It’s not unusual, pun intended, for a singer who began in the 1960’s to begin to slowly fade from public view or go off on other ventures. Not true for Tom Jones. He put on a show at The Mohegan Sun Arena on September 5th, 2024 that would rival or beat out any current concerts I have seen. His Ages & Stages Tour is a hit on so many levels.
At 84 years old Jones took the stage with his band and proceeded to do a 22 song show that ranged from his longstanding hits from his early days in the 1960s when he got his start to a cover of Prince’s well-known song “Kiss.” He also included more recent songs reflecting on his thoughts of the natural process of aging. My gosh this guy does not miss a beat.
He began the concert with “I’m Growing Old” from his newest released album “Surrounded By Time.” This is a song about getting older, and the things that time passing naturally brings. It is kind of tongue and cheek with a bit of realistic opinion of how it feels to age. To begin with this song Jones wanted the audience to know that he knows he is of that age.
But after he sang this song and launched into the rest of the concert you soon realized this was not some ordinary man. This was Tom Jones and at 84 he has not lost any of his “IT” factor. He drew cheers from the crowd and I heard adoring screams from a few women. He still has that sparkle in his eyes and the grin he’s always sported.
Jones spoke between songs about what certain songs mean to him or the times they remind him of. Some were from when he was friends with Elvis Presley.
Jones of course included his most popular hits like “What’s New Pussycat,” and “Delilah” and “Green Green Grass Of Home.” All of which have been played in many movies over the years.
Jones’s voice is strong and robust. I have no idea where he gets the energy to put on a 2 hour concert and still look like he could do another set. He concluded the encore with “Johnny B Good” and “Great Balls of Fire” to a well-deserved standing ovation and cheers from the crowd.
During some of the concert Jones brought down the tone and reflected both on his life. He certainly has lived one heck of a life most can only dream of.
I grew up with Tom Jones playing in my house and to see him live and still doing live concerts with such power and love for the stage was heartwarming. I do hope he continues touring, it feels like the stage is where he wants and needs to be.
If you get the chance to see Tom Jones perform, absolutely go and do it. It’s a show so worth seeing. Jones and the band are total professionals and know how to please and audience and give a wonderful show.
Well done Sir Tom! I do hope you come back and sing for us again.
For more information on Tom Jones and the rest of his tour visit Tom Jones
Review by Donna Erichsen
Photos by George Bekris
Setlist:
I’m Growing Old (Bobby Cole cover)
Not Dark Yet (Bob Dylan cover)
It’s Not Unusual (Les Reed cover)
What’s New Pussycat? (Burt Bacharach cover)
The Windmills of Your Mind (Michel Legrand cover)
Sex Bomb
Popstar (Cat Stevens cover)
Green Grass of Home (Claude “Curly” Putman, Jr. cover)
One More Cup of Coffee (Bob Dylan cover)
Across the Borderline (Ry Cooder cover)
Talking Reality Television Blues (Todd Snider cover)
I Won’t Crumble with You If You Fall (Bernice Johnson Reagon cover)
Tower of Song (Leonard Cohen cover)
Delilah (Les Reed cover)
Lazarus Man (Terry Callier cover)
You Can Leave Your Hat On (Randy Newman cover)
If I Only Knew (Rise Robots Rise cover)
Kiss (Prince cover)
Encore:
One Hell of a Life (Katell Keineg cover)
Strange Things Happening Every Day (Sister Rosetta Tharpe cover)
Johnny B. Goode (Chuck Berry cover)
Great Balls of Fire (Jerry Lee Lewis cover)
