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.
Tom Jones In Biloxi: Fan Review & Some Video
Monday, June 30th, 2008Marian, our good “Friend Through Tom,” sent us this review and photo of herself in Biloxi along with the photo of the venue and the marquee where, she tells us, that’s Tom’s picture in the middle. We are thrilled that she took the time to write such a careful, thoughtful review for us and do hope others who see him (or have seen him) on this southern swing do likewise. The newspapers don’t seem to be covering his shows and the only news fans get is from other fans. So, thanks to Marian and to the other fan who sent us the brief video clip at the end of this post. That fan didn’t want to write, but was pleased to share the clip. We wonder (but are not complaining) why all the video lately seems to be of Delilah. The video follows the review.
Beau Rivage/Biloxi, MS/June 26, 2008
What Makes This Man Do What He Does???
I have always thought I can’t imagine why any man would do what Tom does, a lifetime of grueling touring and being onstage almost every night of his life. Why does he do it??
About to burst with anticipation and excitement, we arrived at the Beau Rivage Theatre about 40 minutes early, with only a sparse crowd. I tried to get better seats when we arrived at the hotel, but no luck. The theater is built so that the tier we were in wasn’t too bad after all. I had been told the show was sold out…and that it was!!! The latecomers filled even the “high-rollers” area. An audience of all ages seemed to be wound as tight as I was…waiting for the Man to come onstage. The well-known introduction with the outer space video, and Tony’s exuberant announcement, after the Tom Jones International video was familiar to me…but not sure if it was to many in the crowd. The sound of the video seemed muffled to me, so maybe it wasn’t clear to others. Tom was welcomed onstage, wearing a striking red jacket, (and I thought I heard a gasp from the crowd) with rapturous applause and cheers from the audience.
Tom’s setlist, probably familiar to most: 1. Raise your Hand; 2. Help Yourself (Drats, I hate to talk about panties, but they started flying onstage into the second song…not tons of them, but enough to cause an unpleasant distraction.); 3. He Stopped Loving Her Today ( Tom covers this song as well as George Jones…gave credit to the “other Jones boy.” The crowd loved the country flavor, and savored every minute of this old sad country ballad); 4. Delilah( This well-known classic always gets the crowd singing along); 5. 200 Lbs. of Heavenly Joy (This was one “wicked” version by Sir Tom; he knows how to wow the ladies. His “This is it” line throughout the song brought him the expected squeals from the ladies, and some laughs from the men); 6. End of the Road; 7. Cry for Home (Oh, what a great song! He does Van Morrison proud. Van should be grateful for this moving version by Tom!! Tom, and only Tom, makes Van’s music his own); 8. Here’s That Rainy Day; 9. Fly Me to the Moon; 10. That Old Black Magic (The audience settled back and loved the three ballads above. These older ballads are more familiar to older fans and seem to be more appreciated than some of Tom’s more recent material); 11. Grandma’s Hands (Tom’s soulful version of this almost-gospel song was quite touching. There are some songs I think I really won’t like, but when Tom sings them with all his gut-wrenching emotion, he definitely sells it to the most doubting listener!!); 12. Git Me Some (This bluesy number seemed to really capture the crowd’s rapt attention. I think they could relate); 13. She’s a Lady; 14. I’ll Never Fall in Love Again (If only I could have heard this beautiful ballad as it should be heard, one of Tom’s most appealing love songs of all time…reasons below…); 15. Green Green Grass of Home; 16. What’s New, Pussycat; 17. You Can Leave Your Hat On (Tom’s bawdy rendition of this song is a true one-man classic!! I doubt there is anyone who can deliver it as he does); 18. Sexbomb; 19. It’s Not Unusual; Encore: 20. Resurrection Shuffle (I initially heard this song in 1998 when I first saw Tom Jones live, and he is still doing it with the same effectiveness.) 21. I Like the Way (And I love the way he moves; an upbeat song with Tom’s special touch); 22. Kiss.
Tom was so gracious in introducing each band member and singer throughout the concert. I think this is such an added touch in his giving credit to an accomplished band that backs him up with such expertise. The people in back of me were commenting how outstanding they were.
Tom invited the audience to dance later on in the show, and I do believe everyone in the floor seats were up and probably 200 ladies had surrounded the stage before the words were out of his mouth. There was really no stopping the crowd after that. I really don’t know what happened at that point to the female security guard who had stood at the front of the stage for most of the show trying to “control” the ladies. They really kept her jumping with their efforts to rush the stage. It is so frustrating when he is singing a beautiful ballad that these women have the gall to rush to the stage and throw panties; this caused the audience to erupt in laughter several times during I’ll Never Fall in Love Again. I can’t see how Tom can continue singing when all this is going on; he is just so pro, he gets through it without batting a lash.
Before the encore was over, I thought, “Oh, please, please, please don’t stop!!!!!” He always leaves us wanting more!!!
It is obvious he so loves and enjoys what he is doing, singing, being onstage, and realizing how he can wrap his audience around his little finger. This is the answer…it is really what makes this man do what he does.
Here’s the video — 30 seconds or so of Tom singing Delilah in Biloxi
June 30th, 2008 at 1:39 am
Hey, nice to see you Marian! And I said it before but : great review!
Love to see those clips too, but yes a different song sometimes would nice also.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:45 am
Could not access the video which is a shame but I’m sure Tom was as great as ever. Thanks for the review.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:10 am
Nice to see you Marian
and thanks again for the wonderful review! I know we have had this discussion before but why on earth is there no change to more updated TOM photos for his tours and shows???
June 30th, 2008 at 8:17 am
LOL, Bebe, The merchandise booth had two great posters of Tom, which I could have stood in front of, but didn’t think the booth owner would appreciate that. I did try to take a picture of one of the posters, but it was not dead-on.
Hope everyone will get to see Tom soon, as I know many of you are. He never fails his fans.
June 30th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Thanks for the review. Its nice to know TJ is out and about there rocking. I personally have never been to a show where TJ has invited the audience to get up and dance. That would be awesome…wish he’d do that in Vegas!
June 30th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Thank you for your lovely review and picture, Marian. You are so right on both counts: that Tom always leaves us wanting more and that he simply lives to perform….I’m sure it’s fundamental to his very being. Glad you had such a great time!
June 30th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
This is a terrific review. I am seeing Tom in one month, in Atlantic City. This will be the third time for me and the first after my disappointment last year when he cancelled in A.C. I am soooooo excited. I hope he wears that red jacket! Does anyone know about his new venue in A.C.? I think I have good seats, about 10 rows back in the middle. But, really, any seat is good when you’re hearing Tom Jones.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:22 am
Thanks, Marian, for such a nice and indepth review. I felt like I was there with you! I’m counting the days (43) until I see him again. I can’t wait!
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:09 pm
I forgot to say thank you to the moderators for the generous amount of space given for my review; it is always rewarding for me to try to remember as much as I can, and to share my TJ experience with everyone. I always feel so priviledged to have the opportunity to see such an icon, so I get carried away after it is all over.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Marian: Without getting icky about it, it is we who should thank you. This is a fansite, with the emphasis on “fan.” You and the others who contribute make it what it is — a gathering place for Tom’s fans to share experiences, opinions and anything else about Tom’s career. So, we thank you and, since you’re always such a thorough reviewer, we hope you see lots more shows so you can write about them.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Thanks for your in depth review and especially the set list. I attended my first Tom concert last night in Grand Prairie, TX. I am now completely addicted to TOM! Can’t wait to see him again.