Our Las Vegas, TJ Questions, What's New, Pussycat?
Although each of us came originally from east of here, we love Las Vegas — its variety, the mix of people, great restaurants, the easy access to entertainment and we don’t even mind the climate.
Since so many of you come here to see Tom, we thought we’d share some of our favorite people and places and link you to some interesting attractions in case you want to do a bit of exploring between shows. We’ve linked to many of the places we talk about so it’s easier for you to check them out.
If you have anything to add, please do and, if you choose to go someplace we recommend based on our recommendation, please let us know what you thought of it. We’ll be adding more very often.
And, to stay up-to-date with the local community — especially if you are considering a move here — check out Vegas Community Online. Our friend Marleen Marino has the best community site in the city — no cheesy gossip, just lots of news and columns that cover every facet of life here. Check it out!
— Ellen & Ursula
July Question of the Month: Even If It Wasn’t Tom Jones…?
Tuesday, July 1st, 2008Let’s all agree from the start that Tom Jones shows are (probably) the favorite of everyone who regularly visits this site. But, let’s just say, you’re asked to name your favorite concerts by performers other than Sir Tom. That’s our question for July:
Other than Tom Jones, whose are the best concerts you’ve seen in person?
We’ll get you started with our answers:
Ursula cites (aside from Tom and in no particular order): The Rolling Stones, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Bette Midler, Billy Joel, Tony Bennett, BB King, James Brown, The Rascals, The Beatles, Prince, Garth Brooks, Chris Isaaks, Lou Rawls, Coco Taylor and Earl Turner.
Ellen’s favorites are (aside from Tom and in no particular order): Elvis, Sammy Davis, Jr., Ruth Brown, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand, Suffocation (early Streisand and early Suffocation), Prince, Jimmy Buffett, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, The Oak Ridge Boys, Fats Domino and early Jerry Lee Lewis.
July 1st, 2008 at 12:22 am
July 1st, 2008 at 12:45 am
Herb Alpert (post “Brass”-1980ish)!! The rest in no particular order: Kool and the Gang (1987); The Oak Ridge Boys (1981); Michael Martin Murphey(1981); Bette Midler (Early 80’s-Mermaid Tour); Jimmy Buffett (1988); The Chieftains (1987); Battlefield Band (2001); The Bobs (2000)
July 1st, 2008 at 2:10 am
I have only seen Wizard and Gerry Rafferty.However, I would have liked to see Elvis.
July 1st, 2008 at 3:40 am
Cher Believe tour in Milan 1998
July 1st, 2008 at 5:08 am
Michael Jackson, Barry White, David Bowie, Johnny Hallyday (who is the French Elvis Presley) and James Brown
July 1st, 2008 at 6:12 am
Engelbert, Paul Anka, U2, David Gray, Rolling Stones, Neil Diamond. I’m hoping I can add Coldplay and Bruce Springsteen to the list when I see them for the first time next month.
July 1st, 2008 at 7:34 am
I have not attended many concerts, but the ones I did attend and my other favorites were from the great Liberace’s last appearance at the Westbury Music Fair, and Ricky Martin’s concerts at Radio City Music Hall in 1996 and at Madison Square Garden in 1999.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:02 am
1-Gino Vannelli, #2-Marvin Gaye; the rest in no particular order: Cleo Laine, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Rolling Stones, Bo Diddley, Brooklyn Bridge (Johnny Maestro), Franki Valli & The Four Seasons, James Brown, The Temptations, The Spinners, Issac Hayes, early Elton John, Ruth Brown, Rush, Jethro Tull, Deep Purple, Earl Turner, Santana, Rick Braun, Peter White, Diana Ross, and believe it or not, Michael Bolton with Celine Dion as the opening act (many moons ago).
Wish I could have seen: Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Lou Rawls, Sammy Davis Jr., Michael Jackson (Thriller tour).
July 1st, 2008 at 9:12 am
I am so jealous of you all who have seen Elvis and Frank Sinatra. Dean Martin is another one I would have loved to see in Vegas show. I know, I was born in the wrong decade ;(
July 1st, 2008 at 10:14 am
Elvis, Engelbert, Frank Sinatra, Wayne Newton, Paul Anka, Billy Joel, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and The Osmonds way back in 1975! Like BeBe, I would have loved to seen Dean Martin!
July 1st, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Don’t laugh.. Bay City Rollers in Anaheim, Calif. in the mid-70’s only because I was a t’ween and into them at the time and it was my 1st concert and all. It was pandemonia with girls rushing the stage,etc. I spent half the concert reaching for girls who had fallen and being stepped on; the stage guards did nothing but push everyone back which was incredibly dangerous. In my early 20’s I was an usher for the then Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, Calif. where I got to see Frank Sinatra, though sadly his voice wasn’t there. But of all the professional shows at the Amphitheatre the two performers who stand out in my mind for showmanship is Lionel Richie with Shelia E. (she’s playing with T.J. this July at the Pacific Amphitheatre at the Orange County Fair - south of Los Angeles, Calif.) and Barry Manilow with Bette Midler coming out on the stage on New Year’s Eve.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:41 pm
I didn’t vist many concert, but the ones I clearly remembered were Bruce Springsteen and Garth Brooks (both in Rotterdam).
July 1st, 2008 at 2:09 pm
My favs are: The Stones(San Diego), J Geils Band(San Diego), Foreigner(Anaheim), a young country singer-Chris Kagle(Florida), Heart(Los Angeles), and Lionel Ritchie with the Commodores in Los Angeles- CHICAGO(Virginia Amphitheatre)-Alan Jackson(Virginia Amphitheatre).
These shows were all great!
July 1st, 2008 at 8:21 pm
I have seen Sir Tom 5 times!!! But other concerts I have truly enjoyed were The Moody Blues and Loretta Lynn. I have been our tour with Carrie Underwood and Josh Turner. Both awesome entertainers. I have also seen Foriegner, REO Speedwagon, Sammy Hagar, Dio, Guffira, Dokken, Chubby Checker, The Statler Brothers, Ricky Skaggs, Roy Clark, Tammy Wynette, Razzy Bailey, Donna Fargo, Alabama, Nelson, America, Steve Wariner, Boxcar Willie, Tower of Power, Bobby Vee, and many more i cant think of at the moment. Would have loved to see Dean Martin.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:07 pm
My favorites I’ve seen besides Tom are: Dean Martin, Garth Brooks, Oak Ridge Boys, George Straight, Jimmy Buffett, Willie Nelson, Engelbert, Celine Dion, Cher, Alabama, Chubby Checker, Dolly Parton, Paul Anka, Ricky Skaggs. Wayne Newton, Marie Osmond.
There are many more we’ve seen but these are a few we have followed.
We throughly enjoy all kinds of music.
Thank God for all our music entertainers and their bands.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:11 am
I have seen Tom Jones a few times and of course he is the best in the business. Other shows that have impressed me where: Garth Brooks, Keith Urban,Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson,Click Black & Wynonna Judd. I recently saw one of my favorite Christian music bands called Third Day and they were great also. Like some of the other posters, I have seen many concerts but only a few impressed me enough to list.
My husband and I recently worked out of town and since it was a long car trip my husband surprised me and brought along two of Tom’s CD’s. It really made the car ride bearable. He also didn’t mind too much that I sang along. I think he likes Tom more than he let’s on. I am truly blessed!
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:59 am
OK, Folks. I just returned from Branson. Got to see Paul Revere & the Raiders & at 70 Paul is a hoot, Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers & Jim Stafford, who is more talented and versatile than I ever knew he was.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:28 am
I have seen Sir Tom more than any other concerts. I’ve loved them all except Cher, who deeply disappointed me. Her opening act, The Village People, was far better. My favorites would have to be The Boss (Bruce), Bette Midler, and cool & smooth Lou Rawls.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:15 am
The best was Janis Joplin,front row Columbus Ohio. Great show. A long, long, time ago. Tina Turner (solo) at the now defunct Cap. Center. Awsome. Lou Rawls, NCO Club Carswell AFB Texas.
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Paul McCartney, Sammy Davis Jr. and Engelbert were all almost as great as Tom.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Aside from Tom???? Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams, Allison Kraus, The Beachboys, Wynonna Judd, Shania Twain.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Well, I’ve seen Rod Stewart a few times,especially in the 80’s and 90’s. He was always great and so was Phil Collins. I have seen Garth Brooks, Trish Yearwood, Reba McEntire, Wynonna, and Jim Stafford from the 70’s, remember him? Culture Club, back in the 80’s, they were great. Englebert Humperdinck, back in the 70’s, he was good, but different from Tom. Frankie Valli and Four Seasons. Even Milli Vannilli in the 80’s. Herman’s Hermits, they were great, well Peter Noone with some members. K. C. from K. C. and the Sunshine Band. He’s still in great shape and sings just as well as he did in the 70’s. I think there are some others I can’t think of, but all of these shows were entertaining, don’t think I have ever seen a really bad show. Of course, Tom is the best to me, but I like all types of music.
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:06 am
The only other concerts which had as much energy at Tom Jones concerts were Lakeside and Confunkshun.Tom is the only white man I know who can sing and dance like a brother. I’ve seen him perform six times in the Cleveland Ohio area and he just gets better each year. I like all types of music but Tom Jones will always be the best! Hope he comes back to Ohio soon!
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:15 am
Michael Jackson (amazing, unbelievable, spectacular (but stadium shows are too impersonal), Liza Minnelli (wow! when she sang Maybe This Time I wept like a wean) and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Karen O’s a genius)! But no one’s ever blown me away in quite the same way as Tom.
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Somehow Rod Stewart and Elton John didn’t make my previous post, but were two of my favorite performers, simply because they add something extra to their stage performances.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I don’t go to many concerts since I started listening and watching Tom .but one performer I really loved Mel Torme.I was’nt very old so my Mam took me,she enjoyed the show too ,and when Mel played the drums wow and I got his autograph.
July 4th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Goes without saying that Tom is my favorite. My second favorite performance was the Bee Gees!
July 4th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
I think now I wouldn’t mind seeing Justin Timberlake. All that energy.
July 5th, 2008 at 8:11 am
Paul Anka, Neil Diamond and more recently Josh Groban.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:35 am
I like concerts where the music is good and the energy gets me up to dance! (like TJ’s shows!) Chicago/Earth, Wind & Fire 2005 Those 2 together — Unbelievable!,Rolling Stones 94,98,05;Frankie Valli and (new) Four Seasons with original Jersey Boys cast 05; James Taylor 03; The Eagles 07 and one of the very best, Paul McCartney 05 — we thought we were dreaming.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:22 am
I was a big fan of Hank Williams Jr. and saw him 4 or 5 times in the early 80’s. He is the closest comparison to Tom as far as his stage energy and holding the audience in the palm of his hand for the whole show and his setlist had a good mix of country, blues and rock. I would love to hear Tom sing some of the songs Hank Jr. sang. The first one that comes to mind is “The Pressure Is On”. I don’t know if they ever were but I could picture Tom and Hank being friends. Some of the other performers I’ve seen and loved were: Kenny Rogers (early 80’s), Wayne Newton (late 70’s), The Righteous Brothers, Helen Reddy, The Oak Ridge Boys, Lou Rawls, John Anderson, Foreigner and Lee Greenwood.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
I have seen Sir Tom over 100 times in the last 35 years and no one can compare to his show. However, many others I have enjoyed (in no particular order) are: Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Tina Turner, Cher, Jimmy Buffett,Jerry Lee Lewis, Lionel Ritchie, Neil Diamond, Rod Stewart, Paul McCartney, Michael Bolton, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers alone as well as the Righteous Brothers, Bobby Vee, The Original Comets, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Ricky Nelson, The Buckinghams, The Beach Boys, Bee Gees, Whitney Houston (in her early days), Paul Anka, Neil Sedaka, Mac Davis, Bryan Hyland, Fabian, Lou Christy, Gary Puckett, The Association, The Grassroots, Willie Nelson. The Charlie Daniels Band, Vince Gill, George Straight, Stevie Ray Vaughn, The Thunderbirds, Richard Marx, Huey Lewis and the News, Chicago, Roy Orbison, Kenny Rogers, Peter Noone, Alabama, Oak Ridge Boys, Dollie Parton, Barry Manilow, James Taylor, Dion, Gene Pitney.
A few concerts I didn’t care for: Dionne Warwick, Ray Charles, Wayne Newton, Englebert, Tony Bennett, Diana Ross.