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Tom Waits
Nashville on Saturday, August 5, 2006
Anyone who knows me well, knows my love for Tom Waits. So it was
understandable that I was beyond happy when Tom suddenly scheduled some dates
for the United States. His upcoming three-disc compilation, Orphans: Brawlers,
Bawlers and Bastards, wasn't due for release until November, but Tom wanted to
tour. So he schedules about ten dates in towns that haven't seen the likes of
Tom ever or it's been 30+ plus years since his last visit (such as the case was
for Nashville). He said he "didn't want to over-saturate the market."
The tickets went on sale on a weekday instead of on Saturday morning (like the
Atlanta show), so I asked Susan to get the tickets (she was still off for the
summer). She'd had great luck in the past with tickets, because she got second
row, front and center for Bette Midler a few years prior. So the tickets go on
sale, and about ten after I get a panicked call. Susan can see these great
seats, but can't get the web site to let her buy them. So I jump on at work, and
it lets me get a pair of tickets no problem...Ticketmaster gave peoples fits at
apparently random places and Susan got snagged. I ended up getting 7th row, but
to the left. Susan was pissed because she had front and center seating, but it
wouldn't let her pay for them. Regardless, we were up close again, and going to
see Tom Waits together at the Ryman Auditorium.
We decide to do it up right, and Susan gets a room at the Courtyard by Marriott
right up the street from the Ryman (we've done this before...we got a super nice
room before seeing Nanci Griffith in Atlanta). Very nice hotel, and we're up
real high and can see a large part of the city. Since the tickets were assigned
seating, going to the show in Nashville was going to be a much lower stress
event. They opened the doors around noon to let people come and get their arm
bands and tickets. We had to have both to get in that evening. We walked right
in, got our items, toured the Ryman a bit, and headed back to the hotel to
relax. It was much easier and more enjoyable getting ready for this show when
you compare it to Atlanta.
Susan and I head off to the Ryman, and we're marveling at the spectacle of
people in the crowd. So wearing tatters for clothes, some dressed to the nines,
and all there to enjoy a rare evening of Tom Waits. Things start about an
half-hour late, but again, much better than Atlanta. The sound, like expected,
was top-notch, and the crowd was very quiet and respectful of Tom and the band.
He played some of the same songs as in Atlanta, but the set was definitely
altered quite a bit. He really shined in Nashville on the piano. He started with
"Cemetary Polka," and before long told the crowd to please quit clapping. He
said we reminded him of "a fucking metronome," and that "I don't need you
pointing out my inadequacies" much to everyone's laughter. He then played "Tom
Traubert's Blues" and blew everyone away. It was the first time on this tour he
had played it, and I can say it was easily the best tune of the night in my
wife's opinion. He finished up his short piano set with the "House Where Nobody
Lives." I couldn't think of three better songs if he was going to limit his
piano to that small amount.
Favorite songs of the night for me were: "Shore Leave," "Gods Away on Business,"
"What's He Building in There," "It Rains on Me," and all three piano tunes.
Susan and I left very happy to have seen the rare sighting of live Tom Waits,
and it's an event I'll never forget. He seems to enjoy the sporadic tour these
days now that his kids are growing older and leaving the nest. I'd see him again
in a heartbeat given the chance.
Photo Credits: Banner Picture by Danny Clinch, Insert Picture by Michael O'Brien and Poster from Tom Waits Library.