Tom Jones: Glastonbury - Pyramid Stage

Monday 29th June 2009

This is a Crackerjack review of Tom Jones. Do you agree? Rate and review this event.

Crackerjack rating: 6 / 10.

Seems like half of south Wales were out in force to welcome The Voice if the number of red dragon flags in the crowd was anything to go by.

And Tom’s looking every bit the superstar with a sharply-tailoured suit and deep tan as he strode on stage. He’s positively teak.

The glint’s still there in his eye as he ripped into a cover of the old Otis Redding soul classic Hard To Handle then it’s straight on to the ever-so-slightly cheesy Help Yourself.

As a card-carrying Taff myself I can testify to the fact that Green Green Grass Of Home made us lot from over the bridge still get a little moist around the eyes. It’s virtually our second national anthem.

His murder ballad Delilah won a huge cheer, too, with even Michael Eavis singing along in the wings.

If I Only Knew began with a throat-shredding roar and even saw Jones getting away with a bit of rapping. Just about.

The crowd’s attention wandered with some of the newer stuff. They’re all back on track for the classic rocker Mama Told Me Not To Come and the Vegas schmaltz of She’s A Lady.

What’s New Pussycat remains something of an oddity in his back catalogue while and You Can Leave Your Hat On unleashed everyone’s inner stripper as did Sex Bomb.

As sure as night follows day, you always knew he’d play It’s Not Unusual. Of course, he delivered and added his hit cover of Prince’s Kiss in the encore.

The Welsh Elvis still has the biggest larynx in pop. Sometimes size matters.

STEVE HARNELL 

This is a Crackerjack review of Tom Jones. Do you agree? Rate and review this event.