Tom Waits - London 04 - Hoist that Rag, Make It Rain

[BennyAvison]

powerful stuff. I was there too - thanks for posting and bringing back good memories of an amazing gig. Tom's voice, Ribot's guitar both sounded incredible.

[browcr]

such a great protest song. Grabs you by the lapels but isn't too obvious in the lyrics.

[samero86]

I hate to say it but, not filming the guitar solo on hoist that rag hurt me. I mean, it literally felt like I got hit in the face with a bowling ball. Great videos though!!! I still enjoyed immensly.

[IVANKVO]

awesome ..

[forYourEyesOnly43]

dam good address for a rat! ...Hoist that rag ..Tom!

[Warcraft20101]

thank you thank you sarah for these amazing uploads . i listen to them each and everyday . :D:D

[jimdugan56]

I am from Sonoma County, California, where Tom lives and has raised his family. My mother knows him personally --I've met him a couple few times-- through having owned and operated a local bar in the 80s and 90s, and I can assure everyone that he's basically a regular dude and is always gracious with his fans. To fifthty; a lot of the rhythmic aspects of his recent work has to do with his collaboration with Les Claypool, of Primus, who basically lives "down the street" at "Rancho Relaxo."

[gringodeltoro1]

Do you know what venue in London this is ?

[SarahV]

@gringodeltoro1 According to tomwaitslibrary it's the Carling Apollo Hammersmith.

[gringodeltoro1]

You can't be snob, drive an expensive car, wear a suit, have a huge bank account, go to fancy dinners, date a bimbo, smile to paparazzis, read tabloids, masturbates on Paris Hilton, vote for republicans, be racist, like reality shows, fancy David Hasselhof, ride limos, spend money on jewellery, listen to modern day hip hop, go to techno night clubs, and listen to Tom Waits !

[fifthty]

@gringodeltoro1the album that these tracks came from real gone has its roots in hip hop as tom was listening to his sons music before he made this. the raw components of tracks like filipino box spring hog from mule variations and don't go into that barn from real gone are essentially hip hop, make it rain b blues though

[skygardener]

thanks sarahv ........this is so yes please....thank you thank you

[larkin0002]

I wish I'd been there!

[1purplecherries1]

Breathtaking. I have goosebumps.

[bev49]

saw him in concert in NY and in Fla. Unbelievable. Ive been to many concerts in my life, none that even come close to this. He is too cool.

[teotastic]

phenomenal.

tom waits makes it rain.

[uncleratty1]

saw this night, unreal!!!!!!!

[ahumahumahum]

the two best songs of the real gone album

make it rain is amazing

[Mulwany]

it's larry taylor on bass... you must know that.

[AMidgit]

pretty sure that its marc ribot on guitar

[ravynkat]

goddamn, he is greatness....

[HARBOURSONG]

Saw him last night in Edinburgh, he closed with Make it Rain, then came back for an encore..The best night of my life, he was incredible, what a performance! His energy, his panache, his theatre, the man is a total genuis..I love Tom, he is the man. Keep touring Tom we need to see you again.

[jimminycricket86]

fukin magic

[pupokOKa]

обожаю его!

[bjorneols]

Genius!

[SalamanderExcess]

aahhh the break after the solo in hoist that rag... acapella.... i am stunned !

[wackassegyption]

Speechless!

This bad ass muda fucka is amazing!

so influencial.

Rock Star Icon

[EvilOak27]

The guitar on this song is amazing.

[kenwut]

old story in an old rag...great lyrics and guitar solos...I hope, that tom waits will come behind european wall again. cheers.

[liverpooljaynie]

i was there....

[Evel71]

Moose - it's an anti-war song. On any account, the flar must be raised. 'God used me as a hammer, boys', 'You know what to do if the baby cries'.

My favourite lyric is 'Damned good address for a rat'.

Best song on the album.

[vomitlightening]

that looks like it might be Les Claypool on the bass.

[jbobbylew]

I know Les Claypool did some album work with Tom Waits, it could be.

[PCPrabbit]

nope it's the guy from canned heat

[bermizer]

thats not not les...that guy looks to heavy

[browcr]

It's Larry Taylor

[electroman65]

Larry Taylor-Ex Canned Heat, Lynwood Slim, Kim Wilsons Blues Revue etc..Heavy Weight LA bluesman.

[nustada]

Normally I don't like much chorus in songs. But how he says make it rain at the end each time he repeats it, it is unique, interesting, and fits with the vibe of the song.

To bad all the radio freindly bands don't take note.

[inheritedmemory]

The song is not about surrender, it is about conquest. To hoist your rag is to claim a piece of combatted territory for your own country. As JerichoLeviathan said the rag referred to here is probably red, white and blue. It is an anti-war song in an ironic sense.

[Moose1223]

Hence the phrase "God used me as a hammerboy"

indicating how the soldier must feel.

[Moose1223]

Oh and, to hoist a rag means to lift a rag, as in: haul it up in the air. The same way you hoist a flag... rag.. flag... get it?

[kloten]

what this guy does on stage is more similar to a witch-doctor performing an exorcism than your average musician doing his songs

[IREALLYDONTCARE321]

this is by far the most brilliant anti war song i've ever heard

[yahr2012]

first heard Tom while being a dishwasher for fancy restaurant. It was the perfect envoirnment.

[doirevomba]

Leonardo, Einstein, Waits. Genious is rare indeed.

[Sarch1980]

I LOVE this!!!! He's brilliant in every way!

[Magemastrtom]

Amazing

[uncleratty1]

i saw this concert it was un-real, Hammersith Palais, love seeing it again

[skeptikal43]

This is definitely one of my favorite Tom Waits songs. Who the hell was working the camera in this video though? Jeebus.

[lighthammar]

Simonchris, it is a flag. White flag.

[JerichoLeviathan]

I think the flag he's referring to is red, white and blue.

[ajerbaij]

I heard Tom Waits and Lance Armstrong once teamed up to kick the shit out of Godzilla.

[NirreFirre]

When I sat back in row 24 that evening Brain on the drums made me realize I've actually never seen a real drummer work them sticks! The DVD can be traded thru the regular channels; Raindogs@listserv, Easytree etc.

[simonchris2]

In an interview I saw with Tom Waits he said "Hoist that Rag" refers to hoist the "flag". I think it mighta been on Conan when he said it.

[sslolita]

Tom Waits was on Conan Obrien and I missed it!!!!! I think I'm gonna cry!

[uberutuberologist]

Tom Waits, is a man who should never be forced to wait. He has the ability to impose an inexorable driving force in the songs he creates. Brava Mr Waits: A living Legend.

[lourensterveen]

do we hear marc ribot himself playing? is he always supporting tom's tours?

[Sarch1980]

AWSOME!!!!!!!

[pempintim]

interesting-throw in the towel,wave the white flag,hoist that rag=peace?

[Yantryman]

Yes, I also think that you have to look for the hidden meaning in that diraction. I heared Tom saying that its a political song.

[pghillock]

I was there! Brilliant gig, Hoist That Rag was brutal. Ribot is king. Thom Yorke walked past us inside so I guess he managed to talk his way in somehow!

[ados94]

amazing

[TheFeloniusMonk]

Fuck me. That was extremely good. Thanks for posting. My two favourite songs off real gone in two superb performances...

[trikadeus]

the guitarwork is also GREAT!

[drdiddler]

too bad mark ribot gets cropped out by our well-intentioned videographer

[JohnnyJohnnyJohnny]

A-ma-zing. Friggin' great. Is this from a DVD or DIVX rip or sumthin'? I'd kill to have this whole thing down on a hard copy...

[zornitsa]

here comes the cat. excellent, probably.

[sgtsaute]

man this is a great vid! Tom Waits is great! the band is smoking! WoW!

[artmaven]

Thom Yorke LOST his tckt???? What an idiot! That's something you just DON'T let happen. I hope he got in. Check out his new CD (The Eraser). His stuff is not really my cuppa and even I like it.

LOVE these shows you have up SarahV. What did I ever do w/o YouTube? I'm also finding out where some of my odds and ends audio came from, dates, cities & all. It's a damn Waits orgy I'm havin' here.

[uncleratty1]

Hey i saw this concert, can't tell you how great it is to see it again...first time he played London in years, heard Thom Yorke of Radiohead, lost his ticket and was pleading to get in..Thanks SarahV

[madddelaine]

shattering! some of the best songs off a freakin' FANTASTIC cd.  what a smokin' live performance, too!!!

[MightyAlz]

The best there is at what he does! HOIST THAT RAG, BOYS!

[grill5]

How could I be the frist this is well this IS Tom.