TOM JONES
+ Germein
@ The Drive, Adelaide,
26th March 2024
(Live Review)

Review by Iain McCallum

Photos by Missy Smiley (@itsmissysnaps)

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TOM JONES / Photo – @itsmissysnaps

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Don’t be fooled by the title of the tour, ‘Ages & Stages’, or the fact Sir Tom Jones is 83 years old, there’s still a twinkle in his eye, the sly smile on his face, when he hits the sweet spot with his audience in Adelaide tonight.

Be it the ‘Women and girls rule my world’ line in ‘Kiss’ or ‘I’ve been given the gift of a golden voice’ in ‘Tower Of Song’, each one illicit screams and cheers to which Jones acknowledges with a wink and smile. 

For Jones is an entertainer, an all round expert of song, storytelling and wit and tonight he takes us through his career, from his beginnings in 1964 to present day. 

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GERMEIN / Photo – @itsmissysnaps

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GERMEIN / Photo – @itsmissysnaps

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In the present, Adelaide’s own Germein opening tonight’s magical celebration with their own wonderfully descriptive storytelling way of music. The sisters genuinely bring a sense of happiness and wonderment to the stage, as bassist Ella sways with the music of ‘Talking’ and ‘City Lights’ like a carefree angel while Georgia’s flowery vocals and enchanting demeanour has the audience clapping and singing along. 

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TOM JONES / Photo – @itsmissysnaps

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The story telling tonight belongs to a master of the realm, the ordained knight himself, Sir Tom Jones. With over 60 years of performance behind him, Jones is an all round entertainer who even with some technical difficulties at the beginning is unfazed and incorporates it into his evening unashamedly. 

Opening with the somber yet seemingly autobiographical ‘I’m Growing Old’, Jones sits on a barstool and regales us of his life through song. His masterful command of enunciation displayed within each song that manages to be powerful without raising his voice. 

A French styled version of ‘It’s Not Unusual ‘ raises the audiences voices and Jones hips still shake, mesmerising everyone  however the first sign of the great man’s power comes next with ‘What’s New Pussycat?’ which echoes around the arena.

In between songs, Jones tells us stories behind the numbers, such as he is the oldest performer to get a number one in the UK, partying with Willie Nelson, and what it’s like performing at 83. 

His back up band are delectably perfect. Scott McKeon’s solos are clean, crisp and perfectly stated to compliment a song that is really about Jones’s voice. 

All your favourites are here, even if they are remixed. A bluesy ‘Sex Bomb’ is wickedly charming, ‘Green Grass Of Home’ poignant and ‘I Won’t Crumble With You If You Fall’ deeply emotional. 

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TOM JONES, Kings Park and Botanic Parks, 20/03/2024 / Photo – @_awii_

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A Mexican salsa flavoured ‘Delihah’ nearly brings the roof down and when Jones holds that note at the end – a mere 70 mins into a show – the hairs stand on the back of your neck. 

‘Leave Your Hat On’ is devilishly childish and great fun and ‘If I Only Knew’ has people jiving in the aisles as Jones slips between rapping and the ferocity of his voice. 

An encore, with a Welsh song titled ‘One Hell Of A Life’ creates a solemn hush over the arena – could this be our last time with him? – as Jones tell us one last tale from his remarkable life. 

In Vegas, he was performing at the same time as Elvis, at the end of their shows they would catch up and check other performers out. One night, while watching a musician perform, Elvis turns to Jones and says ‘that’s the true king of rock n roll’. Jones tonight then proceeds to tear through a raucous ‘Johnny B. Goode’ by Chuck Berry.

Few will argue with Elvis’s summation, however tonight, after 60 plus years, one man is left standing, still with a voice powerful enough to lighten up an arena. Sir Tom Jones is a true entertainer, there are not many left, he may be 83 but boy does he still have that twinkle and we are all blessed by him. 

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TOM JONES / Photo – @itsmissysnaps

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Check out Adrian Thomson’s (@_awii_) full gallery of the Perth event HERE

Check out Missy Smiley’s (@itsmissysnaps) full gallery of this event SOON

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TOM JONES / Photo – @itsmissysnaps

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Follow TOM JONES
Website – Instagram – Facebook – Spotify

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TOM JONES / Photo – @itsmissysnaps

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Press Release 19th September 2023 (below) HERE

TOM JONES
announces
‘AGES & STAGES’
Tour for Australia
in March and April 2024

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