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.
A UK Fan In Las Vegas: What Could Be Better? 4 Shows, A Meeting & Lots of Good Food, Shopping
Wednesday, May 28th, 2008Paula, whom you probably know from her posts on this site, came to visit Las Vegas and we doubt she’ll ever be the same. She’d been here before, but not with Tom and not since the city has become what it is. Her story is below and we are honored and thrilled she chose to share it with us. We hope she comes back soon.
I am told that everything in Las Vegas is now deemed an “experience” and having just returned from my eight-day trip I can understand why: I won’t be forgetting mine in a hurry….
The focus of my trip was, of course, seeing Sir Tom and I was privileged to attend the last four shows of his run: May 18th – 21st. And I do mean privileged. The eight-hour time difference, 10 hour flight and inadequate sleep the previous night before my early flight (perhaps I was just a tad excited…) were all starting to take their toll on me by Sunday evening but as soon as Tony came on to do his intro and Tom walked on the stage my exhaustion simply evaporated and the adrenaline kicked in. Tom looked fabulous: tanned, fit and sizzling hot in the red jacket. This is why I had come: to see Tom in the famed Hollywood Theatre at the MGM………and it was simply fantastic to be there.
All four shows were terrific, with hugely enthusiastic audiences and Tom firing on all cylinders. I would find it difficult to pick out a favourite (let’s not forget: I am often accused of being the blind obsessive) since Tom’s voice was simply glorious each night…just ringing out. It’s a thing of wonder, that voice. I had a great seat at all the shows but on Tuesday night I was front and centre at Table 5A (be still my beating heart) and could not have been more thrilled. To someone who has been devoted since childhood the significance of this proximity cannot be exaggerated. Bliss. Tom alternated the red and white jackets (I thought he looked equally gorgeous in both) and his energy levels, considering he was at the end of a 16-day continuous run, were astonishing. The Band was terrific, as always. They are such accomplished musicians and singers who have a terrific rapport with Tom
Of course the set list was virtually unchanged from when I saw Tom in concert last year, with the exception of He Stopped Loving Her Today. I love that song; Tom sings it with such poignant intensity….beautiful. Grandma’s Hands and Git Me Some have always been favourites and during the latter it’s fun to see the wicked glint in his eye as the words just drip from his lips……
I’ll Never Fall In Love Again never fails to move me to tears and during the up-tempo numbers he simply has a ball. And I just want to get up and dance….which of course the Hollywood Theatre is just not designed to accommodate. I can’t remember attending a show in recent years when almost the entire audience wasn’t on its feet by What’s New Pussycat so I found that a bit frustrating but, really: a minor quibble.
It was fun to meet other fans, including many who had never seen Tom in concert before…where have you all been!!!? They were completely won over by our one and only Sir TJ: words like “phenomenal”, “unbelievable” and “astonishing” lingered in the air as people left.
What more can I say? To me, Tom is intoxicating, mesmerising and the quintessence of vocal perfection. A singular talent who makes you fall in love with him…and then breaks your heart. I am always effusive and I make no apologies for that: he deserves it. Sometimes English superlatives seem inadequate; indeed repetitive but in Spanish there is a lovely word: duende. Originally it meant a spirit but has evolved (especially in flamenco dancing) to mean a certain quality of passion and inspiration where an artist makes an almost spiritual connection with the music thus giving a breathtaking performance. I think Tom has duende……in shedloads
After Tom had left I did venture out of the MGM. Let’s be honest, it would have taken a National Emergency to get me out of there beforehand……and even then I would have had to think about it. I can thoroughly recommend taking a bit of extra time to explore the rest of the fun in which Las Vegas excels. There is shopping so good even a seasoned shopoholic like me was defeated by the overwhelming choice; wonderful restaurants; great bars (check out Mix Bar at the top of the Mandalay Bay: unbelievable views) and great shows. I saw Phantom: The Las Vegas Experience and Spamalot, which were both terrific and probably improved by being slightly shorter (due to Vegas time constraints) than their West End/Broadway counterparts. There are also places of great beauty within a surprisingly short distance. I went to Red Rock Canyon; a lovely place and a haven of tranquillity compared to the manic bustle on the Strip.
Oh…..and just one more thing: As you can see from the photo, I met Tom after a show one night. Wonderful. He was gracious, charming and just lovely and I was so thrilled (and grateful) that he took the time to talk to me. So that was pretty special. And I am very, very lucky.
So, thanks to a good friend whose help was invaluable and without whom I would have been quite lost, I had a splendid time.
Marks out of ten for my Vegas “experience”? About ninety-four. And a half……
May 28th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Paula, I’m so happy you got to meet “The Voice” at last. Thank you for sharing your tale and discription of duende. Its so fitting for our Sir Tom. I’ll see him tomorrow night in Portland, OR but it won’t be the intimate setting of the MGM.
May 28th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Paula - thanks for sharing you story - the Hollywood theatre in VEGAS is - of course my opinion the best venue to see the real TOM Jones - I am happy for you that you had a great time at the show and with the MAN himself - save trip home and hey, hey, hey Paula….hahahaha sorry but I love that song
May 28th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Paula glad you had a great time. Isn’t Vegas wonderful. I just love it. Thanks for the wonderful review and boy what a run it was. Thrilled that you had the chance to meet Tom after a show. BTW table 5A I would just died and gone to heaven for 90 min haha…. great review
May 28th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Anna - OMG table 5A
if this is torture please chain me to the wall, hahahha
May 28th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Susanne I’m so jealous BTW “1000 TOM JONES TICKETS”. hahaha lol
May 28th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Paula - I think you have that duende connection with Tom - in shedloads!
What a great review! Wish I could have witnessed your joy.
May 28th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Paula, How exciting for you to finally meet Sir Tom; I can imagine the joy this brought you after coming all the way from the UK. Your review was delightful, definitive, and altogether very professional. And what an enlightenment in using the Spanish word, “duende.” I wish I had thought of that; it is so very perfect to describe Tom’s magic with music.
May 29th, 2008 at 1:47 am
Paula, What a lovely report of Tom and Vegas. I’m British, too, and hope one day I’ll also see Tom in America.
May 29th, 2008 at 3:38 am
Thank you to everyone for your kind comments. I should have added that, strictly speaking, it wasn’t my first meeting with Tom but since the last one was so many years ago and consisted of a brief chat stageside in a TV studio well………not even remotely the same thing. He signed a photo of us both that was printed in a US tour book, that I have been carrying with me to every show ever since. To have the privilege of talking to Tom for a while and to finally get that picture signed was a joy beyond imagining for me.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Wow! Another lucky lady! Great review too! I love to read such things here! Thanks a lot for sharing
May 29th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Lucky lucky girl!!! I was at the May 17th show and it totally blew me away! I am planning a few more trips to Vegas for this August and November shows. My ticket for the August show is Table 2A so I am VERY excited.
Paula, do you have any tips on the best way to get to meet Tom??? Help me please!!
May 29th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Paula, so happy for you. Tom & table 5A, WOW!!!!!
May 29th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Oh! What a beautiful photo ; )) I loved your review, very cool!!
May 29th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Paula, I agree with you 100%. Sir Tom not only makes a spiritual connection with the music, he also makes me feel a spiritual connection to him when he sings. Certain songs will make me catch my breath and I’ll close my eyes and mentally float away into Tom’s sensuous aria. BTW, can you share some of the things that you chatted about? Thanks for sharing!
May 30th, 2008 at 6:24 am
Paula, how did you manage to meet him after the show. I’ve never been as lucky as you and could use some tips. Thank you and I admire you!!!
May 30th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Paula,
I cannot imagine meeting THE MAN himself. I would probably faint…
May 30th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Lori: I was just extraordinarily lucky…..truly. Sorry I can’t help more but it really is a matter of complete chance if you happen to be in the right place. Have a wonderful time when you go to Vegas….and sitting at Table 2A somehow I think you will!
May 30th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Paula, I have never heard anything so perfect “he makes you fall in love with him and then breaks your heart” Wow! That is so perfect because every time you leave one of his concerts, you leave a little bit of your heart there. I too have been blessed to have met Tom Jones and had a conversation and a picture taken with him. You truly feel like it is surreal, like it can’t be happening and is a dream and then you get your pictures developed and realize it is true. I was lucky enough to be staying at the same hotel he was, and he went to have dinner after the show, and after I gave him about 2 hours of privacy, I dared with trembling knees to approach him. He was so kind, and patient and let me banter on nervously like a young schoolgirl. It was one of the highlights of my life. I will never forget it. It is such an honor to see him perform and such a blessing if you get that spectacular moment to meet him in person. My wish for every one of his fans would be to have that moment. So happy you had it, lucky girl.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Mary L - I know exactly what you are talking about even looking at the photos didn’t make it real for me until I have met TOM in April and he was so gracious to sign my fist “TOM and I” photo - now I know it’s true - TOMMY heaven
May 31st, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Hi Paula
Great review! My friend Pat has just come back from Vegas and she told me about Tom’s red and white jackets. You lucky thing getting to meet Tom. I would love to meet him,it’s virtually impossible in UK