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.
March 27: Opening Night At MGM — Still Amazing After 40 Years
Friday, March 28th, 2008
Sentence fragment and all, we carried our greeting to Tom around the Hollywood Theatre for an hour before the show and asked audience members and theatre staff to sign it. We didn’t get as many signatures as we wanted because everyone wanted to sign more than just their names. They were all fans — from the USA, the UK and Australia — and all wanted to write a personal note. Many local Las Vegans who signed knew about the occasion because they’d read it in the newspaper and treated the show like an historic one.
Then, at 8 sharp, the room darkened, the video played and Tony came out. He didn’t have to work too hard to whip an already excited crowd into a frenzy. When “SIR TOM JONES!” entered, the place went wild. Looking tan (of course) and very fit and sounding wonderful, Tom treated the audience to a terrific show. No changes in the set list, but lots of enthusiasm and fun.
After Help Yourself, we stood and lifted the card. “What’s this?” he asked. “It’s your 40th anniversary so…,” we said. “I know it’s my 40th anniversary,” he replied. “Look, see, I’ve been in Vegas now for 40 years.”
Then, in an aside to us he said, “Can you believe that? It’s unbelievable, isn’t it?”
Tom looked at the front of the card. “Why,” he said to the audience, “this is a picture of me signing the contract at the Flamingo.” Then, to us, “Where did you get that?” He pointed out the picture of the cover of the Live In Las Vegas album and told the audience what that was. We, in turn, pointed out the review from his opening night at the Flamingo we had put on the card and told him the audience had signed it.
He thanked us and took the card and the two dozen roses we’d given him and put it by his water.
The show, of course, went on and, during She’s A Lady, a group of women threw a bridal veil onstage. Tom’s interest was piqued and he danced around it for a few minutes. Finally, unable to resist, he picked it up.
“What is this?” he asked. “Did one of you get married today? Why aren’t you in bed, then?”
One of a group of women standing near the stage at the side acknowledged ownership of the veil. She’d tossed it to him “because,” her friend explained, “she wants to marry you,” Tom dropped the veil like it was on fire and returned to his show.
The packed house loved every minute of the event the applause went on after the encore.
Of course, we’d wondered if he’d taken the card with him off the stage. We found out he did, as the photo attests, and — better — we were told that backstage visitors had photos taken with themselves and Tom while he was holding the card. He read it all and exclaimed over the messages, clearly pleased at the tribute.
We were thrilled to have been able to give him a token of fan affection and want to sincerely thank those who signed the card and “AF,” the person who sent the 1968 review and photo of Tom with the Flamingo contract. We believe that we fans are so lucky to have Tom Jones. But we also believe he’s lucky to have his fans.
March 28th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
WOW!!!!!! What a night for all of you to experience. Many of us are definitely wishing we could have been there with you last night and we also want to thank both of you for having without a doubt the best Tom Jones site on this planet. There would be a lot of us fans lost without your site.
March 28th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
OHHHH - And I thought you girls are climbing out of a cake for TOM -lol- Only joking - Nice one ladies!!! I know that TOM truly appreciated it - I would loved to be there last night
March 28th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Ooopps almost forgot - HAPPY 40th anniversary TOM and thank you so much for starting to sing the way only you do so many years ago - I cannot imagine life without your VOICE
March 28th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Golly gee….how I wish I could have been there! Thanks so much for the report! The card looks great as does Sir Tom! I’m sure you ladies helped make his 40th anniversary very special.
:)
March 28th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
that sounds like the best show EVER!
March 28th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Job well done ladies and we all love the photo…you must include it in the 2009 calendar!
March 28th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
It sounds as if it was a memorable night; thanks for letting us enjoy it vicariously. I’m sure Tom was very touched by the card which looks very impressive: such a lovely gesture. The photo is brilliant too; another one for the calendar!? Splendid job….as always. I think we’d all feel quite bereft without this site.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Great idea….appears Tom really enjoyed your thoughtfulness!!! Do you think the MGM management will do anything to show recognition for his longevity at their venue???!!! They should have it up in big bold letters on their marquee inside the hotel and outside as well. I know all of us would love to see a congratulatory message in his honor.
March 29th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Sounds a great night. Wish I could have been there. You say the fans were able to get near to the stage. In all the times I have seen Tom (mostly in the U.K) you are unable to get near the stage due to barrier’s and security men. Maybe we are more wild over here? Think I better get to Vegas.
March 29th, 2008 at 7:15 am
Gill: Check the Hollywood Theatre seating chart (which used to have a feature that allowed you to see the view from any seat in the house) at the MGM Grand website. You’ll see you can sit right next to the stage, although our favorite seats are Booth #105, the VIP house seats or the tables directly in front of booth 105. Great view and you don’t have to be a VIP to sit there. But, next to the stage is nice, too, sometimes. The thing is, when people insist on always sitting next to the stage, the sense is that it is less about seeing the performer and more about being seen. People who usually sit next to the stage and then, in the MGM’s Hollywood Theatre, try another location like the one mentioned above, are amazed with the view. You are at an equal height with the performer and see everything there is to be seen.
PS: We got a “fake” comment (sometimes people send stuff from fake AOL email addresses and, until we verify the address, we don’t post the comment) from someone saying that the same people get the best seats all the time. We didn’t post the comment because it’s fake, but we believe other people think that this is true, so the point is worth addressing even if the comment isn’t worth posting. This writer said, “This isn’t fair to regular people who travel miles to see him.” If that were true it wouldn’t be fair. But, at the MGM, only one woman we know, an older fan, gets the same seat at Tom’s show all the time. We know how she does it and it has nothing to do with Tom or his management. Everyone who calls early has an equal chance. Of course, if you play enough — as at any casino — you’ll probably get a better seat but, again, at the MGM that isn’t necessary. Due diligence can carry the day there.
March 30th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
You say that you’re at equal height with the performer and see everything there is to see? FAIINT! I can’t imagine. Wish Atlantic City would get with the program. Anyway, I do wish I could’ve been there. I’m sure it was quite a party. Thank you for this website. When I read something about Tom, I immediately come here to see if it’s true!!!!
March 31st, 2008 at 7:37 am
Thanks for letting us know what happened. It’s nice to see fans that really appreciate Tom and treat him with respect. I’m sure that he loves the card and his flowers!
March 31st, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Very cool for TJ and all involved. Wow. 40 years!
April 6th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Thanks for the 40 years of song and dance in Vegas. WOW! Ten more and that’s half a century
Thanks for the all the work put into the card. Looks great.