Waits in Menards

Menards use a Tom Waits quote in their current folder (pdf link). For a moment, I thought we had another publicity campaign on our hands, like when Real Gone was announced, but I think this is something completely different.

(via Craig)

No Waits concert in Sligo (and that is good news)

You are probably not surprised to hear that Tom Waits will not be performing in Sligo this year, yet this 'news' isn't necessarily bad news.

The Irish Independent ran a piece on Lissadell House and the fact a court ruling de facto bans music concerts there. The article seems to imply there were negotiations underway to get Tom Waits to perform there, which - if this is correct - would indicate a Waits tour might be in the works.

Quote from the article:

Negotiations to bring music legends to Lissadell House this summer, including Elton John, Andrea Bocelli, Tom Waits and Bob Dylan have been halted following a High Court ruling <...>.

Waits on Waits book

Chicago Review Press is publishing the book Tom Waits on Tom Waits.

This autobiographical portrait of Tom Waits takes shape through a selection of more than 50 interviews. Starting with the first interview—on KPFK-FM’s Folkscene in 1973—Waits speaks out on a variety of topics and shares something truly unique with his readers.

Release date is August 1st.

One star shining dvd

Amazon.co.uk lists a dvd titled One star shining - The first decade.

This DVD documentary traces the life and career of Tom via rare archive film, exclusive interviews, contributions from those who have known the man best plus a host of other features, through the first decade of his records and concerts.

Release date is February 21st.

UPDATE (Feb. 8): Chrome Dreams have confirmed that this is the same as the previously released Tom Waits - Under Review 1971-1982, albeit 'repackaged'.

Seeds on hard ground

From Anti-

Tom Waits is releasing a limited first edition chap book of “Seeds On Hard Ground” exclusively through his website in collaboration with Anti records to raise funds for homeless services in his region and to bring attention to a growing problem in today’s hard times.

Both Waits and Anti Records are donating all proceeds of the poem, limited to 1,000 copies each in North America and Europe, to Redwood Food Bank, Sonoma County’s Homeless Referral Services and Family Support Center operated by Catholic Charities.

Orders can be placed over at KingsRoadMerch for the February 22nd release.


UPDATE (January 15th): Due to 'overwhelming demand' a second edition - with a different cover - will be released. The street date for this second edition (also limited to 1.000 copies each in North America and Europe) will be February 28th.

UPDATE 2 (January 22nd): A second printing will be released. This final printing we will be limited to 1.000 copies in North America.

The Eyeball Kid Gazette

I'm always looking for ways to spread the Gospel, so now you can get your daily shot of Waits news in The Eyeball Kid Gazette too. It's a fully automated product made with paper.li, so I have hardly any control over it, but I think it is worth a try.

Red vinyl problems

ANTI states there are 'some audio problems with a select number of the red vinyl Tom Waits albums'. Those affected can report this at www.kingsroadmerch.com/help by sending a message with order number and your issue. In return you should receive 'a brand new quality assured record'.

Bone machine vinyl

GEMM is offering what some some sellers claim to be Bone machine reissues on vinyl. Is this an illegal pressing, as I suspect, or have I missed something?

What to expect in 2011?

I have no inside information about Waits' plans for 2011, so your guess is as good as mine. However, the beginning of another year is as good a time as any to speculate a bit.

The February edition of British music magazine Mojo has an item on artists due to return in 2011, one of which is Tom Waits.

"Tom Waits is working on a new album with his partner, Kathleen Brennan. Due in spring on Anti-, it will be Tom Waits' first studio album since 2004's Real Gone."

This seems to be in line with some earlier rumours and off-the-record comments. The possibility of a new album always starts rumours about an accompanying tour, but so far that is all they are: rumours.

What can we expect for sure? The vinyl re-issues of Closing Time, The Heart of Saturday Night, Nighthawks at the Diner and Small Change are hitting the streets as we speak. These 180g red vinyl pressings are limited to a 1.000 items per album, according to Kings Road Merch, so you might want to hurry if you are interested.

Those of you that are not so familiar with Waits' earlier work might check out Everybody's Dummy, a blog that has begun reviewing his albums.

The book Hard ground (March 2011) with some Waits poetry and the induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (March 14th, 2011) are nice to look forward to as well.

And then there is the illustrious Anton Corbijn picture book, which is now scheduled for June 2011.

UPDATE: I forgot about the collaboration with Robert Wilson for a play to be directed by Martin McDonagh.  (thanks to Stefan for reminding me)

The mystery of Tralee

A short documentary called Waits (in) love - a sort of hommage to Tom Waits' love of Tralee and his wife Kathleen Brennan - tries to shed some light on the Waits-Brennan wedding in Ireland. Everything in this video clip seems to be in the public domain and the outcome is rather surprising, so I hope you'll forgive me for posting some personal information this once.



(via Dermott)