Concert Preview
Tom Jones still shakes it, sings like a love god

By Patrick MacDonald
Seattle Times music critic

	YUI MOK / ASSOCIATED PRESS Singer Tom Jones, shown at the Royal Albert Hall in London, performed Monday at McCaw Hall in Seattle.
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Tom Jones is pop's kitschiest star, and his show is still a hoot. Monday night at McCaw Hall, the Welsh Napoleon of Love played with his audience, and his image. There were plenty of pelvic thrusts, sexy come-ons, throaty growls, suggestive winks, thrown kisses and the laying on of hands — and that was just in the audience!

But, seriously, the best part was that, after more than 40 years in the business, his instantly recognizable, soaring voice was as powerful as ever. It still has that distinctive ring tone in the upper registers. And he still sings songs like "Delilah," "What's New Pussycat?" and "It's Not Unusual" (the song that launched his career in 1965) with joy and gusto.

The two-hour show, divided by an intermission, was like a greatest-hits performance. Backed by an eight-piece band, as well as three background singers, he featured his classic, most dramatic hits, including "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)," "I (Who Have Nothing)," "She's a Lady," "(It Looks Like) I'll Never Fall in Love Again," "You Can Leave Your Hat On," "To Make You Love Me" and "Green, Green Grass of Home."

Jones has been hip for so long, he's become iconic, a fact that was celebrated in the song "Tom Jones International," a celebration of his fabulous career, written by Wyclef Jean, during which the two female background singers chanted "TOM JONES! TOM JONES!"

Concert review Tom Jones, Monday night at McCaw Hall, Seattle Center.

Jones' collaboration with Jean is one of the most recent ways he has kept himself contemporary and vital. He did several other songs he wrote and/or recorded with the former Fugees member, including the lively "Whatever It Takes." And he covered songs from a variety of sources, including "Burning Down The House" (Talking Heads), "It Takes Two" (Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston), "We've Got Tonight" (Bob Seger) and, of course, "Kiss," the Prince song that was a smash for him.

He had great fun with the audience, rolling his eyes at the steady flow of flung panties that came his way, picking up some of them for comic effect. "I think I know this one," he said. One smart cookie waved a white feathered boa in his direction, and when he bent over to let her put it around his neck, she held onto both ends, pulled him down to her, and kissed him.

"I won't stop 'til I retire," he sang in the bombastic "Sex Bomb." Why should he? Later, after explaining that he hadn't "worked" since 1962 — followed by two songs in honor of his coal-miner father, "16 Tons" and "Working in a Coal Mine" — he said, "It still feels good after all these years."

Patrick MacDonald: 206-464-2312, pmacdonald@seattletimes.com

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