Live Review: Tom Jones, Lanie Lane

The average age of punter expected at tonight’s Tom Jones show can be gauged by the following message on the venue’s website: “Please note Tom Jones is a GA Standing concert. There are limited seats available on a first come, first served basis.” And Forum Theatre’s booths prove to be in hot demand when we witness a queue forming to secure these seats as soon people vacate them. But who’s leaving?

Lanie Lane’s outfit is conservative compared to what we’re used to from the pretty singer, who usually resembles a cute pin-up girl: perhaps she doesn’t wanna fly her freak flag too wildly in front of this crowd? Oh Well That’s What You Get For Falling In Love With A Cowboy sounds sweet, but this tough crowd just wants to conserve energy for the main attraction.

Sir Tom Jones appears fashionably late and his foofed-up silver barnet and tanned visage are instantly recognisable. He rhymes “do” with “coo” and other lyrics include, “Raise a ruckus tonight”. The Delilah live arrangement is hip-popping with the song given an almost calypso flavour. There’s already sexagenarian pashing in the house that completely obscures our view! Excepting the part where punters sing along, ‘assisting’ Jones to close out the song and masking his rich timbre, Green, Green Grass Of Home is exquisite. A neighbour in the crowd/superfan we spoke to prior to Jones’ set when she was losing her voice has now completely lost it. The part in It’s Not Unusual where Jones usually belts out, “To find that I’m in LOVE with you/Oh-WOAH-OH-oh-oh-oh!” is omitted, but he still owns that perfect diction and cruise ship entertainer shtik. And up goes the first pair of knickers (red satin ones) to be thrown onstage this evening! Jones still loves a good side-step and finger snap and the visuals are as crisp as Welsh winter air.

A mighty encore sees Jones rip out his 1965 James Bond theme, Thunderball, complete with fiery cannonball imagery on the cyclorama that would have been just as suitable accompanying Sex Bomb (which we definitely wanna hear). Is that another pair of flying knickers? It’s a covers-heavy set and Sex Bomb isn’t to be, but we are treated to Jones’ Kiss, which includes the “think I better dance now” confession and shows off Jones’ backing band to perfection. Age hasn’t wearied this Welsh crooner’s vocal chops, but can he conquer the dreaded MCG acoustics before the big game?