Saw the Tulsa show and Waits was phenomenal. Every ounce of his soul was poured out and he left little or nothing behind. My buddy and I felt privelged to be able to enter into his bizarre carney world of the blues for a little over two hours. The band was amazing so they must have tightened it up since Phoenix. Go see him. Don’t miss it.

I can’t wait. Ive listened to nearly all my albums cd’s and watched the 78 Austin City Limits show on DVD about 50 times each. Hours away now from Glitter and Doom. Tom Waits Live!! hours now away!

He’s only 58! That only 3 years older than my father. I thought he was approaching his 70’s for some reason. He certainly acts older. Either way, I wish I was there, he makes great music.

As for the question posed earlier; I think Modest Mouse is the best candidate to carry his torch. They make brilliant innovative music that is obviously inspired by Mr. Waits himself. Plus Isaac Brock is a total curmudgeon like Tom (I don’t mean that in a negative way). Another candidate might be Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes.

Raindogs also included the instrumental Russian Dance from The Black Rider.

I saw Tom at the Roxy in 76, Jimmy Witherspoon opened, He did most of “Small Change”, again in 80 at the Hunnington Hartford, Leon Redbone opened, he did most of “Blue Valentine”, I saw him New Years Eve 1988 at the Wiltern, no one opened, the “Frank’s Wild Years” show, this was the best Concert I have ever witnessed, and last but not least, he did a Benefit for the victims of the L.A. Riots in 1992, “Bone Machine” would soon be released, Fishbone opened, followed by a surprise acoustic set from Los Lobos, Then Tom ended with an incredible set that was highlighted by the most frightening version of “Underground” I will ever hear. Please do one more show in L.A. Tom, I know the best is yet to come.

I have to say it… where ARE all you extraordinary, articulate people? You certainly don’t live next door to MY life; this urban wasteland gravitates toward American Idol and remnants of the Spice Girls. I knew Mr. Waits would attract a superior class of wordsmiths and stone-blind music lovers but I never knew I could have such a rip-roaring time just reading a batch of comments. Thank you—from the bottom of my Old Bushmill’s— for restoring my faith in humanity.

Both Phoenix shows were great. yes, guitars were no comparison to the ribot days, but also sounded good in the background behind the enigmatic waits. I actually liked the first night better BECAUSE he seemed to sort of fumble through the material more than the second night. yea, it wasn’t perfect, but I felt like that’s what made it special. If I want perfection, I’ll listen to the album! The second nights songs (although many were the same as the first night) were played quite different than the first night: cleaner, slower, more measured. I liked the raw energy of the first night quite alot, not to mention the better set list. I’m seeing two more shows and wish I could see every show on the tour. What an artist!

I am every so psyched to go to J.Ville. I am a 1st timer & have loved his art for years. We are traveling from VT. to Fl. This is so huge for me!!!

I really wanted to see Waits in Jacksonville, but . . . $85 a piece for seats waaaay up in the back of the balconey? Add the $13.50 ticketbastard fee and that’s nearly $100 per person. I am crushed.

Nice story Duke. I’ve always dreamt I could have been there (Duke’s) too at that time. But like you, I would never have interrupted him. Wow.
Schmedrick: I agree about the band. I was pretty messy. Omar was a mere shell of Ribot or Gore… when you could hear him. The rest of the band seemed like they were learning the songs. Ugh. Thank God Tom f%$ckin Waits was there to amaze me still.

Sounds like it’s everything I want it to be. I go to see him in Mobile in less than 2 weeks and have the feeling that whatever it is I happen to see, it is going to blow me away. The best live performance I have seen up to this point is Nine Inch Nails, and I’m thinking it may surpass even that moment in my life- which was a defining one. From what I understand, it’s a miracle that he’s even touring, let alone coming to a city less than an hour away from where I live. It seems fortune at last has smiled upon me.

Tom Waits is one-of-a-kind and I’ve been to TW shows since Heart Attack and Vine. But frankly, both Phoenix shows were disappointing. Waits stopped the band on the first night because the tempo was wrong. next night. both nights he forgot either lyrics or an entire piano passage. The Rolling Stone guy mentions the band being on the verge of coming apart at the seams” BECAUSE THEY WERE! Nightmare, just a nightmare.

Baton?? This isn’t a relay race! There’s no baton. I’ve been attending concerts for 40 some odd years now , many of them Dylan
shows {thank goodness he doesn’t stop touring] I guarantee you all , there is only one Tom Waits.I’ve met many of my musical hero’s , even became close friends with some
and when I relocated from NYC to LA in 1978 and pulled out my “Small Change” album , remembering something about a place in Hollywood where i could “send a picture , 2 dead creeping charlies to young master Tom Waits , in order to get the lyrics for “Step Right up” , picked up the phone , called information for the number to the Tropicana Motel. Got the address , only a mile away , drove by , saw a little dive coffee shop “DUKES” with a long line out front , decided with my buddy to get in line & check it out. “If you don’t want to wait in line there’s 2 seats at the counter” shoot , I’d rather sit at the counter Dave , let’s take em , nobody ahead of us wanted em anyway. Sat down & Dave leans over and whispers ” don’t be obvious , but check out the dude sittin next to you” I glance down below the counter and see a pair of laced mens dress shoe’s , no laces in them , a wrinkled up suit above them
and as my gaze rises I realize I’m sitting next to the Bard himself!! Tom Waits , eating breakfast & smoking a butt at the same time!! For only the 2nd time in my life I’m in total awe. I never utter a word!! [The 1st time was crossing paths with Dylan @ 3;00 am on Bleeker Street in Greenwich Village. He saw me recognize him as we approached each other & I just gave him a thumbs up. He smiled , realizing I wouldn’t invade his space & just walked off into the night] I had no problem relying the story to Ricky Lee Jones & Al Kooper , when I found myself seated next to them at Dukes on later occasions. I even told my Waits story to Frank Zappa years later , but when I was in Tom’s presence , I wouldn’t , no , couldn’t
invade his space. I probably would have felt the same had I the chance to meet Kerouac, but never did. There’s been very few originals I’ve come across in this lifetime , and surely Tom waits sits at the top of the list. I sure hope to see him live again, I attended both Wiltern Theater shows from the “Raindogs” tour & they were 2 of the most memorable nights I ever spent listening to and observing a genius at work. so please , no more silly talk of passing a baton. when a new genius shows up you’ll know it eventually & they’ll be unlike anything you have seen or heard of. Till then thank goodness & evil we have Tom Waits & Bob Dylan at least I had the gonads
to talk to Zappa when I had the chance. AT least I spoke to one of the genuine articles of my life….

to all you johnny-come-lately jack ass3s that bought tickets both nights and didn’t allow for more fans to share in the rare and unique experience: f()CK U!; to all you teenie bopper idiots who try to compare this man to your modern day standard musician heros, understand, waits stands alone on a deserted island next to the remnants of a shipwreck, one in which he single-handedly engineered…his own perfectly orchestrated, yet exquisite disaster.

to all you jack ass3s that bought tickets both nights and didn’t allow for more fans to share in the rare experience: f()CK U!, to all you teenie bopper idiots who try to compare this man to your modern day standard musician heros, understand, waits stands alone on a deserted island next to the remnants of a shipwreck, one in which he single-handedly engineered…his own perfectly orchestrated, yet exquisite disaster.

Nobody in the current music world is worthy of picking up a baton this heavy. There is nobody working in music today who produces more fascinating but less commercially viable work. He says it himself… Marcel Marceau gets more airplay than he does.

Well… I say fair cop. He doesn’t need the big corporate razzmatazz, and probably wouldn’t know what to do with it anyway. What do you DO with a song about your neighbour who’s building a doomsday machine in his garage? How do you market a jazzrap two-minute riff on the corner of Ninth and Hennepin? A Raindog is not a denizen of Top 40 radio. Thank swordfish trombones and Franks’s wild years…that there’s someone who writes and sings from the dark twist of soul that we all recognise but often shy away from.

Go see this man while you can…I sure wish I could! And pay him well so he can keep making this stuff. And don’t worry about passing batons. There are a few cracked tarantellas left in that extraordinary bowler-hatted head yet.

Waits is like an amalgam of Bob Dylan, Leadbelly, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Louis Armstrong, Captain Beefheart, Kurt Weill, and Howlin’ Wolf. He’s the incarnation of some very old soul - a lost vaudevillian or troubadour from another time. I don’t really know if he has any contemporaries or standard-bearers.

Lessening the uniqueness and brilliance of Tom Waits to a “baton that should be handed off” is an insult and a tragedy to the man and his art. It is clear you have missed the point… I think Beck and Jack White would agree. These “batons” you speak of are a quality that pop music and it’s subsequent culture displays regularly. Tom Waits is way above that league entirely.

First night in Phoenix was a dream come true for me. Some of my absolute favorites were played (”late 70’s piano in the Tropicana Hotel room with Duke’s chili on his breath era”).
“I’ve been changed, LORD I’VE BEEN CHANGED”.
As far as “the baton”. C’mon. Seriously. Have you ever heard anything like Tom before? Do you really think anything will ever even come close to him? That’s why he is such a revolutionary figure in performance and music… because there is not a sole on this planet who could handle that baton even if he were to pass it. There are a lot of great musicians out there though, I agree. But they are trying to fashion their own batons. Let’s leave it at that. Why is there a need for people to see Tom pass on his essence to someone else?

THE BOWLER HAT seemed to take Tom and his unreal craack band to new heights. Tom out in front with enormous spastic energy and voice…Omar Torrez a huge standout in the band with a flamenco guitar style along with VIncent on double sax, etc. Front row, section A…I will never be the same.

I will get to see Mr. Waits in Columbus. A dream come true. It is very simple. This man is one of the greatest artist’s of our time. Just as Dylan is. These guys are a dying breed. Once they are gone,the void will be to vast to fill. Jack White, Beck all of this Mumbo Jumbo. These guys wish they could be Tom Waits. Eggs and Sausage, now a side of toast.

There is no baton, you’re all imagining it.

Jason Webley sure tries to pick up that baton

I saw Nick Cave in London last month. He was awesome. But both previous Tom Waits gigs I’ve seen (paris 2000, London 2004) were on another level altogether. Love em both, but Cave is no Tom Waits.

what a wonderful performance… i.m still mind-blown… wish i could follow the tour… what a brilliant constellation… (: anyone who is fortunate enough to be attending a performance is truly in for a treat… enjoy!!! [and thanks tom, you.re such a beautiful, breathtaking soul…] xoxoxox… peace…

Man Man has nothing on Tom Waits!!

The closest you’re going to get to Tom Waits style music in the near future is Man Man and Nick Cave. Both are great artists, but unfortunately for them, Tom Waits is a musical genius. The bar he’s set is much too high.

That being said, I finally get to see the man himself in St. Louis. I can’t wait.

i always thought nick cave would be his successor. and man man does a great job of carrying on the tradition too.

I had the pleasure of being at this experience and what a great show it was! This review, while accurate…couldn’t possibly do it justice.
Live long & prosperous Tom! W

I was there,shit concert.

Jack White? LOL! ASSHOLE PLEASE !

58 is young enough to keep churning out the great music he’s been making from his wonderfully out-of-tune grinder.
Just stay a bit longer and dance to the tunes.

This is so exciting! I can’t wait for st louis next thursday. the setlist looks great. Also, I see some of you are talking about a torch being passed on and so forth. Well, 58 really isn’t that old but no one last forever. Atually, I’m not a huge fan of the following band but I could see them getting gruffer with age :Modest Mouse. Here’s some other artists I think will age gracefully. Beck (popularly said by some of you already), Wilco, My Morning Jacket/Jim James, Ryan Adams, Cat Power, PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, Pearl Jam, Alison Kraus, Arcade Fire aaaaaaand that’s all I can think of at the moment.

the pawnshop roses!

Dave Matthews? Please tell me you’re kidding. To be ‘dark’ does not merely refer to a minor key and vaguely morbid subject matter. I mean, really.

Good question, I like Dave Matthews. Especially on songs like “Halloween” and “Hello Again.” The songwriting is very close to Waits on those darker, story-telling songs.

Where’s bab-o-riley? I’m back from jail, and want to talk to him.

I like Beck, but he doesn’t seem to have this darkness that Tom does. I think White may be a tad closer to the good madness. But I like them all.

Beck sounds about right.

Good question. Beck sounds about right to me. I’ll be seeing Tom on Friday in El Paso.

Who is going pick up the baton of this great song writer and entertainer when he packs it up. 58 aint young. Is it Beck? Jack White?