Every now and then, an old performance resurfaces online and people gather around it the way they gather around a story someone hasn’t told in years. That’s what happened this week with Tom Waits’ legendary set from the 1998 Dead Man Walking benefit. For ages, fans have made do with murky videos of the session, usually as separate (or even partial) songs. Suddenly, the full thing shows up in higher resolution and start to finish, almost like someone found the original tape hiding behind a stack of boxes.
The Shrine Auditorium looks warmer in this new version. Not brighter, just more alive. You can actually see the stage crew finishing their last-minute shuffles before the lights land where they’re supposed to. Waits steps forward with those familiar, unusual movements of his arms and legs. Small thing, but you notice it now in a way you couldn’t before. I caught myself pausing the video once or twice just to take in the scene.
Familiar Growl, New Perspective
He opens with “Walk Away,” and the added clarity changes how the song feels. His posture, the way he shifts his grip on the mic, details the older footage blurred into mush. The audio is great as well. Those familiar with Tom’s signature voice will love the clarity in his sometimes, well, unclear way of singing.
“Gun Street Girl” follows with more swing than I remembered. Almost casual, like the band locked into the groove quicker than expected. This full, cleaner version switches between multiple camera angles as he starts barking “Gun Street” lyrics through a megaphone.
"Fall of Troy" (a personal favorite) is even more impactful when you can see the emotion on Waits' face as he sings.
There’s a stretch in the middle where Waits launches into a (real?) story about a man floating in a lawn chair thousands of feet up. Again, just being able to see his facial expressions makes it fun.
Band in Focus - And a Surprise Guest
The band is easier to appreciate when you can finally see them. Smokey Hormel switches between guitar and banjo with quick hands. Stephen Hodges on percussion, Larry Taylor on the upright bass, Ralph Carney adding horns.
One addition I noticed this time that I hadn’t before is none other than county legend Bonnie Raitt. She had performed earlier at the benefit, and she strolled out onto stage behind Tom to play guitar during the final number.
Fans online are genuinely delighted, which doesn’t always happen when an old video gets a facelift. This one earns the excitement. The audio of this set has been out there for a while, but the ability to finally see Tom Waits perform it uninterrupted and clearly is a real treat.
If nothing else, the video reminds you how much gets lost when footage sits in the dark for too long. Nice to see this one again without squinting.
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