Written by Clinton Camper
May 7, 2025 — ACL Live at The Moody Theater
There are few artists who can fill a room with just their voice. Even fewer who can command that room at 84 years old—and still have underwear thrown at their feet. But that’s exactly what happened when Tom Jones rolled through Austin on his Defy Explanation tour.
From the moment he walked out—slightly slowed but still sharp-eyed—there was no doubt who owned the night. He opened with “I’m Growing Old,” a move so self-aware and sly it drew both laughter and awe. And when he followed it up with “Tower of Song,” it felt like a wink to the universe: yes, he’s older, but the golden voice? Still untouchable.
Jones’ setlist was a masterclass in storytelling—leaning heavily into covers, but each one handpicked like chapters in a memoir. Dylan, Cohen, Cat Stevens, Michel Legrand—he didn’t just sing them, he inhabited them. When he growled through “You Can Leave Your Hat On” (complete with a cheeky lighting cue), the crowd howled. When he whispered through “I Won’t Crumble with You If You Fall,” you could feel the silence settle like reverence.
Still, it was the hits that sent the room into orbit. “It’s Not Unusual” landed with a purr and a grin, “Delilah” bathed the venue in crimson light and accordion flair, and “Kiss” by Prince made fans lose what little composure they had left—several pairs of red panties made their annual pilgrimage to the stage.
Even without his once-iconic hip thrusts (two hip replacements later, he mostly saves the movement for his band), Jones remains electrifying. It’s all in the delivery. His tone, his phrasing, the way he knows exactly when to hold a note or drop the volume to a hush—it’s the work of someone who knows their power and doesn’t have to prove it.
He closed the night with “Strange Things Happening Every Day,” and somehow, it felt like the perfect benediction—equal parts bluesy, hopeful, and defiant. He didn’t need to pad the set with extra encores. He’d already given the crowd everything: nostalgia, drama, voice, humor, and yes, sex appeal.
Eighty-four, huh? Could’ve fooled us.