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.
Sir Tom: Still At the MGM & Still Great! (And A Note About October-November MGM Shows)
Monday, May 19th, 2008
Tom began the last four days of his amazing 16-day run at the MGM Sunday night and he was — need we say it? — really terrific.
The audience was into the show and it was lots of fun — he appeared to be having a really good time.
Once again, the audience was filled with Brits. It’s good to know that the strength of the US dollar is actually benefiting some people, even if they’re not from the US. There was a couple in their 60s who had never seen him before, two young guys from London absolutely taken with him and a group of four guys here from Cambridge for a bachelor party who really liked the show. And that was just at our table and the two closest to it.
Note On November: This economy is causing the venue, like so many venues in a very hard-hit Las Vegas entertainment landscape, to make some changes. They’re adding several one-week stands (Donny & Marie, Wayne Newton, Craig Ferguson) and, as in Tom’s run here last December, when he’s here October 30 through November 12, his show will go on at 7:30 pm, with Rodney Carrington doing a 10 pm show.
We just hope that that group of shows isn’t forced to be as rushed as they were last year when the schedule was like that. And we also hope that the December shows still happen.
At any rate, Tom’s been great. We’ve said before that we cannot think of any other singer of his quality — including Pavarotti, Bocelli and, even, Caruso — who can deliver the high caliber performance he does night after night. Sixteen shows in a row is truly a gift.
The Voice that is Tom Jones is a miracle and we’re so lucky to be able to see and hear him, aren’t we?
If you haven’t already done so, please share your Las Vegas experience of this run.
May 19th, 2008 at 7:39 am
You can imagine my (and my Mother’s surprise) when we were led down and down the stairs to the front of the stage at the MGM Grand Hollywood Theatre. There’s little better than being in the same room when Mr. Jones is singing but there is NOTHING better than being able to rest your arm on the same stage he’s performing on! I couldn’t control my glee at knowing I would be so close to The Voice.
The performance opened with a teasing snippet of Tom Jones International and Tony Reynolds bounding onto the stage to introduce the man we all came to see. The band was on fire! Frank Strauss played with a little extra bounce in the boogie-woogie section. Kenny Anderson blew on that sax like it was his last breath! And, of course, my favourite… Darelle Holden. She is such an amazing talent and beauty.
Mr. Jones wore his usual stunning black trousers and black beaded button up shirt. For this performance he donned a cream coloured jacket that was cut so well through the arms and shoulders it amazed the fashion maven in me.
This show was my 18th Tom Jones concert since 2005 so it was difficult to not do the choreography along with the wonderful back up singers. (Actually, I was completely unsuccessful at not doing it! It appeared that the band and singers enjoyed a little entertaining of their on from my Mother and me.)
The 1 1/2 hours flew by! He never breaks, never slows down and always gives you want you want. From his amazing classic numbers like She’s a Lady and Green, Green Grass of Home to the standards Old Black Magic and Fly Me To the Moon and especially the cheeky ones that make us all blush, 200lbs. of Joy and Git Me Some he never fails to bring exactly what you would expect for those songs… in abundance.
No one does it better than Mr. Jones and no one ever will. He is always reinventing his sound but not himself… why change the perfection that is The Voice.”
— Nicki, Oklahoma City, OK
May 19th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Thank you Nicki, Ellen & Ursula!! You have certainly added to my excitement of seeing Tom in August. There is no place better to see him than the Hollywood Theatre.
May 19th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Thanks for the review Nicki and, yes, what a feeling you get when you’re so close. I can relate to the feeling.
Thanks for the update for the November shows I was looking into that today 7:30???? Now that answers my questions. Also notice the first week of November hotel rates are sky high. Is there a special event Nov 2-9th????
May 19th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Oh I noticed the hotel rates too gulp!!! Yes two shows anite in the Hollywood - the same as last December and TOM had to rush through his show
- but what it rush it was, hahahaha
May 19th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Anna: Veterans Day weekend is November 8 through 10 in the US. It’s a three-day weekend and there’s always lots going on in Las Vegas in the way of events and entertainment.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:48 am
Nicki, I couldn’t agree more with your last paragraph. The man and the VOICE are just phenomenal.
May 20th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I saw Tom, again, last night (Monday). The show was great as usual. Tom sounded fantastic and was wearing the white coat. Looks great on him! I met several couples from Canada who were seeing Tom, live, for the first time. They had a blast and thought the show was great. Everyone had a great time. I don’t know where Tom gets his energy to perform like he does night after night for 2 weeks straight (plus 2 more nights this engagement). I guess that’s why he’s the LEGEND that he is! He won’t be back until August - that seems so far away! I can’t wait…
May 20th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Speaking of TV’s Craig Ferguson… let’s start an email campaign to get Tom on the show! Hey, Craig started a letter writing campaign to get all the Mayor’s to make him an honorary citizen… why not?!?
May 21st, 2008 at 1:28 am
PS: Madonna is also set to play at the MGM that weekend, although the ticket office says it’s not confirmed, the hotel is announcing it.
May 21st, 2008 at 3:06 am
Hi Anna! Hi everybody. I was told and today I read it in the newspaper, that THE MIRAGE
May 21st, 2008 at 3:08 am
push the button, hehehe
Well, me again. THE MIRAGE has cheap prices, dont know when but they wrote: rooms are for 50€. Approx. 70$ Cheers:-))
May 21st, 2008 at 10:39 am
I saw Tom for the first time in person on Monday May 19th. He’s still got it!!! Wow, the voice, the dancing, I really didn’t expect him to still be so great!! Fantastic show. He is coming to Louisiana this summer and I will definitely see him again! Don’t miss him.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Well, I guess I won’t be able to see him again this summer after all. He is already sold out at L’Auberge in Lake Charles for both nights! If anyone has tickets to sell please leave your number or e-mail address.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:21 pm
I saw Tom for the second time on Monday May 19th. The first time was also in Vegas but 30 years ago. He’s still amazing; vocally, visually & musically! I was sitting with a lady & her family who saw Tom the Saturday before for the first time & they were there again on Monday. He’s got such & warm, funny, & charming way about him & it shows in his performance. There were a few panties throw onto the stage, but on the left side, someone threw a shirt or towel of some kind & Tom reacted to it by asking a question but I couldn’t hear what he was saying. Seeing him again was the high point of my trip. I look forward to seeing him again soon.
May 23rd, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Hi Nancy, I was sitting on the third row all the way on the left Monday night. It was a large pair of panties that were thrown on the stage with a name on them, evidently the name Muffy because when he saw them he said MUFFY!
May 24th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Thanks Barbara D for clarifying the commotion. I really liked the intimate setting. I reserved one ticket for that night; it was in the front row, table 3A! I was planning to go to Vegas alone, but when I mentioned that to a co-worker he said he would’ve gone with me. Well, thinking that it would be nice to have company, I changed all my reservations (flight, hotel & concert) from 1 to 2 tickets. The best I could get at the last moment was the 7th row, center stage. It was still an amazing concert but I kept looking down at my original seat in the first row & wishing I was down there. It was my friend’s first time seeing Tom & he was blown away, so I felt like it was worth it. I plan to see Sir Tom again at the Hollywood theater front row, stage right.
May 26th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
I was their om the 19th and the 21th. The show was amazing . I was sitting at table 5 on the 19 and table 3 on the 21 and I was so escited and if you have never seen Tom up close you are in for a real treat when you do.His eyes are so blue and he is so handsome.I am ready to see Tom again. His voice is geting better all the time. The band was great as always and he looks great with the white jacket. I would have love to see him in red jacket..Flo
May 27th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I just found your website recently. I saw TJ on May 12 and May 14 (Table 3A and second row center). He was fabulous as usual in his red sport coat and then in his white coat. He looked like he just stepped out of GQ. I have seen him more than 100 times over the last 35+ years. I can never get too much of Sir Tom! I’ll see him again in August, but only on the 20th. Wish Vegas wasn’t so far away. I normally get out there twice a year, but Tom is always worth the wait. I keep checking his tour schedule hoping he’ll schedule more concert dates in the Midwest.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Barb and Sandy: Is the show sold out for August already? Do you know? I have this romantic notion to celebrate my 50th birthday at his show. Can’t think of a place I would rather be…
I have seen TJ (used to be my nickname), about 4 times in concert over the past twenty-five years. My mother and I would drop everything when I was a teen and run to the television set to catch THIS IS TOM JONES. We would sit together and watch in amazement at the moves and giggle like two school girls. My mother would say in disgust,”Now look, the camaras won’t even show all his moves!” We rectified that problem-we have seen him twice in concert together! Ohhh, the memories…