Tom Waits

Poststructural Pub
21

Now then..

Many moons ago, I came home after a gig and was ready to sit down and relax and watch the News. Before, or maybe after, there was the highlights of a Concert in Dublin featuring one Tom Waits. I had never heard of him but if RTE were showing it, late at night, a few days after..well it was worth a look.

A big tall guy steps out onto the stage, lights a fag - ciggy - and justs stands there.

The Sax kicked in and there before my very drunken eyes was "Small Change "..

I was sitting there, coffee and cig in hand and there he was…

One of those WTF moments…

The rest of the show just left me with a cold coffee and a cig burn..

I was motionless, speechless and devasted ..

A few nights later, down in the local Pub, the crack was along the lines of…“Who, in the livin’ name of Jayzuz is yer man Tom fukcin Waits?”

We know now.

But we had some huge debates about just what the Fcuk was a Burma Shave,

The man is a genius, a comedian between songs, and somebody who changed the lives of guys like me, many moons ago.

I fell around the place laughing when Dale said he was not familiar with Toms version of “Somewhere” from West Side Story..

The Boss got back having found it but that is the greatest version of the greatest song from the greatest musical ever.

Like Chas, I tend to be a closet listner but when I am on my own.. Tom gets played..loud.

Slan,
D. :wink:

22

He ain’t got laid in a month of Sundays. I caught him once and he was sniffin’ my undies. He ain’t too sharp but he gets things done. Drinks his beer like it’s oxygen. He’s my baby, and I’m his honey. Never gonna let him go.

That song is so white trash and so wonderful. I love it.

23

Ha,

John Prine should and might be up there along Bob and Joni..to mention a few.

I was just happening to be tinkin’ dat maybe Larry was on about Tom and Crystal Gayle..or maybe Tom and Bette Midler going out on " I never talk to strangers.."

Just a thought..

Slan,
D. :slight_smile:

24

Just wanted to check myself in as a Tom Waits fan. The incredible thing (to me) is that he’s still making outrageously amazing music, where most artists drop off drastically after a fairly short amount of time. I routinely pull out Swordfishtrombones and Mule Variations.

25

“Chocolate Jesus”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfZYy5HFY6A

One of my favorite things ever.

Best wishes,
Jerry

(Edited to change the link to one that includes the follow up interview with Letterman.)

26

For](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlPko2kDDYo%22%3EFor) I am a raindog too…

27

Hey Cranberry, what’s with the SNL signature line (inaccurate as it is)?

Kevin Krell

28

Yeah, Weekender JR. is a fan. Waits lives about 45 miles north of here (in Sebastopol), yet my kid wants to go all the way to Phoenix to hear him cause it’s the closest town on the tour. Sigh…Of course, he wants me to loan him the $$, especially since he’s graduating etc etc.

I find it very annoying that the guy won’t play here. I am not a fan but based on his following, he must have something of quality to offer to many..

29

Indeed,

The man is famous for his refusal to tour. I can respect that, having sold something like forty million albums.

He prefers to spend time with his wife and kids..

not a bad deal.

One of my favourite Tom tales is when somebody asked him how he felt about Rod Stewarts version of Downtown Train - an absolutely great, and typical Tom Waits song - well his answer was..“Hey…it bought my kids a pool”

If I lived somewhere near him I probably would ..well ..ye know..

Slan,
D. :slight_smile:

30

Along with the small number of US cities he’s playing (NO where near me, I might add :stuck_out_tongue: ), he’s playing Dublin for several gigs in October. Too bad it’s not this June…I might have been able to make it then. Oh well…

31

Oh, God, yeah. chas’s post made me go dig out the CD. Can’t believe I left it so long since I least listened to that.

Tom Waits is soul.

32

Me too. I saw him once about 25 years ago in Norfolk, VA in a bar. The place was packed!!! The bass player used a pick. I’d never seen that before.

Regarding Waits, I always liked “Whistling Past the Graveyard”.

33

Here’s an interesting video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_0E7x3Nqys

34

I honestly believe that Bob, Joni, Neil and Lenny would die to have a line like “Grapefruit Moon, one star shining, shining down on me”, under their belt.

" every time I here that melody.."


'nuff said.

Slan,
D. :wink:

35

ahem…that would be hear, but far be it from me to correct you :stuck_out_tongue:

:wink:

36

Guilty as charged :blush:

Slan,
D.

37

You’d go hang out at the produce market up there (it happens to be a great market) and hope to see him. Or hope he’ll show up at that cider place whose name escapes me. They have live music there three or four times a week. Ace of something. Dangit. I love that place but just go by inner radar…They have the nearby Racer 5 IPA on tap, outdoor seating… Hang on…

here 'tis. I actually don’t know if he goes there, but man, if I lived nearby I would.

[brewpub]