Tom Waits - "Chicago" (Live on David Letterman, 2012)

[@pac401]

David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) and Big Bill Morganfield (Muddy Waters son) on guitars, Larry Taylor on bass, Augie Meyers on piano and Tom’s son Casey on drums.

[@zeljkobedenikovic9253]

👑👑👑

[@joshcarrico1210]

...no love for Tom Timko on the sax, huh?

[@pac401]

@@joshcarrico1210 I didn't know who he was. Thanks for the info!

[@joshcarrico1210]

@@pac401 it took some research on my part, for sure. Since he was performing from the CBS Orchestra position, I figured it had to be someone from that band. Bruce Kapler was their saxophonist, but left in 2012. Aaron Heick took over for him, but in the interim several players filled in, one of them being Tom Timko.

[@pac401]

@@joshcarrico1210 I looked up his name and the photos match the video. Good catch!

[@vancouverterry9142]

I gotta say it again, but more insistently: TOM HAS *** GOT *** to be given some kind of award for this song. The more one knows about the migration of jazz, blues, and Black culture from the South the more it's just GRIPPING to listen to and the more one can FEEL the tugging at the heart and the fledgling hope for a better future at the other end of the railway line as folks accept and act on "the seeds are planted here but they can't grow / we won't have to say goodbye if we all go". If needs be, some music mogul or group should INVENT AN AWARD for this song, as far as capturing the guts and the heart of that history it takes it to a new high. If anyone reading this comment has the connections to get Tom an award for the song, I'd say that would be a contribution opportunity to act on. Absolutely brilliant, Tom, absolutely brilliant!

[@shankrl1]

Agreeeee well said

[@MrMuel1205]

He sings like some mad southern preacher at the end of days. Whether he’s possessed by God or the Devil is hard to say. I love it.

[@GuadalupePicasso]

He legit played a mad preacher in one scene in the movie Dominoe, probably the only good scene in the movie.

[@Balthazar1963]

Right on! He is divinely possessed! The singer with the MOST heart!

[@swamifakkananda4043]

I think he is possessed by bourbon!!❤😂

[@suzimilligan]

I love how the band watches Tom for any cues he may throw out. He is capable of anything!

[@JesseLandau]

One note. One chord. One amazing song.

[@monsieurwaitsmarc5822]

in music, he understood everything

[@RobertSlover]

one chord and the truth!

[@DavidRPhillips]

The one note sax part blows my mind. Its groovy.

[@vancouverterry9142]

Tom deserves some kind of award for writing this song, it so brilliantly captures the spirit and bravery of the migration from the South. Hats off to you, Tom! As true a troubador as there ever was!

[@eamonrodgers4751]

If Tom was a priest I’d never miss mass

[@alejandrosierra792]

Pure, raw and distilled talent.

[@PSUK]

Fact brother. Fact 👍

[@DrScottzy]

Triple distilled. ...and then pickled in a jar of bourbon and cigarette butts

[@PSUK]

@@DrScottzy then run over with a truck

[@arieswaters]

I've been loving this song for a few weeks. But I just realized tonight while I was getting ready to leave the house that if you're standing up and dancing to the song it's even better

[@stevensons78]

Tom is one of the Worlds greatest Treasures......

[@rhythmfield]

Yes! It will be proven over time: he’s one of the greatest, most brilliant Songwriters and composers of all time

[@joejoesguitarinventions]

time will prove you right

[@Missjunebugfreak]

Such a brilliant passionate performer.

[@charleshagen1143]

always liked that Dave had Tom on his show so many times. Good on Dave, good for us.

[@dreamwell2020]

"We won't have to say goodbye if we all go."

[@PSUK]

A freakin’ masterpiece. Period.

[@johnblanchard5525]

Just can't stop watching this incredible performance Tom at his absolute peak. The band mesmerising. Perfection.

[@lesmccracken7155]

He’s such a class act, up there with the top, Dylan, Cohen etc. just great!

[@petermcnally7125]

Nobody can make hissing sound cool only Tom Waits.

[@talesfromthemoribund702]

The soul is off the charts

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

The sound of the train coming to a stop at the station at the end of the song. GENIUS.

[@NorthFlaMan]

One of the most radically enhanced masterful freakouts that you can throttle your gray matter with! Gritty with perfection!

[@potatosarereal]

Pls come back, it’s what this world needs

[@ghostphantom1238]

My favourite of Tom’s live performances

[@mr.nicely9145]

check out Tom's Chocolate Jesus on Letterman

[@ghostphantom1238]

@@mr.nicely9145 Yeah I’ve actually seen it that’s a good one too

[@KerouacsAccomplice]

@@ghostphantom1238 Checkout his performances from the concert movie 'Big Time' - in particular Shore Leave, Gun Street Girl and Way Down in the Hole.

[@Nakamura-Denden]

この曲の雰囲気はTomにしか出せない。生演奏の映像が見れてハッピー！

[@dalegriffin6768]

There's only one Tom Waits, hes a national treasure

[@matthiaskeiler3240]

I got to Tom Waits via Rain Dogs some 20 years ago and I've been listening to his music since. It is crazy how he invenvents his music new with every record. Hell, even every single song is utterly different from the other. And then the live perfomances..... where one sees his soul. Artist, pioneer, avant gardist. Those are powerful words but they are not in the least sufficiant in describing what this man does.

[@petermichalica5674]

Thank you Tom, for this song, this absolute great performance. I am a deep fan of your whole work. Coming from Europe on a 3 weeks trip I visited Chicago, unplanned, but was taken in the bann of this beautiful city very soon. I also admire the Blues Brothers and the scenes from there. I have a niece living in Chicago. So the connection is still alive.

[@isobelmatheson8036]

Pure, perfect talent. All of them.

[@chuck1804]

Pure artistry! One of the last living legends of the 20th century.

[@jtreyl6800]

I hope people appreciate this man. I live on St Louis and still song this song when. I cross onto Illinois

[@badjokezach6359]

There’s such a sinister vibe behind the hope. Like you can feel it; it won’t be much better in Chicago. Very good musical storytelling.

[@liveandmore]

Tom is Genius. Unique and incomparable lyricism. He dares going where few will venture out.

[@paulalkhoury7796]

Great performance. Good to see Tom jr. working with Dad

[@danielemella1758]

Tom Waits è un GENIO. TOM WAITS È MUSICA REALE E VIVA❤️😇❤️!.... Saluti dall'Italia 😇.....

[@Mike-ic9eh]

Tom just made a 10/10 song next level!! the man is a God!

[@amusement420]

Tom Waits ages like a fine wine. Or bourbon whichever you prefer.

[@iammine7325]

All the instruments go together with him singing so well.

[@madelinewise8692]

An incredible singer/songwriter and performer. Love love love Tom. The band is tight too

[@matthiaskeiler3240]

Tight!

[@Mary-gz1qw]

Best version I've heard!

[@lesmccracken7155]

Just sheer brilliance from a master!

[@finalfencing]

Put this on repeat while your working - MAD!

[@theecentralscrutinizer9978]

Americana at some of it's finest.

[@lesmccracken7155]

The man’s a genius!!

[@jukejointjack]

Stay gold

[@bruceskelton8160]

This is fabulous. Wow

[@joejoesguitarinventions]

Americana... at its best 💎💎

[@jonjones1553]

Pure Gold.

[@jeanninesandmayer2926]

Total compliment. Closest any American man has come to being.....Serge Gainsbourg.

[@user-fg5mj2ks1j]

fabulous!

[@Mclennnan]

hit

[@stevenlewis3226]

What a song! What a band! What a voice!

[@miko746]

Love how the band is “leaning in to it” to keep up with Tom! 😏

[@patrickjamessimpson7268]

a legend. totally original, musical master. im glad i live in the time this man is around.

[@isobelmatheson8036]

Perfection.

[@William-h8u9b]

I know too many people who never heard of Tom waits

[@StrayTablet]

Still as good as it ever was.

[@ianportter1257]

un verdadero genio!!!!

[@ianportter1257]

beatifull!!!

[@theoldanarchist]

The band is crackerjack! There's like 100 years of combined talent on that stage. It's staggering.

[@miko746]

How does the band hold it together and stay cool when Tom goes into howlin’ improv mode? 😎

[@Hvitserk67]

The band is fantastic. Isn't it among other David Hidalgo from Los Lobos we see play lead guitar?

[@pac401]

@@Hvitserk67 Yes!

[@davidgarza1301]

This song is the perfect musical counterpoint to a Carl Sandberg poem I just imagine that Great Migration wow!

[@russellmilton8957]

The best 😎

[@BbB-rh6sj]

That performance was TIGHT

[@highnoon854]

Same familiar shit in Shitcago, I'm afraid. What's deplorable is that any cute kitty video gets 20 times more views than this arresting performance from Mr Waits.

[@kentborges5114]

YEAH BUDDY !

[@JavierSandoval-cr3pk]

Fenómeno inmortal!!!

[@user-InvitationtoLove]

Wow. Nice♥️

[@ak2112]

this is tight

[@cattivofilmsandmusic]

🐐🐐🐐

[@shaungolding5599]

Freight train 👊

[@lareinedemado]

Did he mouth " faster" to his son on the drums at the beginning of the song, trying to get the right pace? 😊 Epic performance. His body can barely contain his soul and energy... 🔥

[@cavecanem7075]

IM TOM WAITES IN BOSTON : ABC !

[@jeanninesandmayer2926]

Vaudeville, gravel voiced, inspired bad boy. Love you. You bar fly love cherry muffin'...

[@МихаилСергопольцев]

"Чикаго " Все посевы здесь Не прорастут Не с кем будет попрощаться Если все уйдут Может быть, все срастётся в Чикаго Отдать все то, что знали За место, что в глаза не видали Может быть, все срастётся в Чикаго Остаться - смелый шаг Уйти еще смелей Куда б она ни шла, я за ней Может быть, все срастётся в Чикаго В чем нуждаемся - Господь нам даст Что хотим - за пазухой у нас Всяк там меня найдёт Где оземь радуга падёт Не один я Мне не страшно Упорхнула из клетки пташка Мы массу фокусов познаём В сапфире, что домом зовём Надев шляпу и пальто Я говорю - прощай, всё то Может быть, все срастётся в Чикаго Может быть, все срастётся в Чикаго

[@risboturbide9396]

Shades of Howlin' Wolf.

[@patrickdressler999]

a b s m a z i n g f u l l !

[@גיורא-ע4ח]

Is voice is the best rust in the world

[@oneman1812]

Yep

[@Yaspis]

Who's the drummer here? This version of the song absolutely swings like a steam locomotive coming into a curve, and it's due to the hot hot drummer boy, goddamn.

[@asdqwe4468]

Tom's son?

[@michevicus2987]

Casey Waits, son of Tom himself.

[@IusedtohaveausernameIliked]

All the musicians are great but I really dig Larry Taylor on bass (and in much of Tom's work). Of course Tom is the leading genius but Larry was awesome on that stand-up bass. Cheers.

[@PabloGonzalez-uc7uz]

3:00 Oh My god! That guitar chord...

[@nevetsrekrap]

Which one? Tell me what second. I want to know which chord impressed you that much. I suspect it was the squirly one, but tell me which.

[@PabloGonzalez-uc7uz]

@@nevetsrekrap Minute 3:00 exactly. Just after the second "all aboard". E7 maybe?

[@nevetsrekrap]

@@PabloGonzalez-uc7uz That was the sax! I wish we could make guitars sound like that, but no, that was the tenor sax.

[@PabloGonzalez-uc7uz]

​@@nevetsrekrap No, my friend. I mean the guitar chord by david hidalgo.

[@nevetsrekrap]

@@PabloGonzalez-uc7uz Okay, got you now. E7 with some bending maybe. Yes, that's pretty good, but it's not just a straight chord. Distortion in there, and I'm sure he's bending part of it. You're right, though; excellent. Well spotted.

[@alex_mir_music]

Эта версия- ответ на то, что такое грув!

[@willhouse]

🚂♡♡♡♡♡💯

[@oneblueorange]

Better than the album version

[@MagicGrimm1]

COOL.AS.FUCK

[@mortennygaard5317]

😛😛😛😛👍👍👍👍

[@daveelbourn3655]

On the left is David Hidalgo of Los Lobos on guitar..i don't know the other guys.

[@tbachlarsen]

The other guitar player is Big Bill Morganfield, son of Muddy Waters. With Augie Meyers on piano, Larry Taylor on bass and Casey Waits on drums. I don't recognize the sax player.

[@petermichalica5674]

Can it be that Tom's son plays the drums? I know that he played on various concerts many years ago, does anyone of you know?

[@Paaaaaaaaaaap]

I would like to know the musicians. Can anyone help?

[@vpdfotografia]

Es el Camaron de la isla en yankee, casi naaa 😋😋

[@shokomiya6004]

old larry sounds good ... RIP

[@nancywebb5809]

I think of you singing this to me Bruce Rueger

[@johngriffith3488]

1 chord song ?

[@andreytropillo5937]

Гениально, Да и Все,всем уродам не догнать

[@nevetsrekrap]

Feckin genius, but it took learning about Beefheart to get him performing like this.

[@maxhammer4067]

And he still never out beefed beefheart 😀

[@rhythmfield]

@@maxhammer4067 I am a Captain Beefheart fan (by way of my 40+ year Zappa fanhood) but I need to jump in here and just say, artists don’t “outdo“ each other or some nonsense. These people are so distinctive and creative, despite being influenced by one another. But seriously comparing Beefheart to Waits is like comparing electric eels to interior decorators.

[@maxhammer4067]

@@rhythmfield A electric eel can't hold a paint brush and a interior decorator aint an electrician. But tom and don are both fast and bulbous. Got me? So yea you can compare the two. Not saying one is better than the other. But I stand by my statement. Tom never out beefed the beefheart. The same way bruse or towns never out dylan'd dylan

[@davenaga6101]

@@maxhammer4067 dylan was a m a s o n i c,satan sellout. he dont count.

[@maxhammer4067]

@@davenaga6101 Don't be silly dylan is the goat of songwriters

[@alen47]

wonderful but I was expecting a guitar solo

[@user-gu5dv7vj8r]

I moved to a Chicago for a girl and she left me. This song def hits me hard

[@duanetrivett750]

Sorry for your troubles Brother . live strong my Friend

[@renajsh]

Well ... we're things better in Chicago?

[@acehole8462]

1000 views are from me

[@wackostvshow1509]

WACKO KING TOM WAITS

[@moebetta4224]

His son on drums.

[@blatantenigma3374]

Maybe things will be better in Chicago must have been what my poor Swedish ancestors four or five generations thought during the late 1800s when we had famine and mass unemployment here, and they decided to move there. They biught a saloon but were ripped of by some scumbag.