June 23, 2008
Lucinda/Ain't Goin Down to the Well
Way down in the hole
Anywhere I lay my head
November
Chocolate Jesus
Frank's wild years
Singapore
Hoist that rag
Get behind the mule
Such a scream
Eyeball kid
Lucky day
Invitation to the blues
Lost in the harbor
Innocent when you dream
16 shells from a 30 ought 6
Lie to me
Fannin St
Black market baby
Misery is the river of the world
Make it rain
Jesus gonna be here
9th and Hennepin
Time
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Pictures: Kyle B.
42 comments:
Franks wild years was definitely the best part of the show. that was a nice little surprise.....the performance was not as good as i had expected.....it seemed like he wasnt into it....energy level was pretty low.
I have to disagree with Jason. I saw him last tour in Nashville and Atlanta and found this show to be a step above those.
He was really on point and interacting with the crowd. His voice was great and overall he seemed to be enjoying himself. The set was just amazing and he did four songs for the encore!
I'm off to see him in St. Louis next, I hope it's as amazing as this show (and has better AC and seats!)
Outstanding show. Frank's Wild Years was definitely one of the high points of the show for me. I was very happy with the choice of songs and the caliber of his backing musicians. The arrangements of a few of the songs definitely surprised me.
Now, I'm sure you noticed how horribly hot it was inside the Palladium. Turns out he requested that the AC stay off during the performance to keep the noise level to a minimum (according to the staff). Thank god they turned it back on after a while. That was brutal.
Overall, it was worth losing feeling in my feet and the pain in my knees and back for 2+ hours of great entertainment. If he comes back to the Dallas area again, I hope he plays a venue with seats.
Brutal, hell. It was criminal
I went, but was unable to appreciate the quality of the performance. Perhaps it was the pools of sweat that had collected in my ears that prevented me from hearing (or maybe it was the crappy sound system). Perhaps it was the torrent of perspiration running into my eyes that blinded me (or maybe it was the woefully inadequate elevation of the stage). Perhaps it was the fact that I had paid $85.00 (plus $20.00 convenience charges) to be jammed into a smelly, surly human casserole and literally baked until done. And done I was after 6 songs.
I have been a Tom Waits fan for 32 years and have never had the opportunity to see him. I left sickened, as much by the heat as the disappointment.
What happened last night at the Palladium was criminal (or should be). Thousands of people were STANDING jammed nose to neck in a converted warehouse. The concert was to start at 8:00. At 7:45, they TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONERS. This is JUNE in TEXAS. By the time the show started 45 minutes later, the temperature inside that breezeless barn must have been at least 100 degrees. With no seating, the normal rudeness of people craning and jostling to get a better view and closer to the stage ramped up to hostility. How the hell is anybody supposed to enjoy that? If I hadn't been with a friend who had traveled from Washington DC expressly for the event, I would have left before the show began.
The air was turned back on--briefly--after an hour or so. Ten minutes later, off again. I don't know if it ever came back on. .
Palladium management gave two explanations for the air being shut off. One was that "the artist insists that the air conditioners be turned off for the sake of his voice." Now I love Tom Waits, but I have to admit that I was struck by the irony of that statement. Besides, if Waits can't sing with the AC on then he should limit himself to outdoor venues. The other explanation was that the smoke machines on stage wouldn't work properly with the AC on. Either explanation is ridiculous, and both represent a callous disregard for the fans by all involved.
I read matthew's explanation and that makes more sense, but is still ridiculous. Crowd noise was by far louder than the AC, at least back where I was standing.
That sound terrible :(
I saw complaints about Houston and the crowd being 'dead'. It was at Jones Hall, typically a venue for the Symphony. I *LOVED* it. Comfortable seating, perfect sound (and it didn't have to be loud.. my first concert that I left without my ears ringing), and the crowd was silent in rapt attention during each piece. It's a shame the Dallas show went the way it did.
I'd be curious to see Tom's explanation, as there was certainly AC in Houston. You couldn't hear it, but it was comfortable in there.
perhaps my perception of the performance was greatly influenced by my poor state of mind. the sound was awful. i could hear the guys behind me way better than i could hear tom. they should have had big signs outside the venue "please wear deodorant". i wouldnt be surprised if 15% if the people there sneaked in....it would have been pretty easy.
I think it's kind of suspect to say "the artist" requested the air to be turned off. He was subject to the same temperature as the rest of us and he was wearing a coat on top of that. I saw sweat pouring from his face when he set down to play the piano. If you think standing there is hot try singing at the top of your lungs and dancing around under all of those lights. To me it sounds like the Palladium is just making excuses for being derelict in their own duties.
Maybe I was in a sweet spot or something but the sound was great and by the last quarter of the show the AC kicked on full force and it cooled off substantially (hinting there was probably a problem with the AC that got fixed.)
In regards to the crowd, aside from some stupidly yelling out song request everyone seemed to be having a good time and were enraptured.
What jmj said makes sense. I was definitely in a "sweat" spot.
I don't think I'll be going back to The Palladium anytime soon.
I thought the show was fantastic.
I saw him in Memphis on the Orphans tour, and I think this show was better. I agree that his interaction with the crowd was good. As far as AC goes, quit being a pixie. This is Texas. Heat is a fact of life.
I agree with Thomas. The heat is just a noisy neighbor here in Texas. We live with it. The show was awesome... however, the venue not so much. Ive been to the Palladium a couple of times before and it was never that hot and never that crowded. Ive never actually been in a venue so crowded as last night.
Also, I had an expired driver's license... well, because I stopped driving.... anyway, my friend's license is also expired. When I went in they scanned the credit card and then he and I proceeded to get our IDs checked for wristbands and they let him have a wristband with the expired license but not me. Complete BS. I drank anyway.
I gotta say though... I would climb a mountain to see Tom Waits. I love him... he inspires me in many ways. And for him to grace our town of Dallas with his presence is an honor.
We could have had to endure worse things. We're here to talk about it and enjoy it on infinite levels.
I am so surprised he would play there if it was such a bad venue. We were just commenting on how great the Orpheum was in Phoenix and The Plaza in El Paso. Small, intimate venues. It did get hot in Phoenix, but the air was still on. And no seats in Dallas? That's insane. This is a show you want to sit down and enjoy. So sorry. Does anyone know anything about the venue in Atlanta? I am going out there and want to know what to expect.
But at least you guys in Dallas got a great set list! The best I have seen since the 1st night in Phoenix!
folks, can we get some more specific reviews of the show(s)? i mean, of course seeing tom waits is going to be great, but how was his band? how was omar torres on guitar? besides the honor of seeing the man live, did he ROCK?
I saw the show from right behind the lighting guy. We got there @ 5:30 and the doors opened @ 6:30. For waiting an hour in line we were able to sit right behind the lighting guy and see the whole show perfectly.
It did get hot - and I was thankful I wasn't in the crowd - but we took the day off to make sure we would be able to at least get ok seats.. ended up getting what we thought were the best seats in the house.
The setlist was fantastic and the crowd seemed to handled the heat really well. Gotta remember - Tom was in the heat and under lights as well. All in all - one of - if not the best show I've ever seen.
People who are complaining about the number of people or not being able to hear seemed to forget what general admission means.. it means get there frickin early and dress lightly.. I saw people in suits and ties.
All in all - it was a fantastic show with great sound. The band was spot on - the setlist was amazing and Tom seemed to be really enjoying himself.
Innocent when you dream is one of my all time favorite concert moments now. Despite the heat.. there were numerous goosebump moments....
There were notices posted on the entry doors that the show was being filmed for possible DVD release. Now, I didn't see any evidence of cameras in the hall, but it sure might explain why the AC was turned off to reduce ambient noise.
Seriously, there are some really nitpicky comments here. Yes, it was hot. Yes, it was crowded. Yes, there were some rude drunks who talked through the entire show. All that coupled with Tom's performance just made it feel like the Ol' South Revival Tom probably intended it to feel like.
BUT, this was the best performance I have ever seen. Tom was energetic, fun, and really into interacting with the crowd. He played a dream set list, including songs my husband and I said, "wouldn't it be cool if he played _____?" To end the show with a 4 song encore and wrapping up with a brilliant version of Time was transcendent.
The band was phenomenal, especially Vincent Henry who played about 17 different instruments, sometimes two at a time. They flexed and flowed to Tom's leadership like "true polka men".
All that, makes the petty little issues like AC seem unimportant, and if I can say that, at 9 months pregnant with no complaints, surely its not that bad!
Oh man some great songs performed that night.
How was 9th and Hennepin?
The ticket said it was general admission. The people complaining about the heat must be the same clowns that don't realize the way the tickets are being sold is for the fans. (Oh yeah, Dallas Texas is in the middle of a desert). I had to pay $300 in Amsterdam because the only way you could get a ticket was through scalpers; Tom ended that.
Now to the show. The 4 piano tunes alone were worth the trip from Cape Cod. You could see it in Tom's face what a moment it was, while we sang Innocent When You Dream to him.
Casey was fun to watch on the drums and although the bass player pulled it off I definitely missed Larry Taylor. I guess I would have to say if you were lucky enough to be there - congratulations and thank you Tom.
It's such a sad old feeling
The fields are soft and green
It's memories that i'm stealing
But you're innocent when you dream
When you dream
You're innocent when you dream
No, No, No.... the sound was not great throughout the venue. Maybe where you were sitting but not in the back. The lack of AC made the place so hot it was sadistic and should be criminal. I really want a solid explanation for the lack of AC. A better venue was needed. The lack of seating made it less enjoyable.
Won't have the air conditioning problem in wet windy Ireland!
9th and Hennepin wow! That's maybe how you guys should count your blessings. I hope we get that one in the Ratcellar
Make it Rain!!
no complaints, loved it! along with the sweat and tears...
All in all, a good show. Never seen Tom before and he delivered exceptionally! However, after numerous other disappointments in the same city, this will be my last Dallas concert. The Palladium's excuse for lack of A/C is filled with holes (Tom himself looked like he was melting on stage) and the sound could have been better. Added to that, people were talking, socializing, what have you, throughout the entire setlist. Now I know why Tom hasn't played there in 30 years. As an Austinite, I dreaded having to go to this show, and I made the decision based upon the presumption that Houston houses worse fans, but after reading the reviews on this site, I realize I was sorely mistaken. However, on the plus side, the setlist was excellent, Tom seemed very into it, and the band was in top form. Here's hoping he'll play Austin in the near future, though that will probably not happen.
Those traveling to Knoxville will be glad to know the AC in the auditorium is outstanding, even though the sound quality can sometimes leave a lot to be desired.
These set lists are reminding me a lot of the Real Gone tour I caught in Seattle. Seems that Tom is doing a lot from that album, which is fine by me. Very anxious to hear the (mostly) new band.
Thanks 2for2true for the Knoxvill info. I was wondering what it was like there,
I have front row tickets so the sound should be good.
Have an extra one too.
To all of those complaining about the heat...if you walked away from the show and that was the only thing you talked about, i am really REALLY really sorry that you missed that amazing part in between the standing and the heat where tom waits played some really great music. You missed out.
you go to any music festival and you know what you're going to get, heat, smelly people, but some of the best music and a FANTASTIC experience...but maybe i was a little more ready for it when my friend had gone to another show a month ago at the palladium and said that it was like being in a warehouse with one rotating fan.
if you didn't have a good time it's your own damn fault. a fight broke out right behind me, punches and all, and the guys that were talking alot somewhat caused it, but dude...the music...i will never forget innocent when you sleep. being apart of that moment at the show was amazing, and completely unforgettable. i've had so many conversations about the set list since the show with friends that went and EVERYONE was pretty blown away!! the 4 song encore!! AMAZING!!! it was a great experience and the band blew me away...saxophonist playing 2 at a time, the guitar work was jaw dropping, and very cool that his son was on drums...worth every penny for the ticket!!cheap actually for such a great show!
it's hot in texas. it's summer. and it's texas.if you came for the airconditioning, i'm sorry you were disappointed.
The show was amazing, and yeah, it was hot. I was in the front row. I've seen Wilco at the Palladium and it wasn't hot like that. The security guy in front of me told us that Tom wanted the AC off, and also requested that the bars be closed down during his set. I believe they were only selling water. At any rate, Tom was REALLY into it from my perspective (right in front of him), and his band was super tight. Vincent Henry on the horns was especially amazing. At one point he was playing 2 different horns at the same time, with both left and right hands keying the notes. That was pretty awesome. Tom had some funny quips for people shouting things at him. He said things such as "Oh, hi mom" and "Yeah, I remember you, I met you at the airport, you had a pony tail and were selling books". Everyone in the crowd was into it, and people were very courteous, except for the drunken asshole next to me who was trying to pick a fight with his friend. I'm off to Tulsa today to see him again!
I didn't see any signs about any DVD, but all performances are videotaped. TW didn't ask for the ac to be turned off for his voice or for noise, although people may have said that. The ac worked fine in El Paso & Houston and there was far more noise coming from the bars and the crowd in Dallas. The ac seemed to work okay in Dallas when it was on. It was off and on several times, btw.
The Palladium was picked because of the sound quality there (it's essentially an empty space) and I thought the sound (excepting the noise) was superior in Dallas over El Paso & Houston. I thought the sound was worse in Houston. I liked the Dallas set list better, but overall I think El Paso was the best show. I didn't care for any of the merch and I was surprised there was such a demand for it. I guess we'll be seeing TW tees around for a while.
I wouldn't rate Dallas better than Memphis or Nashville, or really any of the '06 shows I saw, although I liked Omar Torrez better than Duke Robillard.
Torrez was much more in the music, like Ribot, showing off its edginess and angularity; where Duke kinda just threw in various Blues licks and returns. The thing that makes Glitter and Doom special is the horn playing of Vincent Henry. Outstanding!
I really missed Larry Taylor, but Seth Ford-Young did a fine job, as did Patrick Warren. I'm glad I went to Dallas - things could have been better -like quieting the people that were talking loudly like they were at a drive in movie or something, oblivious to what was happening on the stage. One lady had to stand next to me and bitch in loud yammering voice during the encore about how she doesn't really like Tom Waits but she came because her boyfriend wanted her to do so.
Bang! Zoom! To the moon!
Great show. It was quite hot, but a beer and some balls made it fine.
I think all venues should have a BB gun sniper for cell phones and flash camera photogs. The ladies on either side of me must have taken three dozen flash photos before I stormed off in impotent fury.
As i walked up to the venue at about 8:15 i was told by security i had 5 minuets before Tom was taking the stage. I called bullshit because i had heard Tom did not come on stage until 8:50 in Houston. He then said The AC was just turned off and the venue was asked by Mr.Waits to shut it down just before the show and for it to remain off throughout. So he doubted 8:50 was accurate. Tom ended up taking the stage at 8:40.
The AC did come on two or three times briefly during the show but IMO although it was hot it did add to the sound quality of the room. (My tape proves that)
This was the second time i had seen Tom, but first with a band. I caught his solo set at Neil's Bridge show a few years back. His stage antics lend much better visually with the band. it was like he evolved into a different character with each song. Simply amazing and very refreshing to see in a live music stage show.
Because we were late getting to the gig i was kind of stuck behind a pole about thirty feet from the stage. My wife made a comment that it really should not matter, we were not expecting much dancing or moving around from Tom. That statement could not be further from the truth. It turns out the pole did not obstruct my view of Tom in the least but offered a great view of a true artist evolving into each and every character his songs offer. All the heat of the venue did was force me to focus more on what was unfolding on stage.
sometimes a little sacrifice in comfort and convenience is necessary in a live setting.
If you focus on what you paid for i think you will always leave the venue getting your moneys worth. I know i did at the Palladium on Monday.
It really felt as if the "management" was saying "f-you, we have your money, and we're going to squeeze out every ha'penny we can." I would go through hell and back to see Waits, and I feel like I just did. It did require effort to enjoy the show, but we forged on. It was a little sad when Tom was trying to get the crowd with him on "Lie to Me" and get the crowd to chant "I have no use for the truth..." and everyone just stood their like birthday candles melting down to the floor. I went to a Grace Jones concert where she commanded the ac be turned off, but still it wasn't as miserable as Monday nite, where temps reached triple digits outside. It was cooler outside than inside at the end of the show. If you want a crowd to be quiet, sit them down in chairs for heaven's sake. It was downright unhealthy, and even dangerous. I thought I was being a "weenie" at first, but after seeing all the postings on MANY blogs, and even the local reviewers who agreed it was criminal not to have chairs or ac, I know now I'm not. Sadly, if he were playing there again tonight, I'm afraid I might just have to go back knowing how awful it would be. But I'd certainly dress differently, bring a battery-powered fan (maybe even rent one of those inflatable costumes...Elvis or something, with the fan inside...LOL!)and a folding chair.
It really felt as if the "management" was saying "f-you, we have your money, and we're going to squeeze out every ha'penny we can." I would go through hell and back to see Waits, and I feel like I just did. It did require effort to enjoy the show, but we forged on. It was a little sad when Tom was trying to get the crowd with him on "Lie to Me" and get the crowd to chant "I have no use for the truth..." and everyone just stood their like birthday candles melting down to the floor. I went to a Grace Jones concert where she commanded the ac be turned off, but still it wasn't as miserable as Monday nite, where temps reached triple digits outside. It was cooler outside than inside at the end of the show. If you want a crowd to be quiet, sit them down in chairs for heaven's sake. It was downright unhealthy, and even dangerous. I thought I was being a "weenie" at first, but after seeing all the postings on MANY blogs, and even the local reviewers who agreed it was criminal not to have chairs or ac, I know now I'm not. Sadly, if he were playing there again tonight, I'm afraid I might just have to go back knowing how awful it would be. But I'd certainly dress differently, bring a battery-powered fan (maybe even rent one of those inflatable costumes...Elvis or something, with the fan inside...LOL!)and a folding chair.
Fine for those of you who could actually see something, but due to the poor stage elevation only those in the front got this privilege. I didn't mind standing to bad. I loved the songs he played, but the sound sucked. If you can't see him you certainly want to hear him. (I really wished I could have seen him). I really would not be surprised if it were 100 degrees in there. Look, if I go to an outdoor venue, I expect to be hot. I wasn't just hot and uncomfortable, I was sweating bucket and buckets and buckets. I was just dissappointed because I expected better.
I'm really not understanding all the complaints about the Dallas show. It was hot. So fucking what? It's the summer in Texas. It's going to be. A/C isn't really going to do a whole helluva lot when you're standing about four inches from five other people. It's a GA/SRO concert, and it's going to be hot. Not sure where the shock was there.
While y'all were bitching to yourselves about this, that, and the other, you missed out on the best show he played in Texas. "Such a Scream" into "Eyeball Kid"??? Awesome.
As for complaints about sound, I heard everything great from about 30 feet from just right of center stage.
More details about the show at my blog for the none of you who might care.
Great show but I read on the Interwebs that Waits himself had the air conditioner turned off for the performance.
"Hotter than blazes and all the long faces" isn't just a Tom Waits lyric: It's an apt description of his show Monday at a sweltering Palladium Ballroom. Why so little A/C? Staffers told angry concert-goers the singer insisted on it, although his spokesperson Tresa Redburn couldn't confirm that. "I can't get a straight answer from Tom's camp," she said Tuesday. Scott Strong of AEG Live wasn't sure who was to blame for the heat, but said Mr. Waits' management OK'd the lack of seats (all other shows on the tour had seats). Ms. Redburn blamed the standing-only situation on miscommunication.
http://musicblog.guidelive.com/archives/2008/06/does-tom-waits-hate-airconditi.html
it was a great performance by Tom - one I'll never forget.
yes, the venue was crap. and the heat was awful, i agree.
that said, i would go again in a heartbeat to see Tom. totally worth it.
"While y'all were bitching to yourselves about this, that, and the other, you missed out on the best show he played in Texas. "Such a Scream" into "Eyeball Kid"??"
because it was so hot most of us were staring at our feet the entire night. totally missed the show.....and you're right...the A/C probably would have only taken the temp down from 104 to 70.....definitely not worth it
That would have been a mighty powerful A/C system to get the temperature in that space down to something "bearable" to most of y'all. 70 degrees was not happening without nuclear power.
You could not get the palladium to down to 70's in the middle of winter if there was a full house. Besides i didn't hear any bitching from the stage about the heat. And the artist was under hot lights in a suite.
"because it was so hot most of us were staring at our feet the entire night. totally missed the show.....and you're right...the A/C probably would have only taken the temp down from 104 to 70.....definitely not worth it"
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|_______| Cry More. Kleenex ®
I was at both Houston and Dallas (more info in my journal entry here):
http://www.last.fm/user/jimdier
I sat next to a guy who owned a subcontracting company working the show and he sat through the entire soundcheck. He stated without hesitation that the air off and bars closed when the show started was all at the request of the artist. Houston did not have the air cut during the show.
The smoke and dust DID disappear when the air was on.
This is the one show that was being filmed for possible release and I think that the hot dance hall texas feel is exactly what they were looking for. There is something about a big old barn for a show like this. I felt like I was in a tent in the south at a revival. Houston may have been comfortable, but it lacked that vibe.
I would never call anyone a pansy but when you are buying tickets in the future, I would suggest you reconsider anything that is general admission. This is what general admission shows are like.
I have a sneaking suspicion that should this show ever make it to a DVD release all of these complainers will buy it and brag about how cool the show was.
Again, I get it. Standing and sweating is not fun, but it is all part of the ride with GA shows.
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