I was very lucky to have tickets for SUN and MON also - I would fly to the moon to see OUR MAN perform!!!!!