Fan Fare, What's New, Pussycat?
Here’s where you’ll find TJ photos and stories that don’t fit into any other categories. It is, as its name says, just for fans — and, hopefully, for fun.
Some 2008 Tour Dates Posted
Monday, November 5th, 2007Tom’s official site has posted some 2008 tour dates (and be sure to check the next page on that site, as they are listed in reverse chronological order). We are assuming this is a partial list and it’s interesting (and nice) that fans in North Dakota, Vancouver and other far-flung places that Tom usually does not visit will be getting to see him. These also include Iowa, a suburb of St. Louis, the Florida Strawberry Festival, Plant City FL, Marksville, LA, and Norman and Thackerville OK. We are really happy for those fans.
For those people seeing Tom at MGM in December, a reminder that they’ve double-booked the room so that Tom’s shows are at 7:30 each night except December 8th (the night of the big fight between Floyd Mayweather and Ricky Hatton), when Tom’s show is at 10 p.m. The later slot in the Hollywood Theatre those two weeks are occupied by comic Rodney Carrington.
And, finally, let us hope that all these venues dip into Tom’s on-line-for-journalists-and-venues-only electronic press kit (EPK) and use some of the newer photos contained therein. We’ve already shown you the lobby card photo the MGM uses. Here’s the one from their website. It’s a nice photo, but he looks good today, so why use this one that’s several years old? Our guy deserves better, doesn’t he?
November 5th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
Marksville, LA…Where is that??? I will have to find it as it is probably the closest venue so far.
November 6th, 2007 at 8:35 am
Please inform me if you have any notice about the performances of Tom in MGM for next year. He always is in Las Vegas in March. Do you know if he will be there?
Ana Gomez, Mexico City
November 6th, 2007 at 8:41 am
I didn’t think Vancouver was that far flung a place… LOL!!
SO EXCITING TO SEE 2008 TOUR DATES!! I hope he makes it to Ontario, I’ll be there!
November 6th, 2007 at 9:09 am
Marian, Marksville is right by Alexandria. 4 of these events are within 3 hrs. driving time of my home. I will definitely try for Dallas. Dallas audiences are fun to be in. They are not shy about getting up and dancing.
November 6th, 2007 at 9:44 am
I’m wondering why he doesn’t come to Europe anymore…or at least to the UK!
November 6th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Betti: I know it seems longer but it’s only a year since Tom’s last big arena tour of the UK plus this year he did the summer dates at Hampton Court and the shows in Monaco. He usually comes to the UK/Europe at some point every year so I remain optimistic that we’ll see him in 2008.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:28 am
If you look at his tour schedule every year.. is he 27 or 67? amazing. I hope they will not forget Europe next year
November 6th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Hallelujah he’s coming to Portland…but not until May! I can’t go from December to May without a TJ fix. So I’m with Ana, please let us know if you find out about any Vegas dates.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:08 am
TOM at the Strawberry Festival in FLORIDA - yes yes yes
November 6th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
WHY WONT HE COME UP TO NEW ENGLAND!!!!!
November 7th, 2007 at 1:38 am
Yes Paula,I know what you mean. And actually I should not complain because I did see him at the Wembley Arena last year and also at the Hampton Court. But I think he should come to Europe more often. I remember when he had a big European tour in 2003. He visited many European cities, like Vienna, Nurnberg…Anyway let’s hope we can see Him next year!
November 7th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
I suspect that all the dates are probably due to a new album coming out, maybe? Which I understand.. but if the man collaspes of exhaustion, it won’t surprise me… and he won’t be able to promote the CD. Good grief! Doesn’t the booking agent and management team realize this?
I admire his stamina and work ethic, but taking his wheaties each morning isn’t going to cut it on this schedule. Wasn’t it last year that he had to cancel engagements? And his schedule wasn’t quite like this. And I’m certain there are more dates to come! I forsee the same happening last year again. He’ll need rest between shows for his health AND VOICE and they have him back to back to back to back shows!
Hmmm… they book him for back to back to back shows; they don’t put him on talk shows and give him national exposure and when they do they have him sing dated material, not any of the new good songs (Git Me, I Like, etc, etc); photos and journalistc material is outdated… I think it’s time some people got fired.
November 7th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
And oh, I forgot. WHO WAS THE IDIOT THAT BOOKED HIM FOR VEGAS ON HIS WEDDING ANNIVERSARY?
November 8th, 2007 at 12:29 am
Dana, Good for you!!! Do you think people really check his running itinerary to see what a grueling schedule the Man keeps. I am willing to travel to see him simply for the fact I think he is wearing himself too much with all this traveling. I know he loves singing, but I believe he must get really tired of the extensive traveling.
November 8th, 2007 at 12:36 am
Thanks, Sandy, for the Marksville location reply. Had never heard of the town. He may possibly add New Orleans yet.
November 8th, 2007 at 6:46 am
Ellen and Ursula - I totally agree that the photo material in the mgm and their website is outdated and should be replaced by new TOM pictures. Also the video clip they show at the check in and the airport should be replaced and why not recording one of his fabulous LIVE VEGAS shows????? - Don’t get me wrong I like TOMs’ old photos and shows but to promote his tour 2008 and his VEGAS shows they should use new material - OUR MAN and his band are looking GOOD
November 8th, 2007 at 8:31 am
We see a bunch of dates in Canada — slowly moving east — have just been added. (So, Fay, there’s hope!) And we tend to believe someone simply blew it by booking him at the MGM on his anniversary. It was a mistake and they happen. Finally, our sense is that Tom Jones loves — maybe, lives — to perform and he doesn’t object to the tour schedule. No one holds a gun at his head (we believe) and forces him onstage. We’re positive that his health is carefully monitored. Surely, if he were unable to keep this schedule, he wouldn’t.
November 8th, 2007 at 9:22 am
Tom is hardly your average 67-year-old after all: he doesn’t look that age, doesn’t act it and has a physique and fitness levels that completely belie it. It is a gruelling schedule that would floor most people decades younger….but he isn’t most people. I also believe that performing is as vital to him as breathing…..and as long as he’s doing one he’ll be doing the other.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:30 am
I think he is doing exactly what he wants to. He is certainly in a position to say No. Maybe he does say No to talk shows & TV appearances.As much as we’d like to see him, can’t blame him for that.
November 8th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Judging by the latest photos of TJ and his declining vocal abilities, it is likely the TV producers that are saying “no.” Tom’s transition from Vegas headliner to Indian casino and race track venues in 2008 does not bode well for Tom. What do his fans have to look forward in 2009? Block parties and bar mitzvahs? It is never easy for someone to admit that their talents have diminished and it is time to gracefully exit the spotlight. Tom should have enough money to live more than comfortably, but his handlers likely do not and are unwilling to retire their cash cow.
November 8th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
HARRIET - Excuse me??? When was the last time you saw TOM LIVE???
November 9th, 2007 at 12:21 am
I always travel to Las Vegas at least three times a year, planning the trips around when Sir Tom is at the MGM. At this point I am concerned, I have not seen anything about the MGM in the 2008 tour dates. Does anyone know if Sir Tom is going to be at MGM in 2008? Thankyou in advance.
November 9th, 2007 at 10:57 am
Tom coming to venues like Indian casinos and racetracks may seem like a stepdown, but that gives him accessability to fans that normally would not get to see him. Lots of people just can’t afford the expense of a trip to Vegas or Atlantic City, and so would not see Tom otherwise. But if he is within a 2 or 3 hour drive, that opens it up for a whole lot of people who otherwise would really like to go see Tom but just couldn’t do it.
Not all of the bookings on the new tour schedule are a “step-down” (Meyerson Symphony Hall in Dallas, for one, is hardly a small or dumpy venue).
By playing some of these smaller venues in remote areas, Tom continues to stay accessible in ways that lots of entertainers of his status would long ago have given up. He obviously does it because he ENJOYS performing — NOT for the money and because he wants to stay in touch with his fans, even the ones that live way out in the middle of Podunkville, USA.
Thank you, Tom !!
November 9th, 2007 at 11:11 am
Harriet…where did you come from? Anyone who has seen TJ live recently knows that there is no decline in his vocal abilities. His voice has changed but its deeper and richer. As for venues, the MGM holds 700+ seats. Some of the indian casinos hold 1200+ seats and Sir Tom fills every one. Other spots on the tour like Portland hold 4000 seats and if there are any empty seats its because people will be dancing in the aisle. TJ is as sexy and hot as ever.
November 9th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
Saw Tom at the Meyerson 2 years ago & it is a very up-scale venue. By the way, called the box office & the tickets go on sale later in the month. They have had loads of calls so I guess its not time for “our Guy” to call it quits yet.
November 9th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Regarding the TV apperances, we only usually see Tom on the TV in the UK when he has new material to promote, or perhaps charity shows like the Diana concert. So I think the reason you do not see Tom on US TV is because he has nothing new to promote there. I remember when Reload was huge in the UK and Europe and yet no US record company would put it out in the States. They simply couldn’t find a record company that would do it. I think that is the case with most artists, they only appear on TV when there is something new to promote.You cannot blame Tom or his management for that, that is the fault of the record companies. I do hope that when Tom’s new CD is released it will be in all countries including the US, and then you will see him on TV. Oh, and Harriet, I’m not sure who you are talking about. It can’t be the same person that I have seen this past year. I am also certain that Las Vegas dates will be added to the 2008 itinerary as well. The MGM website are only selling tickets to 2nd Jan 2008 at the moment.
November 11th, 2007 at 10:03 am
Well said Pat. That’s exactly how things work in the music industry.
November 12th, 2007 at 9:14 am
In my opinion a golden golden opportunity was missed with Sir Tom’s CD with Jools Holland. This in my opinion was Sir Tom’s greatest greatest work. Who in this world is responsible for promoting him? Indeed perhaps they should be fired. Sir Tom should have hit the talk show circut and hit it hard - that indeed was his greatest. I had to purchase it off the internet and of all places from the Ukraine.
November 12th, 2007 at 9:53 am
Susan: From the reaction of US fans to the stuff from the Jools Holland collaboration when Tom performed it at his shows, it was obvious that people were able to get the CD. No, it wasn’t available at Tower Records or at amazon.com, but we all managed. Ours came from eBay. But, remember, we don’t know the details of the distribution contract or the basic contract with Jools Holland. You are absolutely correct. The CD was amazing and should have found a large audience here.
We’re told — from good sources, but still unofficially — that the CD being done now will be released in the US. So, when the time comes, we’re sure it will be promoted properly. And, hopefully, fans will join the promotion, too.
November 12th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Bravo
November 12th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
The MTS centre is a state of the art, newly built entertainment venue in Winnipeg, Canada. Believe me, the wonderful acoustics will be suited to the high caliber of Tom’s amazing voice. It is my hometown and I definately will be there to see him even though I am now stateside. A good reason to visit, I must say! Can’t wait….
November 16th, 2007 at 10:27 am
Anyone interested in going to the Meyerson in Dallas in Feb. Just got my tickets & they are pretty good ones. Just call the box office. They are very co-operative.