Tom Jones
OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino
Niagara Falls, Ontario
May 28, 2023
Legendary Welshman Tom Jones returned to Niagara Falls on Sunday night to play a sold-out show at the new 5000-seat venue – the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino. Billed as the “Ages & Stages Tour” in support of his latest album of cover songs, Surrounded by Time (2021), this was Jones’ only Ontario date of the tour and his first time back at Fallsview Casino since his two-night stint at the casino’s other theatre – the 1500-seat Avalon Ballroom – back in April 2006.
“It’s great to be back once again,” Jones said after his two opening numbers (Bobby Cole’s I’m Growing Old and Bob Dylan’s Not Dark Yet). “We were here before. Not in this room though. This is a nice room, isn’t it?” he asked.
Next on the setlist was It’s Not Unusual, a song that began Jones’ recording career back in 1964 when he recorded the song and released it in 1965. By March 1 of that same year, it went to number one. Jones and his five-piece band, led by his musical director and drummer Gary Wallis on congas, played a rearranged version of It’s Not Unusual which also featured an accordion and acoustic guitar. That was followed by another hit, What’s New Pussycat?
Jones, who turns 83 on June 7th, sat on a stool for a good portion of his 90+ minute show. Although he doesn’t move around too much these days, Jones still has a strong and powerful voice. Other songs he performed included Popstar by Cat Stevens, One More Cup of Coffee (Valley Below) by Bob Dylan, Green Grass of Home by Curly Putman Jr. (which Jones found on a country record by Jerry Lee Lewis), Tower of Song by Leonard Cohen, and Kiss by Prince (a song he recorded with The Art of Noise in 1988).
One of the highlights of the night was Delilah, which Jones delivered very powerfully and had the crowd up and dancing. Jones kept the crowd entertained throughout the night with his stories and music. The night ended with a three-song encore which included Chuck Berry’s, Johnny B. Goode.
If you ever get a chance to see Tom Jones in concert, go check him out! You won’t be disappointed.
Setlist:
I’m Growing Old (Bobby Cole)
Not Dark Yet (Bob Dylan)
It’s Not Unusual (Les Reed)
The Windmills of Your Mind (Noel Harrison)
Sexbomb
Popstar (Cat Stevens)
One More Cup of Coffee (Valley Below) (Bob Dylan)
Green Grass of Home (Claude “Curly” Putman)
Across the Borderline (Ry Cooder)
Talking Reality Television Blues (Todd Snider)
I Won’t Crumble With You If You Fall (Bernice Johnson Reagon)
Tower of Song (Leonard Cohen)
Delilah (Les Reed)
You Can Leave Your Hat On (Randy Newman)
Kiss (Prince)
Encore:
One Hell of A Life (Katell Keineg)
Strange Things Happening Every Day
Johnny B. Goode (Chuck Berry)
All photos by Joel Naphin
©2023. Please DO NOT copy or use without permission.
Great photos – you captured him well!
Thank you Jenifer! He was fun to shoot!