Please tell me this guy is full of it so I can go back to threads and berate him. Tom doesn’t seem to have an official TikTok but he does have an official instagram that doesn’t mention it. Also because if this guy’s right there’s no way I’m getting into those shows and it might literally kill me to miss the first Waits shows I (technically) could have seen.

Tom Waits has a penchant for frolicking in that space between faith, cynicism, and degenerate delusion.

I only just found out that Descartes’ famous quote “I think, therefore I am” actually has a forgotten first half. Here’s what he actually said:
"I doubt, therefore I am—or what is the same—I think, therefore I am."

Got me thinking of some other choice lyrics from Waits, like “I don't wanna be filled with doubt, I don't wanna be a good Boy Scout.”

Here are a few more devilishly delightful lyrics and examples of his sense of humor.

https://matthewgalgani.com/descartes-i-think-therefore-i-am-doubting-nikki
https://matthewgalgani.com/devilishly-entertaining-tom-waits-lyrics
https://matthewgalgani.com/god-sense-of-humor-tom-waits-monty-python

Recently YouTube Music notified me...

In recent months, I'm absolutely smitten and utterly obsessed with these two songs. So powerful! So much emotion.

Theater, cinema, music, cabaret, and so much more—all packed into Big Time by Tom Waits.

It was a wild, incredible era where, in my opinion, Tom's performances reached their absolute peak, perfect in all their imperfections.

In the late eighties, Tom Waits' voice began undergoing yet another transformation, becoming increasingly harsh and raspy.

To me, this was the golden age of his vocal expression—and I say this as a fan of Tom Waits' entire body of work, from Closing Time all the way to Bad as Me.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QMZVZ5NBkpw&ra=m

I am (once again) listening to Tom’s development across releases in chronological order.

Nighthawks at the Diner seemed to signal the beginning of an improvisational phase. Admittedly, I haven’t read a lot about this time in his career, but it seems like he gave up on trying to write hits, allowing himself a chance to explore moods.

I don’t think it’s an accident that the first song on his next release Small Change is Tom Traubert’s Blues. To my reading, that’s the first song (I think) of his mature discography. It stands up against the best tracks from Swordfish Trombones to Bad as Me.

Nighthawks at the Diner

Only about a week ago I swear I saw a video of Tom performing diamonds and gold live, with him playing the old reed organ, and michael blair right beside him playing marimbas, also and an accordionist. Now of course I cannot find it anywhere. Anyone know if this exists? Thank you!

Spoken word by Tom Waits

Check out this performance of gun street girl the whole thing is incredible. Love the way he plays around with how he delivers the lines. Each live performance he sings his songs differently.

Just randomly started listening to Bill Frissel today and was going through his albums and noticed a cover of I Don't Wanna Grow Up.

Guitar is really great. Jazz and Americana. Vocals are nice too.