Live: Tom Waits

PHOENIX -- The sprawling, brawling concert Tom Waits gave here Tuesday, opening his Glitter and Doom tour with two nights at the city's grand old Orpheum, found its central image, unsurprisingly, in a hat. This wasn't just any of the countless porkpies and fedoras that have sat upon the head of rock's great junkman chorister. It was a mirrored bowler that Waits donned while performing the psychedelic circus tale "Eyeball Kid." The shards of glass made the light in the room bend and sparkle, momentarily turning this baroque revival theater into a steampunk Laserium.

By Ann Powers

June 19, 2008