The Ghosts of Saturday Night

[youtube:http://youtube.com/watch?v=XrkThaBWa5c&feature=related]

Stomping on stage, kicking up dust, part dancing bear, part Calvinist preacher, Tom Waits sure puts on a good show. Nigh on 3 hours of gravelthroat blues, a tight backing band and surrealist jokes, all served beneath a 6 peaked circus tent. Outside, vendors sell jelly sweets and high class coffee, a barbeque roasts burgers in the background. High rollers and people up for the show stroll along the red carpet, all hoping for a little magic. Tales of Christmas-time call girls and demented uncles fill the big top. The piano’s hungover, but it can still sing when it wants. The saxophonist plays two horns at once. Vaudeville and Buster Keaton and Chaplin all combine in one monkey-faced bowler-hatted Jewish California-born man. The show ends in a downpour of glitter. We stand. And clap. He returns. We remain standing during the 20 minute encore. Out of the big top, into the rain we troop, leaving the circus for reality.

I’m sure a set list will be up and about as soon as, but I wouldn’t want to spoil it for those who are going at the weekend. Worth. Every. Penny.