"It's Not Unusual" to Be Spellbound: Tom Jones Turned Back Time at Hard Rock Live In Hollywood, Florida

By Erin Lee

Photo by Larry Marano

The legendary Sir Tom Jones performed at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida last night.

Jones opened the set with "I'm Growing Old" from his most recent album, 2021's Surrounded By Time.

His smooth, strong vocals filled the space beautifully as the audience cheered their approval. He would later share an achievement with us by stating the success of that record: He is the oldest person in Great Britain to have a #1 album. "Even before Bob Dylan, whom I'm older than." Jones is turning 85 in June.

Sir Tom regaled us with stories from his six decade spanning career, as I observed ladies around me visibly swoon over his Welsh accent.

Throughout the evening, he would alternate between being seated for some ballads and standing for his upbeat tunes. He asked if it would be all right if we revisited the beginning of his career, which was met with an enthusiastic response from the crowd.

He explained his 1965 hit "It's Not Unusual" debuted in January of that year, and by March it was at the top of the charts.

He then went on to talk about and perform "What's New, Pussycat?" which was originally written by Burt Bacharach for Tom Jones to record for the 1965 James Bond soundtrack.

Jones has an incredibly skilled and talented band accompanying him.

Tasteful blues guitar solos, soaring backing vocals, and an overall cohesive sound complemented his performance.

About midway through the set, Jones talked about playing the Hollywood Bowl for Willie Nelson's 90th birthday two years ago. He chose the song "Across the Borderline" by saying, "I've never done this before: let's give it a go. Go, I did. And it went very well."

The evening continued with a good mix of songs, old and new, originals and covers.

Tom Jones is such an incredibly charming and likeable guy. His warmth shone through in every story and song throughout the entire show. It's easy to see why he has captivated the hearts and minds of so many people for generations. Seeing him live was truly an unforgettable experience.

All images by Larry Marano: