Living in San Diego, Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay is my favorite outdoor music venue. Being a life-long Tom Jones fan, he is my favorite performer to see. Pair the two and you have heavenly match. Add a warm, beautiful night, and it’s pure magic.

My excitement starts early in the day — Tom Jones Concert Day. Everyone and everything must step aside because my focus is on enjoying the anticipation and actual experience of the concert.

Such was the case on Sunday. I was lucky enough to meet up with Ellen and Ursula beforehand, who were in town for the concert. I love the website and feel fortunate to have it, and especially them.

The stage is set alongside the Bay, among tropical trees and shrubs and looks out to rows and rows of white folding chairs, lined up perfectly on grassy areas, in three sections and two aisles; aisles that become very important later on–if you are not sitting in the first row. These aisles are the gateway to getting closer to the stage at the end of the show. More on this later.

It is fun watching the people arrive — ALL ages, all types, mostly women–but lots of men, too (men who actually consider him a great showman, and are not just dragged there). I particularly liked seeing one woman with “I love Tom Jones” written on her upper arm, with a heart drawn in pink lipstick! People were getting their drinks (you can actually order from your chair, as there is a menu on the back of each chair). I got my beer and found my seat. I had a great seat in the 14th row, four seats in from the aisle. I immediately warned the people to my right that I would be climbing over them, or knocking them down, as the case may be, to get to the stage as the show ended.

The show was a little late in starting, and the fans were clamoring for their TOM. It was getting darker, but you could see the boats to the left and feel a lot of excitement in the air. Then he was announced, and the show began. He was wearing a red jacket over his dark shirt and pants: Big smile and his big voice.

I’m pretty much in a trance when he’s singing and moving, so I don’t keep track of a set list of songs. I liked the fact that there were no big video screens on either side of the stage, as at other venues, and the sound wasn’t so blasting that I had to wear ear plugs, as I usually do at his concerts.

I love that he can sing anything, and that his fabulous voice, passion, raw sexuality, and playfulness comes through and washes over the audience. I like the oldies, standards, all of it. “Git Me Some” was hot, as he sang sitting on a stool at the edge of the stage. Then, the most fun of all–when the band begins an intro, especially to “You Can Leave Your Hat On”—DA-Da-DA—DaDaDa—DA-Da-DA—DaDaDa…and the people start screaming in anticipation (I, as well, at the top of my lungs).

Then, there are times they shine the spot lights on the audience — everyone goes even wilder!!

At the end of the show — he is sweating throughout (I have close range with binoculars) as he thanked everyone and walked off stage. That is our cue to go up close to the stage for the encore. He usually comes back out and beckons people to come closer. So, I’m ready for my mad dash. I climb over the people to my right, as I had warned, and get to about row four when I literally run into a “Security Guard”, in a yellow shirt, with his arms stretched out, forbidding me to go further. Another “guard” is to his right, holding his arms out as well. He is threatening me with further security action if I don’t go back to my seat. Right. I continue to try to get past him, and couldn’t, so I went around to another passageway. I was met with two more of the same. This time I just kept at it, and finally squeezed my way around them to get to the stage. More guards — and hey, I’m missing the encore, just trying to go where I want to be! It was great to finally be up close. He is so handsome. I’m always struck by that.

Well, the show did end, and people dispersed. I lingered.

People had been on their feet for most of the show, rocking out, dancing and singing along. So, now it felt good to just be quiet and bask in the afterglow of the whole experience–Hm-m-m-m.

—Melodie Baker