I would not go that far. I would say he is as talented as Nina Hagen. Maybe they could write music for each other in their elderly years about crutches and walk-a-bout devices with hand brakes. BTW, they are both reverend by me.
Was a new Tom Waits fan at 17 and loved his stuff. Watched this performance and was horrified. Didn’t know what to make of it. A few years later when I listened to swordfishtrombones it finally made sense. Was lucky enough to see him on the Franks Wild Years tour in Edinburgh and was blown away by that concert. Took me a bit of time to catch up but I got there in the end.
Initially the audience seemed to have no comprehension of the unique moments they were being exposed to ... and then, kinda midway through Walking Spanish ... they seemed to get it.
I don't know who else was going around with a marimba, a pump organ, a baritone sax, a violator like Mark Ribot on guitar and a coalmine in his throat mixing Blues and Brecht in the mid 80's....
My sweet Annet said: "What's this..??" 2 tracks later she was hooked for life. Even more so, tracks like Kommenicht zu spät became her favorites. Thanks Tom, you're a life saver.
I mean, no one's truly "like" Tom, but there's loads of fun stuff that's in the same ballpark or at least the same city. Captain Beefheart and Blind Willie Johnson definitely influenced Tom. I've never quite figured out where the drunk circus music influence specifically comes from - Kurt Weil, some cabaret music? Dresden Dolls did some goth cabaret. Modest Mouse strike me as an indie band that's heavily influenced by Tom. There's a strange Christian anarchist, um, folkcore (?) band named Psalters that definitely took some cues from him. Man Man made some similar music without the Christian anarchism and a little more indie rock. Neutral Milk Hotel have some simlarly-eclectic instrumentation and a rough aesthetic, more of a frantically depressed feel though. There's loads of folkpunk that runs in a similar vein. I enjoy Andrew Jackson Jihad's acoustic stuff a lot. Days 'N Daze have some Tom-like vocals. Marc Ribot and John Zorn have done some demented jazz that probably fed into some of the wilder stuff Tom does. (That's Marc on guitar in this video). Zorn kinda makes Tom sound like accessible pop normcore, though, be warned.
Classic and Tom really is the best. I hope time will give him his due. I remember buying this bootleg VHS when I was managing Rasputin‘s in Berkeley California. Great to see it online.
That’s two 8 round en bloc clips. Just pull your thumb up and outta the way, or you’ll get a case of the ol’ Garand Thumb😉 That’s a guy who has enough style for the rest of the people in the venue. 😎
Tom Waits will be known as the Mozart and Beethoven at the dawn of the digital age.
A pure musician!
I would not go that far. I would say he is as talented as Nina Hagen. Maybe they could write music for each other in their elderly years about crutches and walk-a-bout devices with hand brakes. BTW, they are both reverend by me.
The line “there ain’t no Devil, that’s just God when he’s drunk” from Heartattack & Vine” is SO genius
Literally the greatest thing I have ever seen. THE man at the peak of his powers. If I have to explain you'll never understand.
Don't worry ... you don't have to explain 'cause I definitely DO understand ...
Was a new Tom Waits fan at 17 and loved his stuff. Watched this performance and was horrified. Didn’t know what to make of it. A few years later when I listened to swordfishtrombones it finally made sense. Was lucky enough to see him on the Franks Wild Years tour in Edinburgh and was blown away by that concert. Took me a bit of time to catch up but I got there in the end.
At last I can hear the ending of Walkiing Spanish. Been touting this performance for years.
This is fantastic. That band!!! Ribot was great, percussion banging on everything, and RIP Ralph Carney.
So I did too many drugs in the eighties and absolutely loved Tom and Captain Beefheart's rendition of the flower duet. Or was that a dream.? 🤔
If it was a dream it was a good one!
Initially the audience seemed to have no comprehension of the unique moments they were being exposed to ... and then, kinda midway through Walking Spanish ... they seemed to get it.
The greatest punk of all.....look, listen and learn!
The image he paints.
It's like reading a great book when he speaks.
You're so IN it.
Absolutely nails walking spannish
I don't know who else was going around with a marimba, a pump organ, a baritone sax, a violator like Mark Ribot on guitar and a coalmine in his throat mixing Blues and Brecht in the mid 80's....
Takes me back ... whilst still driving me forward. Amazing performance by a true genius ... and a top quality band.
Peter...great way of putting it...Cheers!
00:00 Franks Wild Years
2:16 16 Shells From a Thirty-Ought-Six
7:18 Cemetery Polka
11:11 In The Neighbourhood
16:19 Walking Spanish
Once You see Tom Waits Live You Will Never Forget it.
My sweet Annet said: "What's this..??" 2 tracks later she was hooked for life. Even more so, tracks like Kommenicht zu spät became her favorites. Thanks Tom, you're a life saver.
Fabulous - lucky enough to have seen this tour live.
Thank you from Russia for your posting!
Where has this been and where is everything else that is like this. Thank you.
Just isn't!
I mean, no one's truly "like" Tom, but there's loads of fun stuff that's in the same ballpark or at least the same city.
Captain Beefheart and Blind Willie Johnson definitely influenced Tom. I've never quite figured out where the drunk circus music influence specifically comes from - Kurt Weil, some cabaret music? Dresden Dolls did some goth cabaret.
Modest Mouse strike me as an indie band that's heavily influenced by Tom. There's a strange Christian anarchist, um, folkcore (?) band named Psalters that definitely took some cues from him. Man Man made some similar music without the Christian anarchism and a little more indie rock.
Neutral Milk Hotel have some simlarly-eclectic instrumentation and a rough aesthetic, more of a frantically depressed feel though. There's loads of folkpunk that runs in a similar vein. I enjoy Andrew Jackson Jihad's acoustic stuff a lot. Days 'N Daze have some Tom-like vocals.
Marc Ribot and John Zorn have done some demented jazz that probably fed into some of the wilder stuff Tom does. (That's Marc on guitar in this video). Zorn kinda makes Tom sound like accessible pop normcore, though, be warned.
Morphine shares a similar spirit, if a different sound.
Beautiful melodie's lofting out of the junkyard.
Classic and Tom really is the best. I hope time will give him his due. I remember buying this bootleg VHS when I was managing Rasputin‘s in Berkeley California. Great to see it online.
Waits on top form here! Brilliant
Buenísimo ❤️ fantástica la banda
Best story teller...
Right on. Outstanding ❤
DEVINE!!!! :)
Finally in full! Thank you man, much appreciated!
👊Fiero di essere il 700° LIKE😎👍 Proud to be the N.°700 😎👍 Thumb UP!
Tom has good hair. Just sayin.
quite wonderful
The Millennium Tube was shot in this same studio ... I was there. It's been demolished, now. R (Australia)
even greater than the recordings!
I love this. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks.
good music great talking your the real deal
Sensationnel
16:23
Tom is great as always... and Paula Yates smacked up like a zombie at the beginning
LOL @ people trying to dance to it
Was Marc Ribot playing trumpet on In the Neighbourhood??
What’s the song called he’s singing at 3mins in
16 shells from a 30.6
año?
1985
intersting kind of crazy google riel boire
What’s the song called he’s singing at 3mins in
Sixteen hells from a thirty-ought six
Sixteen shells, I mean
That’s two 8 round en bloc clips. Just pull your thumb up and outta the way, or you’ll get a case of the ol’ Garand Thumb😉 That’s a guy who has enough style for the rest of the people in the venue. 😎