Tom Waits

loyatemu · 04-08-2008 12:16AM

belated review of Friday

INCREDIBLE!

I had a fantastic seat admittedly - 4 rows back in front of the sax player (who like the rest of the band was wonderful). I would not have been happy sitting off to the sides, the tent was not laid out well, and given that I was far from deafened up the front, it might have been a bit quiet down the back.

I'm a big fan but not really a completist so I didn't know about half the set (I don't have any of his early albums) but every song was mesmerising. He's an incredible performer, you just can't take your eyes off him.

A few highlights:

Cemetery Polka (with its introduction about family reunions)
Hoist that rag (demented bossanova with his younger son banging the bongos up front)
Eyeball Kid (brilliantly done with the mirrorball hat)
I'll shoot the moon (with corny "acting out the lyrics" hand gestures)
Heigh Ho (really didn't expect that one)

as you can probably tell, I'm more a fan of the bluesy and weird end of his catalogue, but even if you were piano-Tom fanatic, aside from the 5 song set at the piano, he did a lot of ballads. I particularly loved "Blue Valentine" which I hadn't heard before - i'll be off out the buy "The Asylum Years" next week.

Well worth the ticket price, well worth the trek back into town (why didn't they put the tent closer to the front of the park?). My sympathy to anyone in the sh1tty seats though.

blastman · 04-08-2008 03:00AM

Right.

I was Wednesday's and Friday's gigs, as I've been a big Tom fan for years and I spurned the opportunity to go to his last Irish gig. Still, it was only a 20-odd year wait! I have to say that getting into and out of the venue was great, and parking was easy. The venue itself was also perfect for a Tom Waits gig, as it gave the right carny/vaudeville atmosphere.

As others have said, the setlists were excellent, with a good spread over his entire career and enough variety between the two nights I was there to make it worth going twice. The sound wasn't bad, I thought the comments between songs were a little hard to hear at times, the songs themselves were fine though.

BUT (you knew there was one coming, didn't you?), like others have already said, the layout was poor and I was unfortunate enough to end up in sh!tty seats on both nights. Aiken have a neck charging nearly 140 Euro for seats that were right at the back of B block, many of which had a restricted view as well because of the supports needed to hold the tent up! I also blame Ticketbastard for not giving you more options when you actually buy the tickets. I'd be curious where people who bought the tickets in the days before the gigs were placed as I'm sure better seats than the ones I was given were sold then and that is the real p!sser!

Yes, I really enjoyed the gigs and finally seeing Tom Waits live, but no, I wasn't happy with the way the venue was laid out. I'd have preferred if the A block was replaced with a standing area and that way if you wanted to go up the front you could, but there were also seats for those that wanted them. I don't think it would have been beyond the wit of professional promoters to organise this, I doubt that moshing was going to cause any safety concerns!

jimd2 · 04-08-2008 11:32AM

blastman wrote: »

I'd be curious where people who bought the tickets in the days before the gigs were placed as I'm sure better seats than the ones I was given were sold then and that is the real p!sser!

Blastman, I certainly know where you are coming from.....my seat was just about ok in that I could see Tom but nearly no one else. Very close to the speakers which sort of distorts the sound a bit.

BTW, did they sell many tickets in advance? Who got them?

Buster08 · 04-08-2008 12:30PM

Anyone read this review in the Sunday Times?
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/live_reviews/article4429902.ece

To me, it seemed harsh at first, but I had to admit it was closer to the truth than I would have liked to think...

Maybe it was the extorionate ticket price combined with the crappy sound and the number of poor seats at the venue... but I have to say that overall, I reluctantly felt a little ripped off...

We can blame the promoters, and Ticketmaster, but at the end of the day the band calls the shots. And failing to make sure your audience are well looked after suggests a degree of arrogance and complacancy I suppose I hoped wasn't there...

Huge Tom Waits fans, by the way... I saw him at the Olympia as well. I fully appreciate that some people had a spectacular time at a spectacular gig, but that just wasn't an option for those in the crap seats, try as they might!

The Chessplayer · 04-08-2008 07:46PM

Just reading a post there about the friday show, that he did 2 encores? I was there on thursday and left after the encore - did I miss a second encore? WIll be raging if I did!

Anyone, got a setlist from thursday night?

numbersix99 · 04-08-2008 08:00PM

No, Chessplayer, there was no 2nd encore, he finished with Hold On, which was a great way to end.

Thursday's setlist:

Lucinda / Ain't going down to the well no more
Down in the hole
Come on up the house
The bottom of the world
Jockey full of bourbon
Chocolate Jesus
Misery is the river of the world
Picture in a frame
Tango till they're sore
Invitation to the blues
House where nobody lives
Innocent when you dream
Lie to me
Sixteen shells from a thirty-ought six
9th & Hennepin
Black market baby
Trampled rose
Hoist that rag
All the world is green
Hang down your head
Raindogs/Russian Dance
Make it rain

Heart attack and vine
November
Hold on

LadyMayBelle · 04-08-2008 11:57PM

No, he reserved the double encore for those of us lucky to see him on the final night of the tour, Friday!

I really really REALLY enjoyed the gig, was on the flat, and in row Q, and the very edge. I had been worried I would see nothing, but was close enough to see him grimace and even smile! yeay! My kid bro ran up at the end and very nearly shook his hand (kid was gutted he missed out by one person!)

Delighted he played Cemetary Polka, The Eyeball Kid, and how good was Hoist that Rag?!

On the downside, I agree 100% with Flogen about those people who cant suppress their cravings for the duration of the gig.. as I was on the edge seat it was very distracting to have 25 or so people walk past you at the end of every song, and having to make way for people who were trying to get out of a row. I got quite irate at one guy who asked me to move for the third time, and he said, "sorry, Im off to get cigarettes". Seriously?! Off to buy ciggies you cant even smoke during the set?

i feel that if youre paying that much money, you would want to be a fan (and I would happily have paid to go another night had I the money) but getting up disturbing people in the row who are trying to enjoy themselves? Not impressing.

I witnessed one guy being escorted out of the tent by security about half an hour into the set, not sure what that was about..

Will he come back? I certainly hope so.
Will I be there? With bells on.

Splainc · 05-08-2008 10:11AM

Amazing on the Friday. Absolutley amazing. I am still in shock. Cannot get my head around the fact that I saw Tom Waits live only a few days ago.

As regards people walking in and out and stuff I think the real, unfortunate reason is that, because of the price of the tickets, this was very similar to the Barbara Streisand gig last year. There are way too many people out there who just like telling people about what music they like or what gigs they have been at, with no real interest in listening to it. I have seen so many posts on different sites from "real fans" complaining about the setlist and even, comments on Jim Carrolls blog, his enunciation.Tom Waits' enunciation for **** sake!! There was a woman sitting beside me who turned to me, pleasantly surprised, to say "oh he is very good isn't he?, i was not sure at first" and I also saw comments from people in the front row who had never heard him before say he was good.

Great that they thought so but do these people really gamble e140 on one ticket for an artist they have never heard before?or have they just more money than sense?or is it just the whole desire to talk **** at their dinner party the next week "oh yes, i was at the Tom Waits concert the other night, I rather enjoyed myself"

Otherwise I had a great time!!!!

numbersix99 · 05-08-2008 10:27AM

Splainc, I couldn't agree more. In Dublin more than anywhere else I've been, there's a huge number of posers, people who are there for the "scene". You can identify them easily enough as the spend most of the time before the gig name checking bands they like (or who the NME like). The worst is when they talk about the music during the music. I had great seats on Thursday's Tom Waits gig except for the asshole couple behind me who decided to do that, or else tried to song along to the music and get it completely wrong. These are the worst people to be around, they are the worst of the worst, more shallow than the boy-band fans- they are being confronted by such amazing music and are prompted to disrespect the music and the fans of that music by blabbing away.

People walking in and out... I don't mind that too much, I can survive that. But it's the posers, the ones who waste the tickets of those who truly care about the music, they're the worst.

cormie · 05-08-2008 10:44AM

What were the couple saying about the songs?

numbersix99 · 05-08-2008 10:48AM

Well, I was trying to listen to the songs themselves, but it was stuff like "Oooo, I LOVE this song!!", and then "what album is this from?" etc etc. That would prompt further conversations that I tried to block out.

delbertgrady · 05-08-2008 11:26AM

Splainc wrote: »

Is it just the whole desire to talk **** at their dinner party the next week "Oh yes, i was at the Tom Waits concert the other night, I rather enjoyed myself"

Yes, that's exactly what it is. They're not even fair-weather Tom Waits fans: they just go to be seen and so they can impress everyone that they saw him, even though most of them probably couldn't name six albums by the man. The big "event" concerts always bring out that type of person.

numbersix99 · 05-08-2008 11:35AM

Oh, it happens in small gigs too. I remember trying to listen to Mark Kozelek, who is stunning live, in Whelans and having to endure a poser couple behind talk about the music "It sounds like this band, and that band... it's very Californian..". How would you know, poser? You don't listen to the music, so how can you TALK about it?

Splainc · 05-08-2008 11:42AM

numbersix99 wrote: »

Oh, it happens in small gigs too. I remember trying to listen to Mark Kozelek, who is stunning live, in Whelans and having to endure a poser couple behind talk about the music "It sounds like this band, and that band... it's very Californian..". How would you know, poser? You don't listen to the music, so how can you TALK about it?

I was at that gig too. Everything that man touches turns to gold. You going to see Sun Kil Moon at the Academy?cant wait myself

numbersix99 · 05-08-2008 11:46AM

Absolutely, Splainc, his new album April is brilliant, and I can't wait to hear the full-band songs live.

Splainc · 05-08-2008 11:51AM

excellent. looking forward to hearing the full band. i always love going to see a brilliant artist when their new album is really good. Went to see Radiohead in June and was so excited about hearing the new stuff that I was taken aback when they launched into Paranoid Android and Just etc. Check out the below festival. Sounds really great

www.endoftheroadfestival.com

LegacyUser · 05-08-2008 06:19PM

Hey guys, to the people who were at the concerts, did they take your tickets or just look at them and let you go? I bought tickets for my friend but I am unsure if he actually went or not as the ticket is at home and is still connected to the stub.

aurel · 05-08-2008 06:29PM

Got to keep ticket and stub. Just scanned them.

cormie · 05-08-2008 11:24PM

cheesedude wrote: »

Hey guys, to the people who were at the concerts, did they take your tickets or just look at them and let you go? I bought tickets for my friend but I am unsure if he actually went or not as the ticket is at home and is still connected to the stub.

Just ask him? :P

Legion · 05-08-2008 11:24PM

aurel wrote: »

Got to keep ticket and stub. Just scanned them.

Yep,same here.

Cunning · 05-08-2008 11:37PM

have to agree with numbersix99 about ppl talking
i can cope with the odd exclamation by excited ppl around me, hell i even do it myself buttttttt

the guy in block B row x seat 41-42ish on friday night kept mumbling the words to tom trauberts blues and then trying badly to sing "walllllltzing matilda".
my bro turned around half way thru and "shushed" him, to which the dude turned to his bored looking girfriend and said "i think was just told to shut up" in a shocked, "how ****ing dare you" face. didnt stop him tho. during gods away on business, the same dick kept shouting out "killers thieves and lawyers" coz they're the only words he knew.

if you're that guy, congrats, your a real jerk!

still couldnt ruin the show tho, was a little disappointed by the sound further back tho, stood up front near the end and was very very very much better,

despite that i think it was the single best performance i've ever seen! he blew me away completely, hope he dosnt leave it so long the next time!

Dannygirl · 09-08-2008 02:14AM

blastman wrote: »

I'd be curious where people who bought the tickets in the days before the gigs were placed as I'm sure better seats than the ones I was given were sold then and that is the real p!sser!

I bought tickets online on Wednesday for the Thursday night gig. Great seats, block B, row E right in the middle. Just a tiny bit far back to see his face clearly but fantastic seen as they were bought the day before. I did feel sorry for people who bought back in May and got crap seats. Loved every bit of the gig. ;-)

jArgHA · 11-08-2008 08:26PM

I've now listened to the freely available podcast of his Glitter & Doom show in Atlanta 3 times and every time I hear Hoist That Rag followed by Make It Rain I get shivers up me spine recalling his renditions in Dublin. Brilliant. Fair play to Tom for making such a good quality recording freely available.

(For those who haven't heard it fire up iTunes Store and do a search for 'NPR Live Concerts', or go here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92916923)

cormie · 11-08-2008 09:08PM

Any way to get that on mp3?

gymnipities · 11-08-2008 09:53PM

cormie wrote: »

Any way to get that on mp3?

Yeah, try this:
http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast.php?id=510253

cormie · 12-08-2008 12:28AM

Great, thanks

The Chessplayer · 12-08-2008 10:25AM

snippets of the TW Dublin gigs on youtube

KingLoser · 12-08-2008 05:22PM

I was slap bang in the centre of the first row for the Prague gig.

Blew me away. That's one off the list of to-do's!

eamon234 · 11-09-2008 11:22PM

jArgHA wrote: »

I've now listened to the freely available podcast of his Glitter & Doom show in Atlanta 3 times and every time I hear Hoist That Rag followed by Make It Rain I get shivers up me spine recalling his renditions in Dublin. Brilliant. Fair play to Tom for making such a good quality recording freely available.

(For those who haven't heard it fire up iTunes Store and do a search for 'NPR Live Concerts', or go here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92916923)

Drat - you beat me to it was just about to post it!!

Listening to it as we speak - quality is excellent

The Minstrel · 05-01-2010 01:36PM

Just got myself the new live album. There's a track on there recorded in Dublin, Trampled Rose. Great album.

Tom Waits

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