Tom Waits Kronos String Quartet Bridge School Cold Ground

[arnieca32]

A true American original

[amnesiacradar]

Brilliant. Tom Waits is my favourite artist, I don't understand the Dylan comparisons, Waits is in a different league, he's got a fantastic imagination and combines a great voice, imaginative lyrics with great music.

[trooubermensch]

Tom Waits is a fucking musical and lyrical genius. I also LOVE his voice, he's got the same singing voice I do, and if it weren't for him, I don't think anyone would have ever accepted mine.

[ovenofcreation]

a real live american artist of the highest caliber

the pinnacle

[killerz100]

I was there for this. It was quite a concert. Them, John Mayer, Neil Young, Metallica, and a couple other's who I can't remember. There was something for everyone.

[aprilglaspieable]

The strings stand in beautifully for the accordion.

[xxxdokan]

fantastic song!

[heyhaila]

Luscious melding of the down and dirty Waits rhythms with the high-flying intellectual Kronos strings.

[aimlessalchemist]

He never phones it in.

[bethfeth]

The beautiful mix of the Kronos Quartet's sweet strings with the sincere sound of Tom's rough voice is breathtaking;) This may be one of my favorites of them together

[CleoTheSim]

When was this recorded?

[salsburysteakjr]

Who else would build a time machine just to travel into the future and buy a Tom Waits/Kronos Quartet collaboration record? Hell, even if it was an album simply re-imagining old Tom songs but with this sort of string section, I'd be the first one attempting to break the light barrier...

[byroncallas]

Terrific version - great to with this ensemble. Top drawer.

[LandoftheShanks]

Okay listen buddy, to the guy who says how his voice is fake and he struggles to get it out. Tom Waits has always (even when singing at the piano, in the earlier years) made faces and moved around a lot. It's called having soul and putting feeling into your music. He enjoys what he does and it shows. So if you don't know shit about Tom Waits, don't watch him.

This is a beautiful song and the violins are great. I love it!!!!!

[Clavigo]

Fantastic! D.F. now starts our project!

[1111BLAKE1111]

sounds like someone could use a little throat surgery hahaaha

[Crstn4440]

i'm so glad that this version is on youtube, i really love this song, it's my favorite waits song... and this version is just breath taking :)

[brandojitsu123]

wowbagger86 had it on the $... voice makes the mood of the song. Perfect for waits. Dirt in the ground, temptation, don't go into that barn, and then the man comes out with never hold back spring....

these songs wouldn't have the same tempo or meaning if he couldn't manipulate his voice so well.. like a mongolian throat singer.

[finlaycm]

What a shite song.

[cinephilefromhell]

then why the hell you watch the video if u knew u wouldn't like it ya douche?

[daoses]

!!!

[nbeachbum222]

He does different voices all the time. Kinda like how Roger Waters varied his sound, and Axl Rose.

Waits has obviously mastered this craft though. Listen to Franks Wild Years (1987). Some really raspy stuff on there. Then listen to either of the Early Years albums, (released in the 90s). He re-recorded some old songs and his voice is not raspy at all--totally clear.

Hell, on Side 2 of Franks Wild Years, Straight to the Top sounds almost like Sinatra. He can sing with a plain voice.

[nbeachbum222]

And by plain I mean clear/not raspy. His voice is never "plain."

[nbeachbum222]

Also, look how contorted his face gets when trying to sing hear. People don't struggle that much to get their natural/unalterd voice out.

[moonlitesymphony]

@nbeachbum222

It is worth mentioning that his voice gets more severe with time because he is specifically damaging it. He has formed the sound by literally damaging his natural voice. He has obviously mastered it but as of right now he has a more limited range and lacks much of a clean voice. I believe in an interview he said he would scream into a pillow for hours.

[LandoftheShanks]

@moonlitesymphony Really?! Do you have a link! I am curious =P I know also that he started smoking again in the 90's but he quit again and I have the magazine where he says, 'It takes a big man to quit twice right?" heh he's fun.

[zedosblues]

@moonlitesymphony if you're gonna believe everything Tom Waits says in an interview you're in to look like a fool. This is not to say what you affirm Tom Waits did/does is not true, i'm just saying it's part of his (act and) charisma and musical character not being able to predict what is true or not out of Tom's words in interviews.

[moonlitesymphony]

@zedosblues

It was a surprisingly candid interview for him. I'm perfectly well aware he spends most of his interviews telling jokes. It was an interview on Fresh Air from NPR. Terry Gross usually does a good job of getting artists to talk but he seemed to be really sincere and I think the older he's gotten the more he's toned down his character.

[mpbarano]

@nbeachbum222

Early Years were recorded in 1971. His voice is clear and clean on those albums because they were recorded almost 40 years.

[nbeachbum222]

@mpbarano ehhhhh... ya got me.

[nbeachbum222]

@mpbarano I stand by my statement about Straight to the Top though. And even on Glitter and Doom, he does some pretty smooth at parts of I'll Shoot the Moon.

[BoxOfFrogbit]

@nbeachbum222 Oh. Early Rears are old recordings, yo. Not re-recorded.

[mexterminator]

it would be great if tom waits did more work with kronos, or any other string ensemble for that matter.

[soul2888]

jajjajaja

Ooo YEAH¡¡¡

es lo MAXIMO¡¡¡¡

[rhipidistian]

a genius performer who rarely performs....friggin' amazing video

[rags847]

How is his "voice" not a type of black-faced exploitation?

[Wowbagger86]

It's has a little "twist of Louis Armstrong" indeed ... But isn't it at type of stereotyping in itself if everybody with a deep scruffy voice has to sound "black" ?

[rags847]

Perhaps. Yet, if it comes natural to one man and is artificial from another man, then ...

[Wowbagger86]

I think he's more going for the "drunken hobo sound" than trying to sound like a black man. But there's so many other styles he can do with his voice... and he used to have a pure, clean voice until booze and ciggarettes and the strain took it's toll on it, I don't think he can go back to that one anymore ;)

[Shortstacklover]

He's been singing like that since he's 25 years old...Waits sounds like waits not like a black man or a hobo, like himself...its not natural really, its not caused by cigarettes...

[Wowbagger86]

He have changed dramaticly from how he sounded on his early records, like "closing time". There is a hughe contrast from songs like this and older songs like "I hope that I don't fall in love with you", "Looking for the heart of saturday night " and "Ice Cream man" etc. He must have strained his voice pretty much, and probably gotten raspier by time because of that. Most of it is an act, not that it's a bad thing.

[LandoftheShanks]

@Shortstacklover Exactly, because he quit smoking shortly after getting married in 1981 to Kathleen Brennan and the only reason people see him smoking (in movie roles or something, which he doesn't do much of) is because those are roles. His voice is just this way. He's sounded like this forever. I wish people would just stop analyzing and enjoy the damned song.

[Wowbagger86]

His voice is more a act that he use to tell the story in the lyrics, or create the atmosperhe he want to. So a song about a small town drunkard etc is often sung like this. Sometimes he uses a sligtly more raspy, less growly voice... and other times his clean voice (whats left of it ;)

[rags847]

I agree with your take on Tom Wait's art.

[Wowbagger86]

Cheers! :)

[flyingsuperpetis]

It's his voice, no one elses.  He sings some songs with more growl than others, depending. Not sure where you got the idea it's artificial. ...or who gave you the idea that all vocalists must sing everything with the same timbre. ...the fact that he's even able to control such a low rumble that well is fairly amazing.

[Wowbagger86]

You didn't get my point... It's coming out of his mouth, so it's not artificial ;) But he uses his voice as a instrument to fit the mood of a song. He is a actor in a way, and a storyteller and have to create this voice when singing, it's not his regular singing voice. That he manage to do that with his voice is amazing yes :)

[r00tabeggas]

I was there it was awesome! Thanks for the video.

[geebeebee1]

Damn, I'd like to see him live....an absolute American original, genius, and legend.

[eeMondli]

Tom Waits is still amazing. I'm glad that he took much inspiration and a way of singing from Don van Vliet (capt.Beefheart).

[shfinx]

just one man can do that and is name is ????

[kmanley29649]

This is may be the most beautiful thing I've ever heard.

[LandoftheShanks]

@kmanley29649 I have to say the violins are amazing. I wish he'd record a version of this song with violins.

[denissaveljev]

@kmanley29649

It's really so.

[denissaveljev]

@kmanley29649

Its really so

[luiscarl24]

I love this song, I just found it and I happen to be under the sweet influence of mary jane lol so needless to say I'm in musical heaven right now!!

[Insomniac726]

He reminds me of Rorschach. The voice. The hair. All of it for some reason.

[BoxOfFrogbit]

Had the same feeling while reading Watchmen, and then the movie came out, and he actually spoke a bit like Waits. WONDERFUL!

[Phantomsbreath]

One of these days, I'm going to track down Alan Moore and ask if the appearance is intentional. The film, he had nothing to do with, so the voice is someone else.

[hectorniemeth]

he looks like he is so in the moment

[nephbot]

holy shit is this good

[Clavigo]

Come on D.F.!

[Zarathustre]

me encanta tom! el payaso krusty lo imita en su modo de hablar (o es q serán gemelos?). me encanta kronos, pero antes arditti quartet... la trayectoria es la trayectoria, je... y eso q de música contemporánea sé lo mismo que de coreano... XD

[PrincessaDulcinea]

Damas y caballeros, Tom waits, de pie.

[oggendoggen2]

This song hasn't sounded this good in years...

[icoGreg]

this is definitely my favorite version of this song, and i keep coming back to it. amazing.

[nosmokes1]

I've been a stagehand for over thirty years and I don't go to concerts unless I'm on the payroll, but I definitely would have reached into my pocket and bought seats for this.

[shfinx]

great video thanks

[vales983]

incredible!!!

[fugitive29]

ohhh man, my favorite song of all time, amazing quality

i was so disappointed when i missed out on tickets for the "glitter & doom" tour

thanks a hell of a lot for posting

[sclogse1]

npr radio on the web has the entire audio of Waits in Atlanta from the Glitter and Doom Tour, available for download.

if you can't find it , lemme know.

[butoker]

tom siempre sos genial!!!!

[ratsven]

"The Day After Tomorrow" at this show was amazing, though Tom is always amazing. Agree that Metallica was terrible. Never thought I'd see Metallica acoustic covering Dire Straits.

[Clavigo]

Come on D.F.!

[busstopratbag]

what are the chords he's playing here?

[IREALLYDONTCARE321]

cold cold ground is comprised simply of C,A minor,F, and G. Its really easy

[chelseymax]

I'll never forget this show.

[harryoest]

It was a good one, saved Bridge from an otherwise rather weak line up. Metallica was terrible as the headliner... Should have been Neil! This Bridge was my third and fourth times seeing Tom.

[hitmeuponthelowdown]

You lucky Bastard

Lol!

[mexterminator]

great version of the song! too bad they have this concert at shoreline, the worst venue in northern california...

[argylekid87]

jesus, This is so very very good. Thanks for recording!

[hitmeuponthelowdown]

I Second That!

[TomWaitsLivesWithout]

I think I speak for everyone when I say your opinion is incorrect, sugarydonkey

[sugarydonkey]

Yet more evidence that the Bridge School is a vehicle for a bunch of pretentious wank. Come on Tom, you must know better surely? That's an awful version of a classic.

[ColdRoses]

Or an awe-inspiring version of an already beautiful song. Listen harder.

[hitmeuponthelowdown]

what a bitch

[Zanghief]

Simply amazing combination, I wish I had been there to see it. Beautiful music.

[hitmeuponthelowdown]

i wonder what it is like to jam with Tom

[hitmeuponthelowdown]

i was there man and i cried, it was so fucking amazing

[brideofraindog]

i am comfortable saying that tom waits is the only artist to ever move me to tears.

[hitmeuponthelowdown]

your goddamn right man

[wilkiukstis]

Tom Waits is the KING. God Damn,it's so beautifful....

[ooktar]

I was There for Metallica but Tom Waits beat every performace there.

[Wildberg1981]

Ich verneige mich ehrfürchtigst... Wahnsinn

[bearfights]

i waited through 'tegan and sarah', my morning jackoff, and john 'saucy' mayo for this.

just when i thought i could take no more, kronos quartet and TW dominated every performance i've ever seen.

[MightyTiny]

Awesome!

[shutter30]

. . .I'm soo lucky I was there. . .

[InsomStudios]

holy shit a match made in heaven!!!!! I would kill to be there!

[extortshorties]

oh . . . no words. :-]