I Met Tom Waits The Other Night

[hiphopnation]

walking home from work the other night on Grant Avenue. He was shopping in one of those weird "found object" stores where half the stuff looks like it came from a sunken ship, really odd stuff so it totally makes sense that he was in a place like that.

He and the shop owner walked out ahead of me, so I caught him from behind. Without a moment's hesitation, i knew it was him - and I was looking at his BACKSIDE! I just knew it, I don't know how. I guess when you're as big a fan as I, you feel like you've known him for years.

They stopped to look at something in the window, and I passed them. I stopped, turn around, walked up to him and said "I'm a big fan." and reached my hand out. He glanced up with one eye, half-cocked, shook my hand, and said "All right." and shooed me away.

It was freakin' awesome. I was on a cloud nine for several days afterwords. This is the first time I've been able to type about it. What a guy.

[graywarrior]

1. He's awesome. Lucky you.

[StellaBlue]

2. You know, I tried to get into him, but I don't get it

He's like Prince or the Bee Gees to me in that his songs are better when performed by other artists. They start out looovely, then his voice ruins it.

Sorry. :shrug:

But congrats on meeting him and congrats to him for being such an eternal underdog.

[Floogeldy]

3. Good point.

:)

[hiphopnation]

4. it's an acquired taste

or not...lol
but he's not for everyone...or maybe he hasn't hit you at the right time
i recall bristling at my introduction to him
it wasn't until a few years later, at a low point in my life, that it finally clicked for me

either way, he's quite a guy

[speedoo]

9. His voice is not "it".

He's an out and out character, at his best, IMO as an actor. He's one of the most interesting people alive, IMO.

He's not in a lot of films, but one of them, "Down By Law" is a must see. If you can find it.

I want to spend more time listening to him sing, just to see if I can become a fan of his singing. I know his songwriting deserves more of my attention.

[mvd]

28. His voice definitely is an acquired taste - especially recently

But there was some stuff even on the CD Alice that I liked. I don't think Real Gone is my thing, though.

[knowbody0]

5. ya gave me shivers

way back when he and Rickie Lee Jones were dueling. have ya seen him in "fishing with john"?

[hiphopnation]

6. i haven't

is that recent?

[knowbody0]

15. '92

really fun little film. also included Dennis Hopper, Matt Dillon and William Dafoe. John takes them individually to remote places (south america, Thailand, etc) to fish. guaranteed to make you smile and sigh.

[graywarrior]

7. Fishing with John was hilarious

[Lautremont]

8. I've met him too!

I actually worked with him, in a way, and thereby spent three or four hours in the man's company. There was a piano there and he noodled away for awhile, singing random songs. It was like a private concert, and he was a really nice dude. Drove a big blue Caddy, just like you'd think.

[Arkham House]

10. Sorry he shooed you away--but I guess Tom Waits for no man...

[grannylib]

13. Aauugghhh! *lol* Good one!! I'll be laughing/groaning over that one

for a while. Hee hee!

Reminds me of one of my hubby's...we had been talking about the Iraqi elections at the time they were taking place, and I asked if he thought they would make any difference.

"We'll see Sunni 'nuff..."

*groan*

[hiphopnation]

17. indeed

nah, it was fine...i'd have expected nothing more from him
i wasn't waiting for him to say "so which one of my albums is your favorite, young man?"

it was an honor to be shooed by him :-)

[saltpoint]

11. "Downtown Trains" is one of my favorite songs.

And he was unusually effective in AT PLAY IN THE FIELDS OF THE LORD.

Very authentic soul, Tom is.

[hiphopnation]

16. that last pic is from the video of downtown train

the dance he does in that video is mesmerizing
he's perhaps the only singer/songwriter who has invented a dance...

[saltpoint]

22. Yep. He's original and refreshing.

I'd swap tales with him over a cold beer or hot coffee any time.

[hiphopnation]

19. here's the vid for "downtown train"

if you haven't seen it...an amazing song accompanied by an amazing piece of film

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne7L6Wt0Rs4

[saltpoint]

23. I've never seen the video -- thank you for passing it along to share.

But I've heard the song. It's one of those compositions that sticks with ya no matter what.

Wouldn't you like to read Tom's high school teacher's annual comments in his school file? I bet they'd be real interesting to have a look at.

[grannylib]

12. I love Tom Waits...lucky you! And I love 'found object' stores too.

Glad you had the chance to meet him, even if only briefly...

[CanuckAmok]

14. My ex and I saw him in "Chapters" (a book superstore) in Vancouver once

He was being led around by a tiny woman, and he didn't seem entirely "with it".

He had a shopping basket filled to the brim with books to buy. Must have been 25 in there.

[Floogeldy]

18. Sure is an ugly, geeky looking sumbitch.

:smoke:

[hiphopnation]

25. that's what i love about him

geeky? i dunno
ugly? it's debatable
but without a doubt, different, odd, and counter to everything that our culture thinks is pretty, in-place, and acceptable...man, that's what i love about him

[enigmatic]

20. Waits is awesome

I love the story that Henry Rollins told about meeting Wait backstage at a Jane's Addiction show in the early 90's; I envy you:)

[RedStateShame]

24. "Forget her. She's bad news. She did the same thing to me!!"

I had the Rollins tape that had that story. I get to see Waits here in Louisville in 2 weeks!!!!

[wildhorses]

21. that is just super cool...Tom Waits...I like his voice....

and his songs and his geeky looks and his freaky ways. Lucky you:hi:

[Rabrrrrrr]

26. I've seen two of his operas - brilliant stuff!!

Especially The Black Riders. Wonderful music, and for some reason his music and Robert Wilson's visual style go really well together.

[hiphopnation]

27. The Black Rider

came through here, and I was so strapped for cash that I didn't get to see it...i was terribly bummed. great reviews, and heard great things about it. i will definitely have to see it if it comes throuogh town again

i saw "Big Time" on DVD...amazing stuff

[Theres-a]

29. Yeah!

That is so cool,I got turned onto him in '91 and it was instant love.His songs are poetry,comedy and naked humanity.God I am jealous!Thank you for sharing with us!